Jack Nicklaus' appearance before the first round of the Deutsche Bank Championship was warmly nostalgic. The 67-year-old Golden Bear came to Boston to meet with the U.S. Presidents Cup team he is captaining for the third straight time, as well as promote a book on his career, "Simply the Best!" that presents the finest compilation of Nicklaus photos ever seen. Produced by Martin Davis in the style of his classic, "The Hogan Mystique," the seven-pound, coffee-table volume is a wonderful contribution to golf history and is being excerpted in the upcoming October edition of Golf Digest. My only quibble is the exclamation point in the title, which Davis will hopefully lose in the second printing.

At the book promotion, Nicklaus was insightful as ever. Looking back, he said he essentially had two careers. The first was as a beefy 210-pounder with a crew cut who in his late teens and early 20s hit the ball so hard that he routinely cracked the heads of persimmon-headed drivers. The swing photos in the new book of the young Nicklaus entering the hitting area with a driver are the epitome of golf power being unleashed, the positions so correct, athletic and obviously explosive that they almost by themselves supply the reason for his greatness.

The second career came after the then 29-year-old Nicklaus decided, upon finding himself inordinately tuckered out at the 1969 Ryder Cup, to lose weight. During a break of three months from competition, he accomplished his goal mostly by playing "speed" golf at the course he lives next to in North Palm Beach, Fla.--Lost Tree--running between shots while carrying six clubs and finishing 18 holes in about an hour. After getting down to about 185 pounds, Nicklaus said he definitely lost some of his distance and power, but felt healthier, grew his hair longer and became a better strategist. "After I dropped the weight, I couldn't do some of the things with the golf ball that I used to, but it was worth it," he said. "I think I won my first three tournaments when I rejoined the tour, and I played the best golf of my career from 1972 to 1975."

Nicklaus said what pleased him most about the new book were the tributes written by his toughest competitors and close friends Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson. The book is a rich repository of old photos and memorabilia, but when asked how much he has been concerned with retaining such stuff, Nicklaus made a circle with his index finger and thumb. Most of the saving has been done by Barbara Nicklaus, who is such a pack rat that according to her husband, she still has the dress she wore at her high school prom. And only recently did Barbara finally part with a white vicuña coat that Jack gave her as a makeup gift for forgetting their first anniversary in 1961. "She gave it to an old friend, who wears it all the time," Nicklaus said. "It cost me $900 when I didn't have a lot of money, but it got me out of trouble."

--Jaime Diaz

Paul Casey continues to demonstrate that he really isn't such a bad guy. In an interview before starting defense of his title at this weekend's Johnnie Walker Classic, Casey announced he has started a foundation to introduce children ages 6-15 to a variety of sports, including golf, tennis and cricket, at the club in Surrey, England, where he learned the game growing up. "Sport is on the decline in schools," Casey explained at the press conference. "I'm not going to save the world or anything, but I think it's time I did my bit."

--Mary Rung

(Photo: Andrew Reddington/Getty Images)

It's becoming more and more fashionable among the rock stars of the game to skip at least one FedEx Cup event. Tiger Woods set the precedent at The Barclays. Ernie Els bowed out of this week's test, the Deutsche Bank Championship. So, who's next?

The logical choice among the game's superstars would be Phil Mickelson, who has until 5 p.m. Friday to commit to the BMW Championship in suburban Chicago. Phil's decision to play or not will hinge on whether he wants to play four straight coming back from a wrist injury when—like Woods and Els—he really doesn't have to. (Not after finishing T-7 at The Barclays, with points worth more at the Tour Championship.) His record at Cog Hill is also less than stellar: one top-25 in 10 appearances, including two missed cuts dating back to 1992.

No word from the Mickelson Camp, but the subject will no doubt be something he and Woods chat about Friday afternoon during the opening round at the TPC-Boston. As for Vijay Singh, don't worry: He'll probably play the remaining five Fall Finish events--after four straight on the FedEx circuit and the Presidents Cup--just to stay loose.

The subject never came up during Mickelson's "Five Good Minutes" segment on ESPN's PTI with Tony Kornheiser and Dan Le Batard. The hot topics were Phil's pick for the Super Bowl, his take on the FedEx Cup, his relationship with Woods, and Commissioner Tim Finchem's (sort of) announcement that the tour will begin drug testing in 2008.

In a playful mood, Mickelson said while discussing drug testing: "Well, I think I'm going to cut back now. . . . I think it's been obvious it was directed toward me."

When Mickelson was asked, "Stop the steroid use?" Lefty kept the one-liners coming.

"Well, I thought it was flaxseed oil, but that's my misunderstanding."

--Tim Rosaforte

(Photo: Travis Lindquist/Getty Images)

Tim Finchem, in typical Tim Finchem fashion, played his cards close to the vest when he spoke with reporters at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Thursday. The two revelations:
1) He's not upset that players are taking weeks off during the FedEx Cup Playoffs
2) The PGA Tour could have drug testing in place by the start of next season.

Of course, if you really read through the transcript, you're not sure he said anything of the kind. In fact, you're not even sure it's the English language.

For instance, on potential FedEx Cup Playoffs revisions, Finchem says: "But the actual process of dealing with, well, does this suggestion make sense or that suggestion make sense, is something that would be later."

And on a potential drug testing program: "It'll be a combination of things that are banned, and then the extent to which we execute on the policy will cover all the substances that are banned. So I'll have more definitive information for you later."

Eeeek!

But then maybe this clears it up . . . or doesn't: "But you know, I don't know the extent to which any commissioner can take responsibility for eradicating the problem, but you have to take responsibility for taking your best efforts to either deal with the problem or try to eradicate it."

Of course, keeping us in the dark tends to be just the way the Commissioner likes it.

--Mike Stachura

(Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Rory Sabbatini has become a media favorite in the past few months, mostly because he's not afraid to tell it like it is. During his sit-down in the interview room yesterday at the Deutsche Bank Championship, outside Boston, Sabbatini addressed:

1) His latest confrontation with a fan. ("Say it to my face, buddy.")
2) How the media has paraphrased his statements to their liking and put a very bitter taste in his mouth
3) Why, unlike some players, he speaks his mind.
4) What he really thinks about Tiger.
5) Who he'd choose to take on Tiger in the Presidents Cup singles match if he were captain Gary Player.
Check out his transcript here.

And while you're it, don't miss what Jack Nicklaus had to say about Sabbatini, and who Jack identified as the one guy who riled him up by running his mouth back in the '60s.

(Photos: Stuart Franklin, Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

NEW YORK--Outside the Ritz-Carlton, Central Park, George Lopez was easy to spot. The iconic comedian/tournament host and cast member in those beautifully done Crowne Plaza round-tables was in Manhattan on Wednesday for the debut of his new movie, "Balls of Fury," with Christopher Walken. But like any golf fan, Lopez had an opinion about the FedEx Cup.

Lopez liked the golf played at Westchester but not the concept. "It's a tough sell," he said, the premise being that, "Golf isn't about points, it's about strokes." And unlike the checkered-flag finish of a NASCAR race, it's not like the FedEx Cup is going to be decided by something dramatically comparable, like a hole-out on the last hole. "It's too slow moving," he said.

Before letting him go, I had to ask about those Crowne Plaza commercials that also feature Lee Trevino, David Feherty, Natalie Gulbis, Alice Cooper and legendary Golf Digest writer Dan Jenkins. Lopez said that Jenkins "validated them." George also loved the work of Feherty as the commercial's straight man. Lopez's interaction with Trevino, however, is what really works, especially his line about the wrench.

In the spot called "Wrench," Feherty asks what everyone thinks about technology. To which Lopez says, "I was against technology until a club company came out with a club that you could buy that had a wrench. Now for Latinos, you know . . . We kept the wrench and threw the club away."

Somewhere down the line, when Lopez does a golf movie, it will be as Trevino in the life story of the Merry Mex.

--Tim Rosaforte

(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

With a $10 million annuity going to the winner of the FedEx Cup and a total purse of $35 million being paid out, one hot topic on the practice range lately has been what kind of bonus caddies can expect if their player wins a ton of dough.

A hotter topic this week at the Deutsche Bank will be some of the player-caddie breakups that have gone down in recent days.

Scott Gneiser, who had caddied for David Toms for more than eight years while Toms won 11 times and earned almost $25 million, has been let go. Fortunately for Gneiser, he wasn't unemployed for very long. Anthony Kim has hired Gneiser to work for him this week at the Deutsche Bank.

Kim, a PGA Tour Rookie-of-the-Year candidate who has earned more than $1.5 million this year, dumped caddie Ron (Bambi) Levin after the final round of The Barclays on Sunday. Levin had been with Kim since late last year, when Kim finished tied for second at the Valero Texas Open and T-16 at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic. Prior to that, Levin had caddied for 2004 British Open champion Todd Hamilton.

Toms will have former Justin Leonard caddie Brent Everson on the bag this week.

--Tim Rosaforte

(Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Bomb & Gouge were inspired to take on the subject of long putters, thanks in no small part to Colt Knost's victory in the U.S. Amateur on Sunday at the Olympic Club. The recent switch by Sergio Garcia to a belly putter has improved his game, and Retief Goosen and Mark Calcavecchia were seen trying long putters at The Barclays last week. Bomb has no problem with the longer putters. He says there's no rule against them, so play on. Gouge? Well, let's just say Gouge takes a slightly different view. Check out the latest exchange between the Equipment Editors of Golf Digest and Golf World.

This week The Angry Golfer is relieved to report he wasn't roughed up by any overly enthusiastic security guards at Westchester Country Club.

Colin Montgomerie has a new woman in his life, and reports are the pair will be married as early as January. Monty's new love is Gaynor Knowles.

As Shan Ross and Mike Aitken report in The Scotsman today, Knowles, 40, is the widow of Scots furniture tycoon George Knowles whose family built up the Tillicoultry-based Sterling Furniture Group.

She inherited a £20 million fortune on his death in 2003. Her late husband was an avid collector of classic cars and he left 70, including a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and an Aston Martin.

She lives in a £1.5 million mansion at Drum of Garvock near the village of Dunning, a few miles south of Perth, with her four children - son George, 18, and daughters Lindsey, 15, Christie, 12 and seven-year-old Aimee.

She has admitted having little knowledge of golf but has supported Montgomerie at major tournaments. Her calming influence has been said to have helped Montgomerie regain his golfing form.

(Photo: Andrew Reddington/Getty Images)

New York Post golf writer Mark Cannizzaro sounds more than a little disappointed in Tiger Woods. First, Woods had the nerve to skip the FedEx Cup Playoffs opener in New York last week. Then on Tuesday, Cannizzaro found Woods doing a corporate outing at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan. To make matters worse, Cannizzaro wasn't on the list of people allowed to speak with Woods.

"I went to Chelsea Piers to talk to Woods, but I ended up having a longer conversation with Frank, Woods' hand made tiger driver head cover that his mother made for him and that became famous talking on TV commercials," Cannizzaro writes in today's N.Y. Post.

"The only words I managed to get in with Woods consisted of a friendly reminder to take the extra 2-iron and 5-wood out of his bag before he tees it up Friday at the Deutsche Bank outside of Boston, the second FedEx Cup tournament.

"Other than that, several nervous public relations support staff minions informed me that the only interviews being granted were for MTV, Comedy Central and ESPN.

"Hopefully Comedy Central was filming the entire scene, because it was rather comedic.

"Interesting that the company being promoted by Woods would come to the largest media market in the world and freeze out the New York newspapers from speaking to him. Now that's a rather brilliant marketing strategy."

Ernie Els is 10th in the FedEx Cup points standings, but he won't be playing this week at the Deutsche Bank Championship near Boston. Els withdrew from the tournament today.

"I have been on the road now for almost eight weeks and it is important that I return home where my children will be preparing for their return to school," Els said. "I regret having to miss such a prestigious and important tournament and I wish everybody there an enjoyable and successful week."

Earlier, Scott Verplank, Jose Maria Olazabal and Bernhard Langer announced they wouldn't be playing the Deutsche Bank event despite the fact they're eligible by being inside the top 120 in FedEx Cup points.

It's doubtful the absence of Els, Verplank, Ollie or Langer will affect attendance or TV ratings this weekend, but as Tod Leonard reports in the San Diego Union-Tribune, TV ratings for The Barclays couldn't have made PGA Tour executives happy. Of course, golf telecasts have no chance when Tiger Woods isn't in the field.

On both Saturday and Sunday, The Barclays on CBS was beaten by the Little League World Series on ABC. The World Series final Sunday between Georgia and Japan drew a 3.5 overnight rating, while the golf got a 2.1. On Saturday, both Little League championship games--International (1.8) and U.S. (2.2)--generated higher ratings than The Barclays (1.7).

--Craig Bestrom

Tiger Woods is in New York City today to promote the latest version of his EA Sports video game Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, and to ring The Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange with Deutsche Bank CEO Seth Waugh.

Tiger's day began at NBC's "Today" show, where host Matt Lauer opened his five-minute interview with a couple of questions about Tiger's physique.

Matt Lauer: You were here a couple of years ago on the show, and I haven't seen you in that time. You have gotten . . . Your whole body has changed! Are you working out that much harder now than you did a few years ago?

Tiger Woods: No, I'm just gettin' fat. [Laughs.]

Lauer: It's not fat. I'm talking about muscle. When you first walked in, I thought, That's like one of his security guards here. You're much bigger!

Woods: I am a little bit, yeah.

Lauer: How much do you weigh today versus couple of years ago?

Woods: Probably about seven to 10 pounds heavier.

Lauer: And is this all about preventing injuries? I mean are you working out as hard as you're working out not only to be fresh in Round 4 of a major tournament, but to not let injuries derail your career goals.

Woods: Well, the thing is to be consistent each and every day. That's the thing. Over time I've kind of naturally just filled out. I guess, 31 now. Kind of right around that time when metabolism slows down just a little bit.

Lauer: Are you wearing tighter shirts on tour, too? Come on. [Laughs.]

Woods: Yeah, you know, I've gone to extra small. [Laughs.]

Later, after telling Tiger that the PGA Tour needs him a lot more than Tiger needs the tour, Lauer asks him about skipping The Barclays at Westchester.

Click on the Tiger photo at today.msnbc.com to view the video from "Today" of the interview. If Tiger's photo is no longer on "Today's" home page, click on Video from Today and find it in "This Week's Highlights."

--Craig Bestrom

There was a time when some tour players earned more in practice-round money games than they did in the actual tournament. That's not the case anymore. Jim McCabe writes about the demise of the Tuesday money game in Sunday's Boston Globe. In it he recounts practice rounds at the 1999 Masters, where John Daly allegedly lost $60,000 to Phil Mickelson and John Huston.

As McCabe writes, very few of today's tour players are interested in playing for big bucks before the tournament starts.

"I can't be bothered. I put an awful lot into my game. I really have to focus hard on [practice days]," says Jerry Kelly. "I'm playing for titles. I don't have many of them, but that's what keeps my adrenaline up all the time. I'd much rather make my money on the all-time money list than the unreported income."

"I'd rather just go around and hit extra balls and stuff like that, rather than worrying about things on Tuesday," says David Toms.

And this from Jeff Sluman: "I'd rather buy a nice bottle of wine than blow it when some guy makes a 40-footer on the 18th with six presses."

After I learned from my Golf Channel colleague Frank Nobilo that his neighbors Annika Sorenstam and Mike McGee announced their engagement Saturday, I contacted McGee to congratulate him. I've known Mike since he was a sports agent working for Ken Kennerly in Palm Beach Gardens. When I read the press release explaining that Mike had proposed while Annika was "relaxing peacefully at home with her cats, and I know that's when she is most content," I had to send a text asking some basic questions.

From their Orlando home, Mike replied: "Yes, I was on my knees. It was a complete surprise. . . . Yes, there were some tears. No date at this point."

The couple announced the news on Annika's website.

Orlando, Florida (August 25, 2007) -- LPGA Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam and her boyfriend of two years, Mike McGee, were engaged on Saturday morning at their home in Orlando, Florida. They announced the news on Annika’s website, www.annikasorenstam.com.   

"What a lovely surprise!" Annika said.  "I’m as happy as I can be."

McGee added, "I’ve been carrying the ring around for a week, and it just seemed like the right time this morning.  She was relaxing peacefully at home with her cats and I know that’s when she is most content."

No plans have been made yet for a wedding date.

McGee, the son of former PGA TOUR golfer Jerry McGee, has served as Managing Director for the ANNIKA brand of businesses since Dec. 2006, when he relocated to Orlando.   

Annika is the greatest female golfer of our generation, and often regarded as the best player in LPGA history. Her prestigious list of accomplishments includes her 2003 induction into the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame, ten Major Championships, 85 worldwide professional victories, eight LPGA Player of the Year Awards, and participation on seven Solheim Cup teams. Annika has worked hard on her off-the-course businesses, which include the ANNIKA Academy, the ANNIKA Foundation, the ANNIKA Collection with Cutter & Buck, numerous golf course design projects, tournaments she hosts on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours and her website.

--Tim Rosaforte

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca -- So what would you do if you were in Colt Knost's shoes?

The 22-year-old Dallas native has finished up his four years at SMU. He's playing well enough of late to believe he has a realistic shot at earning a PGA Tour card at Q school this fall. Still, having won the U.S. Amateur Public Links title in July and now having reached the finals of the 107th U.S. Amateur Championship (after winning his semifinal match versus Jhonattan Vegas, 4 and 3), he has secured spots in next year's Masters and U.S. Open ... provided he remains an amateur.

So what's the call? Do you turn pro and skip the majors or stay amateur and put the start of your career on hold until next June?

Knost said he won't make his final decision until after playing in the Walker Cup in two weeks. Sticking around to play Augusta National remains possible, but waiting until after competing at Torrey Pines seems doubtful.

"Still need to be an amateur [to get the exemption]?" Knost said. "I don't think I'll be at the U.S. Open unless I qualify then. Honestly, I'm going to have to think about it. But I don't think I can put off turning pro any longer than April."

Of course, if he were to defeat Michael Thompson in tomorrow's 36-hole final at Olympic Club, he also would earn a spot into next July's British Open, leading him to another dilemma.

If only all our decisions were so "difficult." 

--Ryan Herrington

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca-- Think golfers aren't athletes? Take a peak at Jhonattan Vegas, one of the semifinalists at the 107th U.S. Amateur Championship. The 23-year-old from Venezuela who just finished his senior season at Texas stands 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. When Longhorns football coach Mack Brown first saw Vegas on the golf course back at Austin a few years ago, he approached him and asked if he had ever played on the gridiron before.

"He really thought I was a football player," Vegas said. "He was like, 'You really look like a tight end. Do you really play golf or are you joking with me?' "

Vegas certain does play golf, as evidenced by his 3-and-1 victory over Cheng Tsung Pan Friday in the quarterfinals at Olympic Club. Vegas faces reigning U.S. Amateur Public Links champion Colt Knost in one semifinal match Saturday. Michael Thompson and Casey Clendenon square off in the other.

--Ryan Herrington

Bernhard Langer is 59th in the FedEx Cup points standings, which means he could (and some might say should) be playing in The Barclays at Westchester Country Club today. Instead, he's playing in the KLM (Dutch) Open in the Netherlands. Langer's 17-year-old son, Stefan, is also playing in the tournament as an amateur, his first-ever European Tour event.

Unfortunately, it's not going so well for the young Langer, who plays to a plus-1 handicap.

James Corrigan of The Independent details Stefan's first-round 98, which, believe it or not, wasn't the highest round in European Tour history. Mark James shot 111 in the 1978 Italian Open. Bernhard Langer shot 67 to beat his son by 31 strokes Thursday.

To follow the Langers progress in Round 2, click here.

--Craig Bestrom

(Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO—We're down to eight at the 107th U.S. Amateur, but only one of the quarterfinalists is a current U.S. Walker Cup team member: Colt Knost. The 22-year-old from Dallas won the U.S. Amateur Public Links title in July and is the most recognizable player remaining here at Olympic Club, having first made headlines when he shot a 64 at the PGA Tour's Byron Nelson Championship in April.

No doubt the USGA brass is a little disappointed that only one of the eight players already named to Buddy Marucci's squad that competes in two weeks at Ireland's Royal County Down is still standing. "I'm surprised. I thought there would be some more of us," Knost said. "But it's all right. Hopefully we're all saving our games for over there."

--Ryan Herrington

(Photo: Dino Vournas/Getty Images)

Do not adjust your TV set -- the brown splotches on Westchester CC's greens are just as obvious to those in attendance at the Barclays as they are to viewers at home. The putting surfaces on the first, second, sixth and 10th holes are particularly unsightly, marred by patches of discolored grass where there is any turf at all.

Overall, the speed of the greens doesn't approach the PGA Tour standard of about 11 on the Stimpmeter. Add the inch of rain that fell here Tuesday, and one of the tour's classier venues has become a dartboard. In this league, Slow + Soft = Very Easy, which is why close to half of the 144-man Barclays field will finish the first round under par.

That's a far cry from the numbers that helped this venue earn a reputation as one of the tour's toughest tests. "They're awful," one veteran caddie said of the greens. "When you consider what we're playing for, they're certainly not up to snuff."

Maybe so, but with scores so low, there hasn't been a lot of complaining. These greens may look bad, but for the most part, they're rolling better than you'd think -- even a card-carrying pessimist finds little wrong with course conditions after an opening 67. Tour official Mark Russell did admit that some pin positions wouldn't be used because it's bad business to park a flag in dirt. You won't hear a lot of whining about that, either.

Before it became the leadoff batter in the FedEx Cup playoff series, this tournament was played in June, prior to when the most stressful summer weather has left its mark. "What we've had [recently] are thundershowers, and that's certainly going to damage the grass," said John Kennedy, Westchester's director of golf. "What usually follows are warm temperatures, and by the middle of August, [course maintenance] can get very difficult."

So there. At least somebody will be laboring this week.

--John Hawkins

It didn't surprise Phil Mickelson that Andrew Giuliani (right, with Tiger) was doing so well in the Met Open, shooting 71 in the opening round Wednesday at the Meadow Brook Club on Long Island. Lefty and the former New York City mayor's son played in the Buick Classic Pro-Am a few years ago, before Giuliani enrolled at Duke, where he is entering his junior year as a walk-on member of the golf team. "He's got game," Mickelson told me after his opening-round 67 at The Barclays.

Rudy Giuliani is an 18-handicapper, but in Mickelson's mind, Giuliani's 21-year-old son got his father's disposition. He lists a muny, Van Cortlandt Park, as his home course, but also plays out of Trump National in Briarcliff Manor. "His dad taught him a lot outside of golf that has carried over into the way he plays," said Mickelson. "He doesn't let bad shots affect him. He plays without fear. He plays aggressive. He plays smart. He's got a good overall way to attack the game."

Mickelson connected with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in Wednesday's pro-am, sharing thoughts on golf, politics, social issues and economics. "We had a good day," Mickelson said. "I really enjoyed listening to what he had to say. He's got some great insights into all aspects of society. I don't want to get into detail, but I was fascinated listening to him talk. He obviously has a great grasp of what the problems are and the direction we need to have."

Bloomberg loves golf, too, with memberships at the Golf Club of Purchase, Glen Arbor and Deepdale in greater New York, and is known to escape at times to Florida for all-day sessions at McArthur G.C. in Hobe Sound. "He's got a good game and he hits the ball solid," Mickelson said. "He's a 21-handicap, but he had five net pars. It was hot or cold. He was a legit 21 (handicap), but he had the ability to hit solid shots and make par. He even had a net birdie."
--Tim Rosaforte

The HSBC Match Play (Wentworth, Oct.11-14) is suffering the same fate as the Skins Game: None of the big stars want to play. According to Ireland Online, Tiger Woods, Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk and Sergio Garcia have all turned down spots. So now Colin Montgomerie can play, along with Niclas Fasth. (The field also includes Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and defending champion Paul Casey.)

--Mary Rung

Where can you get a conversation about the FedEx Cup, golf tips at Westchester Country Club, a denial of presidential interest and a quick analysis about the fortunes of the stock market? Try CNBC, which on Wednesday aired an interview with Phil Mickelson, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Barclays president Bob Diamond.

Lefty, by the way, says his wrist is completely healed and he wants that $10 million annuity.

I got a call yesterday from Sam Puryear, giving me a heads-up that he had just been hired as the head golf coach at Michigan State. The news had been a long time coming in the game of golf. Sam worked as in intern at Golf Digest in 1992, and later I followed his career running the East Lake Junior Golf Academy in Atlanta and later as assistant coach for Conrad Ray's NCAA champion Stanford Cardinal. What makes this more than just a brief is that Sam is the first male African-American head golf coach at a Division I school other than the historically black colleges.

Puryear, 36, doesn't want to make this a race thing, saying he only wants to be regarded as a great head coach, which he will be. "My goal is to win the national championship," Puryear told me Thursday. "I've got the ring and I want more."

For the historical take, I went to the godfather of black coaches, Eddie Payton at Jackson State. I caught Eddie in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday morning, getting ready for his 22nd year of coaching the Tigers' golf teams. "I'm extremely happy for Sam." said Payton, older brother of the late Walter Payton. "He's paid his dues at East Lake and he worked under a great mentor at Stanford. I think he's ready to assume the responsibilities of any Division I program. My hat's off to him and Michigan State for looking past color and what the individual brings to the table. I think he's earned the opportunity, not because he's African-American, but for the amount of work he's put in."

Payton said he interviewed for a couple of Division I jobs, but was passed over, not necessarily because of his color. "I may be a little outspoken," he joked. As for his golf teams this fall, he touts senior Michael Bailey, a 3.6 student, as a kid who can play at the next level. From his women's team, watch out for Shasta Averyhardt, who is 6-foot-1, hits it 290 yards off the tee, and according to Payton, "looks like a model." As Payton said, "She's got the complete package. There's nothing keeping her from making it."

--Tim Rosaforte

You might notice while watching The Barclays today (3-6 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel) that at least 40 players are wearing belts with the initials IFF on the buckle. The initials stand for Ian's Friends Foundation, and players are wearing the belts to raise awareness and support for 3-year-old Ian Yagoda and pediatric brain tumor research.

Ian was diagnosed with a brain tumor about a year ago, and according to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, every nine days a child in the U.S. is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer death from childhood cancer.

Phil and Cheryl Yagoda, Ian's parents, have teamed up with custom belt manufacturer House of Fleming to raise money and awareness for this deadly childhood disease. To order, call House of Fleming at: (888) 233-5657 House of Fleming makes belts for many of the PGA Tour's top players, and this week players such as Jim Furyk, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Angel Cabrera, Zach Johnson, Rory Sabbatini and many more will wear the Alligator belt with IFF buckle (made by Bettinardi Golf).

In addition, Swiss watch company Audemars Piguet, has announced that for players who wear the belts for four days at The Barclays, the low and high 72-hole score will receive an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch in steel.

--Marty Hackel

(Photo: Kerry Brady)

Celebrities getting pulled over for drunk driving? Happens all the time.

Celebrities getting pulled over for drunk driving ... in a golf cart ... in downtown Stockholm, Sweden? That only happens to Bill Murray (well, as far as we can tell).

Murray, the Caddyshack star and big draw at Pebble Beach, was pulled over by Stockholm police for driving his cart at an extremely low rate of speed (as if there's any other kind in a cart) on a downtown street, according to a report on People magazine's Web site.

Police smelled alcohol on Murray's breath. Citing American laws, the actor -- who was in Sweden to attend a golf tournament -- refused a breathalyzer test. Results from his blood test will be available in 14 days.

In the meantime, he signed a statement admitting to driving under the influence and appears to have left Sweden. If guilty, he'll likely pay a fine.

Police said there was no evidence of theft of the cart. Which begs the question: What's the going rate for a golf cart rental in downtown Stockholm? And can you add a second driver?

(Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

HARRISON, N.Y. -- Steve Sands flew in from Orlando on Monday to cover the
start of the FedEx Cup playoffs for the Golf Channel. Right off the plane,
Sands was given a quick taste of how New York feels about Tiger Woods
skipping The Barclays.

One of Sands' first calls was to New York's famous sports-talk radio
station, WFAN. The show's host Richard Neer put Sands on the air and asked
him how was he doing.

"Doin' great," Sands said. "Absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on some
corned beef and pastrami in the city."

There was a pregnant pause. No small talk. Just fastballs.

"He didn't even laugh or tell me, 'The Carnegie Deli,' " Sands said. "He
said, 'Why is Tiger snubbing New York?' Almost like he didn't hear me. It
was hilarious, like he totally ignored me. It was funny. I laughed. Then he
asked, 'Why is Tiger snubbing NY? Why is he letting down the tour? And why
is he slapping the other players in the face?' Three in a row.
Bang-bang-bang."

Welcome to New York, Steve.

"Everything's direct here," said Sands. "I love that. Love it."

--Tim Rosaforte

Brandt Snedeker is a new-school kid with an old-school look, kind of '70s from the neck up -- even though he was born in 1980. If those locks of strawberry blond hair get any longer during the FedEx Cup playoffs, it means the 26-year-old rookie from Nashville is still on a roll. It's part retro, part Sampson, and one of the things I learned while talking with the Wyndham Championship winner during a rainy Tuesday at Westchester Country Club.

How often do you get your hair cut?"

It's getting out of control when the waves are going every which way. It's getting bad right now. I'm gonna get it cut this week, I think, but it seems like every time I try to get it cut, and I don't, I end up playing well that week.

Do you have somebody in Nashville who cuts it?

I'm cheap, very cheap. I go to Heads Up for the $12 haircut.

What are the instructions?

Don't butcher me. Keep it long. Just clean it up a little bit.

Your visor is kind of old school. Tommy Armour III old school.

Exactly. He's my hero. He's got the long hair and the visor going,
so I want to make sure I look like Tommy.

All the kids have the new visors.

I don't like them. I look terrible in them. I've got too much hair
for the new visors (above, bottom). I'm either an old-school visor (above, top) or a hat, and a hat it just too hot for my hair.

Don't think the hat is going to work on you.

I wear one every now and then, 'cause the top of my head is a
little sunburned. When I'm trying to give my head a couple days off.

--Tim Rosaforte

Daniel Chopra can sure roll the rock at Westchester.

(Photos by Jeff Patterson)

On a rainy Tuesday before the PGA Tour's inaugural FedEx Cup playoff series, you could do a lot worse than to run into Tom Pernice, one of the tour's deepest thinkers and most outspoken veterans. Questions about the playoff format have taken on new meaning with the absence of Tiger Woods, who will skip this week's gathering at Westchester CC after saying for months that he planned on playing in all four events.

Unlike last November, when he was extremely critical of Woods for missing the season-ending Tour Championship, Pernice had a more pragmatic viewpoint on Tiger's latest no-show. "We need to have regulations that will make everybody play," he said. "We're all independent contractors, per se, but we tend to hide behind that too much. It ultimately comes down to Tim [commissioner Finchem] needing to be stronger."

When Woods announced last Friday that he wouldn't tee it up at the Barclays, he had, however intentionally, dealt several blows to the credibility of the postseason structure. The whole idea of this four-week finale was to get a full commitment from all of the game's best players. You weren't supposed to be able to win this thing unless you played in every tournament. If the concept doesn't resonate with the world's top golfer, why should even hardcore fans feel obligated to care?

The big loser here is Barclays, a financial institution that has spent millions of its advertising dollars with the tour. Television ratings obviously will suffer without Woods in the field -- this happens to be the only playoff event covered by CBS, which has become the tour's largest and most important network carrier. "How can you get Tiger to be passionate about our tour and act in everybody's best interests?" Pernice wondered aloud. "I don't think there's an easy answer to that."

There is also the embarrassment factor. Woods actually made a commercial promoting the playoff series, whistling "Eye of the Tiger" as he laces up his spikes in the locker room before heading out to battle. The tour has promoted its new end-of-summer shindig excessively, operating under the premise that sponsors, networks and golf fans would get the best it has to offer for an entire month.

That isn't going to happen. Woods will play next week in Boston and the week after that in Chicago, but with five victories in 2007, a victory list that includes his 13th major title and two more WGCs, he has basically locked up Player of the Year honors before the playoffs have started. He doesn't need the $10 million in retirement credit that will go to the playoff-series champion, but if he wins two of the three remaining playoff tilts, he's likely to claim the top prize, anyway.

Bottom line? A guy who can find motivation in a kernel of popcorn seems to be suffering from a lack of incentive when it comes to the postseason. "We can't promise that everybody's going to play unless we have regulations," Pernice added, referring to everyone who might have been counting on Woods' unconditional commitment. "At some point, Tim has to sit down with Tiger and Phil [Mickelson] and find out what they want to do, because this thing won't work without them."

--John Hawkins

HARRISON, N.Y. -- Big-hitting Bubba Watson was a big hit at the Westchester Country Club driving range Monday afternoon. While Watson was waiting for Ping tour rep Matt Rollins to bring him five new pink-shafted drivers, he borrowed a few right-handed clubs from Ryan Moore and tried his hand at making solid contact. After a few topped shots, Watson (green shirt in photo) started looking less like Bubba and more like Tom.

When Rollins arrived with the 7.5 degree left-handed drivers, Watson still had adjustments to make. After three powerful whacks, it was evident that the range wasn't long enough to hold his shots. Several people suggested he move to the extreme back of the range.

As Moore told a ball attendant, "He's back there because he just hits it too far."

-- Jeff Patterson

Jeff Maggert told Ed Hardin of the Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record that he's tired of hearing criticism of Tiger Woods for skipping this week's Barclays, the first tournament in the FedEx Cup. Maggert, in fact, says none of the touring pros are enthusiastic about the tour's playoff.

"Probably half the players out here couldn't care less about [the FedEx Cup],"   he told Hardin. "The other half are indifferent."

Maggert said tour commissioner Tim Finchem should take the blame for the indifference in the clubhouse.

"I hear a lot being written, but I don't see anybody writing anything about Finchem," Maggert said. "I mean, this was his idea. He really didn't consult any of the players. He kind of shoved it down our throats and said, 'This is what we're going to do.' "

The FedEx Cup starts this week, and the media is wasting no time in telling us that the tour playoff is, well, a waste of time. The absence of Tiger Woods in this week's Barclays field provided plenty of ammunition to take shots at the event.

Writes David Whitley in the Orlando Sentinel: "The FedEx Cup was a contrived money-grab to begin with. When the sport's pre-eminent star blows off the opening act, all credibility is lost. It's like baseball starting the playoffs without the Red Sox, Angels, Mets and the national anthem. Tour officials are trying to put a happy face on things, but they must feel as if they've had a graphite shaft plunged into their backs."

Added Damon Hack in the New York Times: "In a sport that lives on tradition and so often returns to familiar themes, the FedEx Cup chase, in which golfers have spent the season accumulating points, has had trouble gaining the players' affections. It was designed with the golfers and their fans in mind: a shorter season that finishes before the heart of the N.F.L. season and the World Series, and a big-money prize at the end. But the players have not uniformly endorsed the FedEx Cup despite the Tour's zealous promotion of it."

And this from Ian Hutchinson in the Toronto Sun: "After moving tournaments such as the Canadian Open into awkward positions to accommodate this season-ending showdown that was supposed to get fans jacked in the weeks and months beforehand, the FedEx Cup has yet to live up to the promise made by the Tour's slick marketing campaign."

SUNRIVER, Ore. -- You have to give Mark McNulty a lot of credit for how he won the Jeld-Wen Tradition Sunday. When you birdie four of the first seven holes in the final round to take control, that's pretty strong, especially when you haven't lurked on any leader boards all season. McNulty, whose sunglasses and heavy coating of zinc oxide on his lips liken him to a middle-aged lifeguard who has wandered off the beach, is a tidy player and softspoken, classy fellow.

One man's gain, however, was one tournament's loss, as far as the drama quotient was concerned in its first playing at Crosswater Club at Sunriver Resort. The Tradition has had some interesting finishes in its lifetime -- from its Jack Nicklaus-dominated early years in Arizona to the Loren Roberts-Dana Quigley playoff two years ago outside Portland -- but this wasn't one of them.

McNulty's strong final-round start was too much for anybody to overcome, from unheralded David Edwards, who held on to finish second, to consistent senior performer D.A. Weibring, who took third place, or Tom Watson, who gave the event some star power but faded to a closing 74 and T-6. You can't blame McNulty, who would've won by seven if not for a meaningless double-bogey on the 72nd hole, but the back nine on Sunday was a snooze.

The Tradition is one of the senior "majors," although it doesn't really feel like one. A good tournament, and good fun for spectators and corporate clients who come out on site? Sure, like most of the stops on the Champions Tour, it is. The event seemed to have a bit of traction in its first year in central Oregon, with somewhat larger galleries. But as in Arizona, once Nicklaus aged out, and on the Oregon coast, the Tradition pretty much feels like a regular tournament, as does the Senior Players Championship, which will round out the slate of senior majors this fall at a new site, Baltimore CC, under the sponsorship of Constellation Energy.

Why not enliven one of these events by switching the format to match play? Maybe you would end up with two journeymen in the final, but you could get the two best seniors squaring off. It's worthy taking a shot, because it would be different. Indications are that the 2008 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf will revert to the team format that heralded the start of the senior tour, a move that makes so much common sense that it is hard to believe it took so long for it to happen. A match-play Tradition ought to be similarly considered.

--Bill Fields