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PGA Championship Notebook PGA to change to three-hole playoff
Posted: Wednesday August 11, 1999 08:09 PM
MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) -- After this year, the Masters will be the only major championship with a sudden-death playoff. The PGA of America announced Wednesday it will go to a three-hole, cumulative score playoff starting with the 2000 PGA Championship. "The new playoff system will provide a fair test," PGA president Will Mann said. "All golfers involved in a playoff will have the opportunity to post the best score, eliminating the element of luck that can occur in a sudden-death playoff." Ironically, it was the PGA Championship in which a sudden-death playoff first determined a winner in a major championship -- Lanny Wadkins in 1977. The British Open uses a four-hole playoff, while the U.S. Open uses an 18-hole stroke play event the following day. Don't expect the Masters to change any time soon -- if it all. There is barely enough sunlight to get in 18 holes on Sunday; the only sudden-death playoffs have not gone past the second extra hole. Ryder musingsBen Crenshaw isn't sharing any secrets on which two players he might spend his captain's picks, but he did make one thing clear. "There are a few players on the hot seat, so to speak," he said. "They need to step up this week. All those fellows know what's at stake this week." Tom Lehman is 11th in the standings, but likely secures a spot if he stays put. The pressure is more squarely on players like Fred Couples, Lee Janzen, John Huston and Bob Estes. "I said early on, one choice may be fairly obvious to me, and the other might keep me up at night," Crenshaw said. "I'm looking for that player who can play Brookline." So is European captain Mark James, and he's not about to let age or experience stand in the way. That could be good news for 19-year-old Sergio Garcia, bad news for Nick Faldo. Garcia, who won the Irish Open, finished second at Loch Lomond and was third in the Nelson Classic, is currently 12th with two tournaments left. He would become the youngest Ryder Cup player in history. "I would never exclude any player from the side on the strength of age," James said. And what of Faldo? He has played in more Ryder Cups (11), played more matches (43) and won more points (24) than anyone in history. He also hasn't won in two years. And Europe could have its most inexperienced teams in years. "Obviously, experience can be helpful," James said. "But I've said all along, experience is probably overrated. I'm looking for players who will play well under pressure. Faldo certainly does come into category, so a Faldo playing well would be a huge asset to the side." Of course, James also noted that "he hasn't been playing very well." PGA to Wisconsin?Every PGA Championship venue from now through 2010 is taken except for 2007. That could change soon. Jim Awtrey, chief of the PGA of America, said Wednesday that Whistling Straits in Wisconsin has been offered the PGA Championship in 2007. "As to what that final decision by [course owner] Herb Kohler is going to be, I don't know at this time," Awtrey said. "We have issued that opportunity for them." The last time -- and only other time -- the PGA Championship was played in Wisconsin was 1933, when Gene Sarazen defeated Willie Goggin at Blue Mound Country Club in Milwaukee. Mickelson streakPhil Mickelson's top priority is winning the PGA Championship, his last chance this year to win a first major. But his goals won't end after Medinah. Mickelson has won at least one PGA Tour event every year since 1993, the longest streak on tour. "There's a lot of credibility to a guy who can win every year on tour," Mickelson said. The longest Mickelson has gone without winning during the streak was two years ago at Bay Hill, the third week in March. The next three weeks represent his best chance to run his streak to seven in a row. He will play the International next week, a tournament he has won twice and was runner-up last year. After that is the NEC Invitational at Firestone, another place where Mickelson has won and usually contends. "This is really one of my favorite stretches," Mickelson said. If he doesn't win, Mickelson said he may consider adding one more tournament after the Ryder Cup to give himself another chance. Ernie Els currently is tied with Mickelson at six straight years after winning in Los Angeles. Distinguished serviceBill Dickey, founder of the National Minority Junior Golf Scholarship Association, was honored Wednesday with the PGA Distinguished Service Award for those who promote the values and ideals of the PGA of America. Dickey launched the East-West Golf Classic in 1983 and used the proceeds to create his scholarship association, which has awarded nearly $900,000 to nearly 600 college students. "Bill Dickey has been a moving force in opening doors for young golfers," PGA president Will Mann said. Past recipients include presidents Gerald Ford and George Bush and players like Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer. DivotsTiger Woods and Mark O'Meara will be the only Ryder Cup players missing from a U.S. practice round at The Country Club the day after the NEC Invitational. Both had prior commitments. Both intend to play the course well in advance of the Sept. 24-26 matches. ... David Duval threw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field on Monday, the third time he has done that in a major league park. ... Phil Mickelson, one of the more outspoken critics of how the British Open was set up, had this to say about Carnoustie: "I may schedule a trip back there to see how it really plays." ... David Pawlowski, a caddie at Medinah the past five years, received the Chip Beck-Evans Scholarship on Wednesday. ... For the second straight major since winning the U.S. Open, Payne Stewart wore a Ryder Cup hat during the practice rounds.
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