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PGA Championship Notebook Good news on two fronts for Elkington
Posted: Friday August 13, 1999 09:28 PM
MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) -- Finally. Something good happened to Steve Elkington. The winner of the 1995 PGA Championship thought he'd lost his wedding band and some medication when he gave a little boy his golf bag Thursday. That was the same day he withdrew from the 81st PGA Championship after his caddie, Joe Grillo, was taken to a hospital complaining of chest pains. But the ring and the medication were back in Elkington's hands Friday. Scott Kent took his 4 1/2-year-old son, Ryan, to the tournament Thursday. But Ryan got bored pretty quickly, so his father decided to take him home. As they walked through the players' parking lot, they saw Elkington, who had just withdrawn and was on his way to the hospital to be with Grillo. "Mr. Elkington saw Ryan and I and he called Ryan over," Scott Kent said. "I thought, `Oh, cool. He's going to give Ryan a ball or something. He said, `I've had this bag for awhile and I'm going to get a new one so I want you to have this bag.'" Elkington cleaned his clubs and what he thought was everything else out of the bag and gave it to Ryan. When he woke up Friday morning, though, Elkington realized his wedding ring and some medicine were missing. They were in a pouch in his golf bag. "I had checked the bag, but I hadn't looked in that particular zipper," Scott Kent said. Elkington called tournament organizers, who contacted local radio and television stations for help. A co-worker heard the story and told Scott Kent, who immediately called tournament officials and asked how to get the items back to Elkington. The Kents came back to Medinah Country Club on Friday afternoon and returned the belongings, and someone from the tournament took them to Elkington at O'Hare Airport. Elkington got more good news Friday when Grillo was released from Glen Oaks Hospital.
Outta hereRyder Cup captain Ben Crenshaw missed the cut for his 13th straight tournament -- or every one he has entered this year. Other notables not making the weekend were Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Ernie Els, Justin Leonard and and Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal. Watson was playing in his final major before joining the senior tour. "I'm disappointed and embarrassed the way I played this week," said Watson, who had a two-day total of 5-over 149. "It was not very pretty. But I had weeks like this, even when I played my best golf. "The last two days it was not the best way to finish." Watson won the first of his 34 PGA Tour victories at the 1974 Western Open in Chicago.
Ryder CupTom Lehman survived the cut Friday, greatly improving his chances of making the Ryder Cup without taking up one of the two captain's picks. Lehman was 11th on the points list, behind Jeff Maggert, who shot a 76 Friday and did not make the weekend. Also missing the cut were Steve Stricker and John Huston, who were 12th and 13th in the standings, meaning their chances of making the team on points are gone. They still have hopes of getting picked by captain Ben Crenshaw. But two others who missed the cut -- Lee Janzen and Tim Herron -- will likely not make the team at all. The top 10 in the standings -- based on points from top 10 finishes -- qualify. Crenshaw will announce his two wild-card selections Monday morning. The Ryder Cup matches will be held Sept. 24-26 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. More Ryder CupJesper Parnevik is playing for more than the Wanamaker Trophy this week. Parnevik, who is 11th on the European money list, is trying to play his way on to the European Ryder Cup team. "That was my goal coming into the week," he said. "I'm not thinking about it when I'm playing, but I would like to qualify on my own. Definitely." Parnevik, whose best finish on the PGA Tour this season is a tie for 10th at the British Open, started the week in 18th place in the European Ryder Cup standings. The top 10 players make it, and captain Mark James gets two additional picks.
Like father, like sonLeader Jay Haas doesn't have far to turn when he needs advice in the PGA Championship. He just asks his son, who happens to be his caddie. Jay Haas Jr., 18, is carrying his dad's bag before heading off next week to college at Augusta State. "That's what makes this special," said the senior Haas, who at age 45, has put together rounds of 68 and 67. "Jay [Jr.] has a 1-handicap at home and has caddied for me in the past. Jay has a very good demeanor on the golf course and it rubs off on me. ... This could be a magical week."
CheeseheadsThe winters are long in Wisconsin, but that hasn't stopped the state from producing some top golfers. Skip Kendall, who shot a course record 65 Friday, Steve Stricker, J.P. Hayes and Jerry Kelly are natives of the Dairyland State. "Maybe it's a little motivator," Kendall said. "We all grew up playing together. Wisconsin is not that far away. And we're used to these kind of conditions." Kendall said Stricker is "Mr. Wisconsin" in golf. "We all had our share of state titles up there, but I would say Steve had the most," Kendall said. Stricker was the only one of the four to miss the cut. Kelly is the only member of the foursome still living in Wisconsin. The other three live in warmer climates in Florida and Texas.
Locker on loanMark Brooks is using the locker of a Medinah Country Club member by the name of Michael Jordan. Yes, that Michael Jordan. "Is that what I'm in?" Brooks asked. There was nothing in the locker from the retired basketball superstar wishing Brooks good luck. "And nothing signed, either," Brooks said. "I'll probably leave him some balls. With this rough, he'll need them."
DivotsBill Glasson withdrew Friday morning because of tightness in his back. Glasson didn't complete his first round which had been suspended by darkness Thursday. He shot a 37 on the front side Thursday and a 30 through the first six holes of the backside.
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