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Notebook Mickelson won't defend Tour Championship
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) -- Phil Mickelson beat Tiger Woods last year in the Tour Championship, but the left-hander plans to skip the lucrative season-ending tournament in early November. Mickelson's wife, Amy, is expecting the couple's second child at the end of October, meaning he'll likely pass on the tournament for the top 30 money winners. Mickelson took a popular stance at the U.S. Open in 1999 in Pinehurst, N.C., when he said he would leave the tourney -- even if leading -- if his wife went into labor with their first child. That didn't happen, but Mickelson cut it close and he won't take any chances this time around. "It would be a 1-in-20 chance that I would be able to play," Mickelson said Tuesday as he prepares for the PGA Championship. "That would be if the baby came two or three weeks early. I don't anticipate that happening." The winner of the Tour Championship gets $900,000, and each participant is guaranteed more than $80,000.
Pate returns to AACIt was hot when Jerry Pate won here in 1976 -- in more ways than one.Pate won the U.S. Open at the Atlanta Athletic Club 25 years ago as a 22-year-old and recalled a funny story about being burned by his caddie on the 17th tee of the final round. "You stand around with your hand drooped over your woods on your bag, and I felt something get hot on my hand," Pate said Tuesday. "I looked over and my caddie had lit a cigarette and his cigarette was burning my hand." The incident produced a big welt on Pate's hand during a crucial time in the tournament, which he won by two shots. "I was so nervous," Pate recalled. "I didn't even feel it for about four or five seconds." Pate, who plays sparingly, plans to use his old caddie -- John Consadine -- when he joins the Senior Tour in two years.
Tiger eyes Ryder Cup developmentsTiger Woods is shooting for yet another major this weekend outside of Atlanta, but he also has an eye on the Ryder Cup situation.The U.S. team will be announced a day after the PGA Championship concludes Sunday. The top 10 players in the Ryder Cup standings earn spots, and captain Curtis Strange will select two other players to round out the team. Woods said Tuesday he'll have input on who makes the roster. "I've talked to Curtis about it," Woods said. "He and I are on the same page on what players he likes, what players we would like to see make the top 10 and hopefully free up a couple of picks. "It's a big swing week for a lot of difference players," Woods added. "It's going to be fun to see what happens." Among those fighting it out for the final roster spots and captain picks are Tom Lehman, Chris DiMarco, Joe Durant, Brad Faxon, David Toms, Frank Lickliter, Rocco Mediate and Scott Verplank. Former Ryder Cup members Loren Roberts, 21st in the standings, and Justin Leonard, 23rd, could make the team with a win at the PGA Championship, where the winner earns 300 points.
Augusta on their mindThe PGA Championship is being held outside of Atlanta, but some of the talk Tuesday centered on another Georgia golf course -- Augusta National.Some of the game's best players had mixed reviews about the changes to the course where the Masters is played -- about 150 miles away. Most of the changes to the course involve adding length and bunkers in landing areas. "Every year we get a memo sent to all the players about the changes they've made, and there's always something a little different," Woods said. "It's not even close to the same golf course we used to play. "They might have stretched it just a little bit too much, making some of the holes 40, 50, 60 yards longer," Woods said. "The great thing about that golf course is the risk-reward." David Duval agreed with Woods that some of the changes might be over the top. "You keep adding yardage and you keep eliminating people who can win there," Duval said. "I don't know the entire history of Augusta National Golf Club, but I feel pretty certain the greens 50 years ago were not rolling 12 or 13 [on the Stimpmeter]. Now, with some of these holes, you're going to have difficulty hitting the ball onto the green itself, let alone getting it close." DIVOTS: 1999 NCAA champion Luke Donald of Northwestern has decided to turn pro and signed with global sports management company IMG. Donald, 23, plans to play his first PGA Tour event in two weeks in the Air Canada Championship.
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