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Notebook More on the ERC driver; O'Meara headed to Macau
Posted: Tuesday May 09, 2000 06:33 PM
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Any player who has raved that Callaway's new -- and USGA non-conforming -- ERC driver gives them as much as 30 extra yards off the tee must not have been involved in an unscientific study conducted by Golf Digest. The magazine organized a test of the new club by asking a top tour player with at least one major championship to try it out. The player requested anonymity. Measuring nine solid drives with each driver, the test revealed the ERC averaged 6.9 yards more carry and 2.4 yards more roll than Callaway's Hawk Eye. Complete results will be available in this week's issue of sister publication Golf World. Of particular interest is that Golf Digest used a 9-degree model, which has not been submitted to the USGA to measure for spring-like effect. The non-conforming model is an 11-degree driver. The magazine used the 9-degree driver because that's the loft used by most tour players.
O'Meara in MacauMark O'Meara stands a reasonable chance this week of winning for the first time since beating Tiger Woods in the World Match Play Championship in England at the end of his spectacular 1998 season. No, he's not in the Byron Nelson Classic. O'Meara, who has missed the Nelson just once since 1987, is playing in the Macau Open. "It's a treat for me to play in different parts of the world," he said. O'Meara will be going up against the Asian PGA Tour's top players -- Kyi Hla Han of Myanmar, the leading money-winner last year; Yeh Wei-tze of Taiwan, who leads this year's money list; and fellow American Gerry Norquist, who plays the European tour. The total purse is $200,000.
Volunteer dutyThe Home Depot Invitational raises more than $100,000 for 22 charities around Charlotte, N.C. Just as significant was the contribution that came from the volunteers who worked the Senior PGA Tour event last week. They pitched in $2,350 for the Latrobe (Pa.) Area Hospital Charitable Foundation in memory of Winnie Palmer, the wife of Arnold Palmer who died of cancer in November. "Through the years, Arnold has done so much for golf as well as charities in the greater Charlotte area," said David Kale, tournament volunteer chairman. "We wanted to help in some small way by making a contribution to a cause very close to his heart."
Wedgie's worldBrian "Wedgie" Alexander, the caddie who has stuck with John Daly through some rather lean years, has found a new line of work. Alexander showed up on the range at the Nelson Classic on Tuesday sporting credentials as a tour representative for an upstart equipment company. "I just needed some stability," Alexander said. A steady paycheck will come with it. In 11 events this year, Daly has missed five cuts and withdrew from another. His best finish is a tie for 16th, with official earnings of $79,512.
Seve showThe best example that the score is ultimately all that matters comes from none other than Seve Ballesteros. In the second round of the French Open, Ballesteros hit one tee shot so far left that it cleared a lake and landed in the adjacent fairway, some 100 yards off target. From there, Ballesteros hit a 9-iron to 6 feet and made the birdie. "I hit it only three times. That's what counts," Ballesteros said. This from the same man who, when asked what happened on a four-putt, once said, "I miss the putt. I miss the putt. I miss the putt. I hole the putt."
Wonder WebbKarrie Webb is pretty heroic off the course, too. Along with winning seven times in nine starts this year, the 25-year-old Aussie recently wrote a letter and included a $1,000 check to a 26-year-old weekend radio disc jockey in West Palm Beach, Fla., who was paralyzed from the neck down after a car accident. The DJ, Jonathan LaVarnway, had no medical insurance. Paralysis is important to Webb. Her only coach, Kelvin Haller, is a quadriplegic, and Webb recently announced her first charity pro-am to raise money for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
Caddie shackThe only one who might have suffered more than Ernie Els and David Duval at the Masters was Kieran Docherty, the caddie for Carlos Franco who tore the ACL in his right knee during the third round at Augusta. At least Els and Duval will get another crack at a major. "Doc," who first started working with Franco on the Japanese tour and lives in British Columbia, may not be able to have surgery until the fall because he's classified as a "non-emergency." The alternative is paying $13,000 for the operation in Seattle. Along with carrying the bag the past five years, Docherty is the travel agent, chauffeur and business manager for Franco, who speaks little English. Both speak a little Japanese. In the meantime, Jimmy Johnson filled in during the Compaq Classic, although Docherty is expected to return when he recovers. "Unless he goes out and wins five in a row with this guy," Docherty told the Vancouver Sun last week. "Then I'm done." One down, four to go.
DivotsHale Irwin is the latest to have Lasik eye surgery, along with his daughter, son and son-in-law. "Now we all walk around the house smiling and saying, `Nice to see you' to each other. It's the ultimate family togetherness story." ... With CNBC taking over coverage of the Senior PGA Tour next year, LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw is hopeful that will lead to more of his tournaments on ESPN. ... Meg Mallon got this year's American Stroke Challenge off to a good start last week by making 13 birdies in the Philips Invitational. Bayer Aspirin is donating $1,500 to stroke research for every birdie made by Mallon and Corey Pavin in the month of May. Pavin took last week off, but is playing in the Byron Nelson this week. ... Ernie Els and Fred Couples both withdrew from the Nelson Classic citing back problems. Craig Stadler also withdrew because of sore ribs.
Stat of the weekColin Montgomerie could move up to No. 2 in the world ranking this week by winning the Benson & Hedges at The Belfry, and having David Duval finish worse than 15th in the Nelson Classic.
Final word"I've been trying to do that for years." -- Tiger Woods, after 8-year-old Michael Ready hit a shot that almost hit a photographer during Woods' youth clinic in Oklahoma City.
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