Golf Notes
Duval, Woods battling for lowest scoring average
Posted: Tuesday October 27, 1998 02:25 PM
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Duval would have to finish four strokes ahead of Woods to win the Byron Nelson Award for lowest scoring average Craig Jones/Allsport |
ATLANTA (AP) -- While David Duval has all but wrapped up the money title, the battle for the lowest scoring average on tour could come down to the last hole at East Lake Golf Club this week in the $4 million Tour Championship.
Duval, a four-time winner on tour this year, had a 3-over-par 75 in the final round of the Disney Classic last week, which allowed Tiger Woods to regain the lead. Woods had a 70 on Sunday and finished six strokes ahead of Duval.
Last week, Duval had a 69.02 average to 69.06 for Woods. Going into the Tour Championship, Woods is back in the lead at 69.10, compared to 69.14 for Duval.
Woods, who has won just once on tour this year, was asked which was more important -- the money title or the scoring average.
"Scoring average, by far," he said. "The money title is based upon what you do in certain tournaments; certain purses are better than others. I think a true measure of a player, how good he is playing for an entire year, is stroke average."
Although scores are adjusted at every tournament based on field performance, it appears Duval would have to finish four strokes ahead of Woods to win the Byron Nelson Award for lowest scoring average.
If Duval can pull it off, it would be only the fifth time since 1981 that a player has won the money title and the scoring average in the same year. The others were Tom Lehman (1996), Greg Norman (1990, 1995), Fred Couples (1992) and Tom Kite (1981).
That assumes that Duval wins the money title, which at this point looks like a lock. The only player with a chance to catch him is Jim Furyk, who would have to win the Tour Championship and hope that Duval finishes 25th or worse in the 30-man field.
Penney pair
Here's more evidence that the mixed-team JCPenney Classic in December is in the heart of silly season: Annika Sorenstam has agreed to play, but only if her husband, David Esch, can be her partner.
"I'd rather play and have a good time than just pick someone and compete," Sorenstam said. "He's a scratch golfer. It might be a test for our marriage, but this is a super opportunity for me and David."
Not everyone feels that way.
The JCPenney team consists of a PGA and LPGA player, and some feel Esch -- who is turning pro for the event -- is taking away a sponsor's exemption from another player. Sorenstam wanted to play with fellow Swede Jesper Parnevik, but he'll be in the Million Dollar Challenge in South Africa that week.
"I think it's a mistake because he's not a real pro," Dottie Pepper said. "Those exemptions were made for pros."
"I don't think it's right," Tom Purtzer said, "but it's not my call."
Tournament director Gerald Goodman said he and IMG officials tried to find a partner for Sorenstam, but finally relented.
"We're in a position to have the greatest woman's player in the world," he said. "This is a Presidents Cup year and she tried to secure a top-ranked player. But she still wanted to come to the tournament."
Aces update
The aces keep piling up for Bradley Farmer.
The 15-year-old from Madison, Tennessee, who recorded six of them in a span of 41 days this summer, got into the groove again last week. He got yet another hole-in-one on the 135-yard third hole at The Hermitage with a 9-iron on Oct. 22.
Turns out, he was just warming up.
"He got two more in the same round the next day," said his father, Roger Farmer. "It was pretty bizarre."
Farmer used a 5-iron from 185 yards on No. 3 at Pine Creek, and an 8-iron from 145 yards on the 12th hole. Troy Fairley, the head pro at Pine Creek, confirmed the aces.
"He hits the ball pretty straight," Fairley said.
That gives Farmer nine aces in 73 days. His two at Pine Creek helped him shoot a 64, although it wasn't enough to break his course record of 61.
Said Bradley: "I missed a few putts early."
Down to his last chip
The final tally on Chip Beck's season isn't pretty. He played in 28 tournaments, made two cuts and earned $10,866, for an average of $388.07 per start. Beck finished 271st on the money list.
Beck, a four-time winner and the last player to shoot 59 on the PGA Tour, has one last chance to turn around his fortunes.
He was exempt this year for being in the top 25 on the career money list. Now he can use his one-time exemption for being in the top 50.
Three players used their top-50 exemption for 1998 and survived -- Fuzzy Zoeller finished 101st on the money list, Scott Simpson won for a two-year exemption and John Huston won twice, including the Disney Classic on Sunday.
Presidential fallout
The Presidents Cup has its first casualty. Jumbo Ozaki, who ranks fourth in standings for the International team, has told captain Peter Thomson that he won't be playing.
Thomson told the Melbourne Age it was both a "shame" and a "disappointment."
The reasons for Ozaki, 51, backing out could be related to his golf equipment business, which is struggling along with the rest of the Asian economy. And he has never been a big fan of international travel.
Of his 105 victories, only one -- the New Zealand PGA Championship in 1972 -- came outside Japan. He did play in the 1996 Presidents Cup in Virginia, but only after a serious plea from Thomson. He was 1-2-0 in his matches, but later said he never felt like an integral part of the team since most players were 20 years younger.
Divots
The PGA Tour team for the Wendy's Three-Tour Challenge will be Fred Couples, Justin Leonard and Davis Love III. Couples has been on the past two teams, both PGA Tour victories. ... For the first time since the rookie-of-the-year award began in 1990, a rookie failed to win a PGA Tour event this year. Steve Flesch is the frontrunner for the award, having finished 35th on the money list. ... John Daly and Scott Verplank will represent the United States in the World Cup of Golf next month in New Zealand. ...The Doral-Ryder Open is the latest tournament to announce a major increase in its purse, from $2 million to $3 million, with $540,000 going to the winner. ... The Australasian PGA plans to start a development tour in 2000. Executive director Arthur Sanderson said it would take place in Australasia's offseason, March to October, so that players without other tour cards could gain experience. ... The Royal & Ancient says it will not raise ticket prices for the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie. Once again, those 16 and under will be allowed in free.
Stat of the week
Since the Tour Championship began in 1987, five of the 11 winners failed to finish in the top 30 on the money list the next year and were unable to defend their title - Tom Watson (1987), Jodie Mudd (1990), Jim Gallagher Jr. (1993), Mark McCumber (1994) and Billy Mayfair (1995).
Final word
"Put it this way: I can still hit with an 8-iron over 200 yards any time I want." -- Tiger Woods, on how he has learned to control his distance.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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