This might be a golf blog, but I've got to hand out major kudos to American Hockey League president and CEO Dave Andrews.

On Thursday, the National Hockey League named Andrews a recipient of the 2010 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. One of hockey's most prestigious awards was presented to the NHL by the New York Rangers in 1966. It honors the memory of Lester Patrick, who spent 50 years in hockey as a player, coach and general manager and was a pioneer in the sport's development.

Andrews will be honored at a reception in Boston in late October with three fellow recipients -- Hockey Hall of Famer Cam Neely of the Boston Bruins and college coaching legends Jack Parker (Boston University) and Jerry York (Boston College).

"I'm deeply honored by this award and truly humbled to be amongst a list of former recipients that includes many of the legends in hockey," Andrews said in a statement. "I am very grateful to the selection committee and to the National Hockey League for this great honor."

Since assuming the AHL presidency in 1994, Andrews has guided the AHL through a period of explosive and unprecedented growth, directing the league to record levels of attendance and exposure while expanding its geography across the United States and Canada. Under his direction, the AHL has become the sole primary development league for all 30 NHL organizations and will be operating with an all-time high of 30 teams in its historic 75th anniversary season in 2010-11.

The AHL's footprint has grown dramatically under Andrews, with successful franchises throughout the Northeast, Midwest, and in major United States markets such as Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Milwaukee, San Antonio and, beginning in 2010-11, Charlotte (N.C.) and Oklahoma City. During Andrews' tenure, the AHL and its teams - in the regular season and in marquee events such as the annual AHL All-Star Classic and Calder Cup Playoffs - have been showcased to worldwide audiences on television, satellite radio and the Internet through live online video streaming.

A native of Nova Scotia, Andrews excelled as a goaltender for Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia before playing four seasons professionally. He served as head coach of the Western Hockey League's Victoria Cougars in 1982-84 and as director of AHL operations for the Edmonton Oilers for seven years, including the Cape Breton Oilers' 1993 Calder Cup championship season.

Andrews has always been a straight shooter with this reporter, so I'm delighted he will receive such a prestigious award, which also has gone to Cheshire native and Hall of Fame defenseman Brian Leetch.

The effects of his parents' ailments and so-so play have finally taken their toll on 2009 Travelers Championship winner Kenny Perry.

Perry, who finished in the top 15 in the first two PGA Tour playoffs for the FedEx Cup, is out of postseason play after withdrawing Thursday from the Deutsche Bank Championship, which begins Friday at TPC Boston in Cromwell.

Perry ranks 90th in FedExCup points and only top 70 after the Deutsche Bank Championship ends Monday advances to the third stage, the BMW Championship at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in suburban Chicago.

"Kenny made his decision to withdraw from the Deutsche Bank Championship and consequently the FedExCup Playoffs after much thought and consideration," Perry's agent, Alan Bulllington, said in a statement. "He is mentally and physically exhausted and simply needs a few months at home to rest and refocus.

"We have already begun planning his tournament schedule for 2011, and Kenny is extremely excited about the opportunities that lie ahead on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour."

Perry, who turned 50 on Aug. 10, is eligible to play on both tours but obviously has been run down by his suspect play, the death of his mother and the long illness of his father. After winning five tournaments in the previous two years, Perry's best finish in 2010 is a tie for sixth in his first start of the season, the SBS Championship. Since then, he has failed to produce a top-10, although he did tie for 19th two weeks ago in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.

But Perry missed the cut last in the first playoff event, The Barclays, and had failed to reach weekend play in three of his last four starts. His withdrawal leaves the Deutsche Bank Championship with 99 players, who begin play Friday at 7 a.m. off both tees.

"It just seems like I just don't want to get after it like I used to," Perry said at Bridgestone when asked about his year. "I don't want to just try to kill myself like I did, and it's showing. I don't seem like I hit the golf shots I used to hit. I'm accustomed to hitting, what I've seen from me to hit.

"I don't know if I want it anymore. That's the question I need to answer."

In 2009, Perry finished ninth in FedExCup points thanks largely to his Travelers Championship victory and a tie for fourth at The Tour Championship. In 2008, he was 15th in the playoffs.

But the important thing now is for Perry to get his game, enthusiasm and family matters in order. Good luck to one of golf's really good guys.

The Deutsche Bank Championship is still alive and well.

Deutsche Bank exercised its two-year option for the second round of the PGA Tour playoffs for the FedEx Cup in 2011 and 2012 and will have EMC Corporation as a presenting sponsor. EMC Corporation, a Founders Cup Partner of the tournament since its inception in 2003, is a Hopkington, Mass-based company listed on the New York Stock Exchange with $16 billion in annual revenue that specializes in information infrastructure solutions.

"As Mark Twain once said, 'The rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated,' " Seth Waugh, CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, said during a press conference at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., where the $7.5 million tournament starts Friday. "As I've said all along, and really for the last eight years, we've had an amazing experience with the tour, and it's been an absolute home run for us in every way.  We think about it in terms of our brand. We think about it in terms of our clients.

"Today is the biggest day of the year for us in a lot of ways in that respect. And we think about it in terms of the good it does for the local communities and through charities as well as the economic development aspect of it. We've been told we raise about $60 or $70 million of revenues brought to the region every year, and if you add it up over eight years, it's roughly half a billion dollars, which is real money. And I think someone once told me when I started in the business that the best thing you can ever do for the world or for the economy is to create a job, and I'm hoping that in $500 million there's a number of jobs that have been created out here.

"Our view is that it's never been more important to do that than it is today, frankly, given the state of the world. We're pretty proud of what we've built and have tried every year to raise the bar in different ways -- going green, becoming part of The (PGA TOUR) Playoffs (for the FedExCup), thanks to (commissioner) Tim (Finchem), our military efforts which we announced (Wednesday) in New York, and here, on‑site, as well, and frankly this announcement is another aspect of that.

"We are proud to say that we have added a presenting local sponsor. ... And I'll tell you guys this, when we came up with the idea, I made one phone call, and that phone call was to the man to my right, Bill Scannell (executive vice president of sales for EMC). The first phone call I made was to the tour to make sure this was a good idea. The second call was to Bill, and Bill loved the idea right off the bat.

"We really think bringing in EMC is going to raise the bar for us yet again.  As I always said, we're proud of what we've built, but we don't have an enormous pride of authorship, so we're open to ideas. EMC has been one of our founding partners from the beginning, so really the way to think about it is them stepping up their involvement. ... We think this partnership will guarantee that the Deutsche Bank Championship will be in New England for a long time to come."

The new alliance was announced after Waugh played in the pro-am with Scannell and 2006 Deutsche Bank Championship winner Tiger Woods, whose foundation is the chief beneficiary of the tournament. During media day Aug. 2, Waugh hinted the global banking firm might not pick up its option because it has been losing money in a recessionary international economy for years. The bank's European PGA Tour commitment ended in 2009, but its spot on the PGA Tour remains intact.

Deutsche Bank originally signed a four-year extension that went into effect in 2007 and coincided with the Deutsche Bank Championship's alignment with the playoffs. This week's tournament marked the end of that agreement, but now it will continue that's to EMC upping its ante.

"We've been thrilled to be part of the Deutsche Bank Championship for the past eight years," Scannell said. "We get a lot out of it, and we're thrilled that it gives a lot back to the community and the local charities. And as Seth said, when he called me, it was a very quick conversation, and we said, 'Yeah, we're all in, we'd love to do this with you guys.'

"We're right down the road so it makes a lot of sense for us, for our local customers and employees and, as I said, certainly the community and local charities. So we're very excited."

Scannell then sounded like Travelers vice president and CEO Andy Bessett when he announced the Hartford-based insurance giant was becoming the title sponsor of Connecticut's annual PGA Tour stop in 2008 and again last year, when he announced an extension through 2014.

"We started 15 years ago with the EMC golf skills, which was a made-for-TV event with the PGA, and then we did the World Golf," Scannell said. "We had to kind of pull back our investment in 2000 when things were kind of going bad. But the time seems right to get back in and, as I said earlier, there's a lot of good reasons to do this.

"We like the affiliation with the tour. We love the affiliation with Deutsche Bank.  They're a large customer of ours and we're a large customer of theirs, and it's just a real good partnership and some real good friendships. It's just that now seemed like the right time to get back into this in a bigger way and support this event.  And being a local company, it makes all the sense in the world to us."

Finchem said he was "delighted" with the development of the new partnership.

"The continuity of the relationships involved here is very, very important," Finchem said. "As Seth mentioned, the relationships have been the core of what's built this tournament, and when we have all the best players in the world playing in the playoffs, it's important to have a tournament staged at the quality level that we've seen here in order to communicate that effectively here and around the world. And that's what this partnership has provided.

When the Deutsche Bank Championship debuted, it marked the tour's return to the Boston market after the departure of the New England Classic in 1998. Adam Scott won the inaugural event, followed by Vijay Singh, Olin Browne and Woods. With the introduction of the FedExCup in 2007, the Deutsche Bank featured a memorable duel between Woods and Phil Mickelson, who prevailed with a two-stroke victory. Singh repeated as champion in 2008 on his way to the FedExCup title, and Steve Stricker captured last year's title by a stroke over Jason Dufner and Scott Verplank.

The new marriage (sorry to link the word with you, Tiger) will end officials of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell from continuing to consider moving into the Deutsche Bank Championship slot. In 2009, Travelers extended its title sponsorship through 2014, but tournament director Nathan Grube had said the event had considered a possible move for months but wouldn't have further comment until Deutsche Bank announced its decision.

It's too bad the Travelers Championship won't be moving from the week after the U.S. Open to Labor Day weekend, which was the tournament's time slot for many years after it began as the Insurance City Open at Wethersfield Country Club in 1952. But golf fans throughout New England will still have two PGA Tour events to watch each year, and that's a good thing.

TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., is one of the least fan-friendly golf courses in the world as spectators can't walk on both sides of any of the 18 holes.

But PGA Tour officials have made it about as easy as possible for Connecticut fans to watch the two players with state ties compete in the first two rounds of the second FedEx Cup playoff event, the Deutsche Bank Championship.

University of Hartford grad Tim Petrovic and Fairfield native J.J. Henry will play in successive threesomes the first 36 holes. The only easier way to watch them is if they were paired together.

Petrovic, ranked 58th in the FedEx Cup points standings, will play with No. 59 Charley Hoffman and No. 60 David Toms in the group that tees off on the first tee at 8:12 a.m. Friday and 12:42 p.m. on the 10th tee Saturday.

No. 82 Henry plays with close friend and No. 83 Chad Campbell and No. 84 Paul Goydos at 8:24 p.m. Friday and 12:54 p.m. Saturday, the latest starting time the second day.

Matt Kuchar, who birdied the first playoff hole to beat Martin Laird in The Barclays on Sunday, will start Friday at 8 a.m. on the 10th tee and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on the first tee with No. 2 Steve Stricker and No. 3 Laird.

No. 9 Bubba Watson, who won his first PGA Tour title in the Travelers Championship in June, starts Friday at 7:48 on the 10th tee and Saturday at 12:18 p.m. on the first tee with No. 7 Hunter Mahan, winner of the 2006 Travelers Championship, and Jim Furyk, who fell from third to eighth on the points list after being disqualified from The Barclays for missing his starting time in the pro-am after his cell phone alarm didn't go off because the battery died.   

Phil Mickelson, who missed the cut in The Barclays to slip to 10th in the FedEx Cup points list, tees off Friday at 12:16 p.m. on the first tee and Saturday at 7:48 a.m. on the 10th tee with No. 11 Ben Crane and No. 12 Jeff Overton.

Tiger Woods, who tied for 12th in the Barclays to move from 112th to 65th in the standings, starts Friday at 11:42 a.m. on the 10th tee and Saturday at 7:12 a.m. on the first tee with No. 64 John Senden and No. 66 Michael Sim.

Tee times for the first two rounds have been moved up 40 minutes because of concerns about Hurricane Earl. The first two threesomes in the 100-man field will start at 7 a.m., and course superintendent Tom Brodeur has assembled a group of volunteers to clear limbs and other debris from TPC Boston, if necessary.

But it will depend on what Mother Nature decides to do. Hurricane Earl, packing winds of 125 mph, is headed up the East Coast and likely will impact the Massachusetts coast sometime on Friday, though no one is sure when or how severe it will be.

"We'll know a lot more (Thursday)," Mark Russell, vice president of rules and competitions for the PGA Tour, told reporters Wednesday.

The good news is Earl is a fast-moving storm. If it arrives Friday afternoon, the skies should be clear by Saturday morning and temperatures will drop into the low to mid-70s. There also would still be the potential to get some play in before the heaviest rain and strongest winds, with three good days remaining to finish on schedule.

But if Earl should speed up and reach Massachusetts on Friday morning, anything is possible. And a more westerly path would mean a more significant impact inland in terms of rain and gale force winds.

"If it's further east, then obviously we get lesser amounts here and it's a lot better," on-site meteorologist Stewart Williams said. "But if it keeps trending a little west, then we get into ... a stronger core of winds and even more rain, so then we've got a bigger problem."

Tournament officials have already met several times to discuss contingency plans. The safety of the spectators and players will obviously be a prime consideration.

When Williams gets the latest models on Thursday, there will be more discussions about when and whether play can reasonably be expected to begin on schedule Friday.

"Hopefully Earl will slide more to the east, but there's nothing we can do about it either way," Russell said.

Russell said it's rare the PGA Tour deals with a hurricane. He remembers one that came ashore during a tournament at Kingsmill, Va., but after it blew through and the course was cleaned up, play was able to resume on two tees.

Heavy winds have also impacted The Honda Classic and Farmers Insurance Open, blowing down tents and signage.

"We've had close calls before, but (Kingsmill) is the only one I can remember that caused us any problems," Russell said.

But for now, it's a waiting game.

"There's nothing we can do," Russell said. "We've got 100 players. We'll just see what happens."

The low 70 in the FedEx Cup standings after the final round Monday advance to the third round of the playoffs, the BMW Championships at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in suburban Chicago. The top 30 after the BMW Championships qualify for the playoff finale, The Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Congratulations to Brian Ahern for adding the Connecticut State Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship title to the CSGA Amateur that he won 11 years ago.

The 35-year-old from Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford rallied from a three-stroke deficit after the first round to a five-stroke victory over two-time CSGA player of the year Jeff Hedden at Rockrimmon CC in Stamford.

Ahern shot 1-under-par 143 for 36 holes Tuesday to finish as the only player under par at 213. Ahern, who took five years off from competitive golf in the middle of the decade, took the lead after a morning 70 and never was threatened during an afternoon 73.

"I couldn't be more thrilled than you can possibly imagine," Ahern told The Hartford Courant. "This one trumps the Am."

Ahern got no argument from Hedden, who was trying to join close friend and fellow Black Hall Club in Old Lyme standout Bill Hermanson as a five-time winner of the event for players 25 and over.

"From tee to green, Brian was consistent all day," said Hedden, who shot 72-75 while playing with Ahern and first-round leader Jim Gentile, the winner in 1997 and 2004 who tied for sixth after 78-77. "I couldn't put any pressure on him, in part because he was so steady and good."

Ahern's play was especially noteworthy after the 1998 UConn grad returned to golf 21/2 years ago after the five-year hiatus.

"Golf was life and death, and I needed to get away," he said.

But Ahern has now got back in a big way, showing that perseverance, determination, a better mental approach and a good game plan can go a long way.

I came across a terrific story that Lauren Deason of PGATOUR.COM did on veteran Brad Faxon.

A lot of golfers -- and non-golfers -- are well aware of Faxon's notable 23 years on the tour, including a playoff victory in the 2005 Buick (now Travelers) Championship in Cromwell, and his extensive charity work, especially with longtime buddy and fellow Rhode Islander Billy Andrade, who have helped raise nearly $12 million for charity in their hometown region.

Faxon and Andrade also have been longtime supporters of the PGA Tour stop in Connecticut, whether it was played at Wethersfield Country Club or the Tournament Players Club in Cromwell. Faxon was even part of the design team that built the four-hole course north of the TPC that's the home of the First Tee of Connecticut, and his wife, Dory, head the PGA Tour Wives Association, Inc., an organization that gives back to many of the golf communities that the tour visits.

Here's Deason's look at Faxon not long after he won the 2005 Payne Stewart Award for his playing skills and, more importantly, his efforts off the golf course.

By Lauren Deason, PGATOUR.COM Staff

The individual accolades that golfers earn too often define their place in this solo sport.

Major winner. Defending champion. Player of the Year. Tournament title holder.

Then there are the PGA TOUR players who fit into a small and exclusive category: Payne Stewart Award winner. Unlike the others, this group is recognized not just for their individual accomplishments but for how they relate to fans, colleagues and those in need.

Brad Faxon is the epitome of such a relationship-builder, one who works well with and for other people. That's not to say that he hasn't had his share of accomplishments-he has amassed eight victories on the PGA TOUR over his 23-year career--but when taking a look at his impact, it is the relationships that Faxon has formed in a highly individualistic sport that really make him stand out.

Greenwood/Getty Images

Brad Faxon received the Payne Stewart Award in 2005.

Take a look at what he has been able to accomplish with help from a friend. Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the U.S., but it sure houses two pros with big hearts. Good buddies and TOUR golfers Faxon and Billy Andrade paired up in 1991 to form Billy Andrade/Brad Faxon Charities for Children, which has given close to $5 million to kids in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

Faxon and Andrade serve as co-hosts of the CVS Charity Classic, which has donated $6.5 million to all different kinds of people in need in Rhode Island. The two are also co-chairs of Button Hole, a short course that serves as a teaching and learning center for kids.

As if that weren't enough, Faxon created a junior golf foundation that introduces kids to the game. He puts on a junior golf day and does a clinic for about 300 kids. Additionally, a scholarship was created in his name for kids that go to college who are in some way involved with golf.

Then there's his relationship with his wife Dory, who heads the PGA TOUR Wives Association, Inc., an organization that gives back to many of the golf communities the TOUR visits. Through Dory, Brad has been exposed to even more charitable efforts.

"I've kind of dragged him in on the TOUR side and made him come to things with me," she said with a smile. "We've been involved on the advisory board of an organization called Christina's Smile, which is an 18-wheeler mobile dental clinic that goes to a lot of the TOUR stops. We have become very friendly with the founder and president of that, Richard Garza. We show up and show our support and it's a great thing. They actually come to Rhode Island now because of our connection to them."

For all of these efforts, both alone and with his friend Andrade and wife Dory, as well as his friendly attitude and on-course demeanor, Faxon was named the 2005 Payne Stewart Award recipient.

"Certainly his career accomplishments speak for themselves, but Brad Faxon's lasting impact has come through his charitable work. Brad has taken the TOUR's philosophy of Giving Back and expanded it to a level that has become well known throughout the golf community and beyond," said PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem in November of 2005. "As a family man, a golfer and through his work with the CVS Charity Classic, Brad Faxon embodies everything the Payne Stewart Award represents."

It was Finchem who called to tell him the good news and Faxon was extremely moved by the recognition.

"I was really choked up," Faxon said shortly after winning. "The award is voted on by the past recipients, guys I worshipped and idolized -- and still do -- so it was like a dream."

Even a year later, Faxon is still touched by the honor.

"I lived in Orlando when [Payne] was alive and we played a lot of golf together and our kids were the same age. He was an unbelievably great guy who changed for the better as his life went on and then, boom, he was gone. It was sad, the saddest thing in the world. I think it is an award you don't think about winning but then you think, if everyone tried to win this award, we would all be better off."

"The PGA TOUR created the Payne Stewart Award for more than just giving back. That's a big part of the award but it's also how you conduct yourself, all the stuff that I don't like to talk about but it's important. Yourself as a role model to others, how you carry yourself, how you dress."

Former recipients of the award include 2000 co-honorees Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Nick Price in 2002, Tom Watson in 2003 and 2004 winner Jay Haas. Faxon was touched to be among such talented company, but also took time to reflect on life-long memories of the man for whom the award was named.

"I remember playing with Payne my first year on TOUR in the last group at Disney. I was the slowest player in the world back then, and he wasn't having a very good round. I finished third that day. I remember he came over and congratulated me on what a great round I'd had," said Faxon, as he recalled just one of many memories of Stewart, who was killed when his LearJet flew uncontrolled until it ran out of gas and crashed into a field on the way to THE TOUR Championship in 1999.

"But he also told me I needed to learn to play faster," added Faxon. "He was giving me that advice to help me, and I'll always remember that. I'll also remember him chomping on that gum and his laugh, his cackle -- and of course, that putt at Pinehurst."

Faxon is proud to follow in 11-time TOUR winner Stewart's footsteps by helping those who are less fortunate.

"We're lucky being in a position where we can give back. The TOUR is set up in the right way, where people can earn money and give it back."

The congratulations just keep on coming for Fran Marrello.

The Canaan Country Club pro won another Senior Connecticut PGA Championship Tuesday at Stonington Country Club, shooting 1-under-par 71 for a 36-hole total of 143 and a one-stroke victory on Ted Perez.

Marrello won the Raymond Harper Trophy, $1,000 and one of three section spots in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship on Oct. 7-10 at Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells, Calif., and Rancho La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, Calif. Perez (East Mountain GC-Westfield, Mass.) and John Paesani (Norwich GC) earned the other two berths in the national championship.

Marrello started the final round tied for the lead with Perez and held off a charge by a number of competitiors. Perez shot a second 72 for 144, one less than Paesani (72), Mike Carney (Watertown GC, 72) and Craig Kealey (Farmingbury Hills CC-Wolcott, 71).

In 2009, Marrello became the first player to win the player of the year and senior player of the year in the same year. He still has a shot to repeat that feat this year, but he's well behind player of the year leader Kevin Giancola with only three events remaining.

On Monday, Ray Mahon (Oak Lane CC-Woodbridge) shot 4-over 76 to win the 18-hole Legends division.

Senior Division scores and winnings

1   Fran Marrello      Canaan Country Club             72-71--143 -1
$1,000.00
2   Ted Perez          East Mountain Country Club      72-72--144 E 
$750.00
T3  Craig Kealey       Farmingbury Hills Country Club  74-71--145 +1
$491.67
T3  John Paesani       Norwich GC                      73-72--145 +1
$491.67
T3  Mike Carney        Watertown Golf Club             73-72--145 +1
$491.67
T6  Jack McConachie    Pine Valley Golf Course         74-72--146 +2
$287.50
T6  Tony Kelley        Wyckoff Country Club            73-73--146 +2
$287.50
T8  Tom Gleeton        Country Club of Waterbury       75-75--150 +6 
T8  Paul Ryiz          Brownson Country Club           75-75--150 +6 
T8  Bob Kay            Tumble Brook Country Club       74-76--150 +6 
11  Paul Brown         Southington Country Club        75-76--151 +7 
T12 Dave Cook          Pomperaug Golf Course           79-73--152 +8 
T12 Mickey Hawkes      Hawkes Golf Vehicles, LLC       78-74--152 +8 
14  Bobby Powell       The First Tee of Connecticut    79-74--153 +9 
15  Michael Myszkowski Stonington Country Club         76-78--154 +10
16  Lloyd Matey        The GC at Oxford Greens         75-80--155 +11
17  David Rhinehart    New London Country Club         80-76--156 +12
18  Ralph DeNicolo     Manchester Country Club         79-78--157 +13
19  Mike Gramelis      Golf Galaxy-Milford           81-82--163 +19
20  Larry Graham       Westwoods Golf Course           79-85--164 +20
T21 John Nowobilski    Tallwood Country Club           90-77--167 +23
T21 Tim Gavronski      Shuttle Meadow Country Club     77-90--167 +23

DID NOT FINISH

WD  Tom DiRico         Chicopee Country Club           77-WD

Just can't stop Kenny Green's frankness and good humor when dealing with most any subject.

Today it's European captain Colin Montgomerie's three picks to fill his his 12-man Ryder Cup team that will play the United States Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Wales.

As usual, Kenny has an opinion --- a really strong one, as usual --- and isn't afraid to say it publicly. 

Here's his latest thoughts on his blog:

Mount this,

I have no choice but to open up my mouth again. How on earth does Mountdopey leave off Justin Rose and Paul Casey from the Euro side? Rose has only won twice this year over here (Memorial and AT&T Classic and probably should have won the Travelers Championship). Their qualifying system is obviously flawed. Casey is also much better than the other Euros. Monty has never won over here, which is stunning in its own right. So it will be justice if they lose and you can clearly blame him and their system for their potential failure.

More important is the disgrace of leaving that young man off the team. It has to be personal with not taking either one. Nothing against the Italian (Edoardo Molinaro), but it's very possible a PR stun to help European golf -- brothers is a story (Fernando Molinaro is also on the team). Clearly, you might be able to tell I'm not a Mountdopey fan. He has been an ass for as long as he has been around. I will wager that he will someday be elected into the Hall of Fame and never have won in the United States.

Now, for some even more stunning news. My leg has come back firing and has been stupid ugly. We believe it might be connected with the "sympathetic nervous system." There is no doubt in my mind that the recent news has affected my system. The emotional stress I have put on myself is waking up the pain gods I guess. We are going to do another block tomorrow, and if that does not work, we will be putting in a spinal implant that will hopefully help me cut off the pain.

Very glad for Matt Kuchar (won The Barclays on Sunday). He is a good kid and has fought his way back from the bottom.

Be good, my friends. Also, someone invited me to play in Nashville, but I have lost his email. Thank you and think of me next year, but I will be in CT playing a member guest with one of my dearest friends on those dates. I may be a regular on that circuit -- MG, I mean.

Ken

What did I tell you? Kenny has always had the streak of Cosell in him, telling it like it is. That's what I always have loved about him, but it's also why I've told him he never knows when to shut off the faucet. But better too much than too little, like most of the pros these days.

Major kudos to officials of the Deutsche Bank Championship, which begins Friday at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass.

Executives and guests from Deutsche Bank and members of the United States Armed Forces will visit the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday to launch the bank's U.S. veterans outreach program, a broad recruitment and support effort for former military personnel.

As part of the event, Deutsche Bank will announce several new initiatives, including a new employee network group, which will promote career development and support for the veteran community inside the bank and throughout the financial services industry.

In honor of the special occasion, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Dennis McCarthy, will join Deutsche Bank Americas CEO Seth Waugh on the podium to ring the opening bell at 9:30 a.m. Also attending will be the Commanding General of the United States Army Reserve, Lieutenant General Jack Stultz; Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard, Major General Joseph Carter; Adjutant General of the New York National Guard, Brigadier General Patrick Murphy; and Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Command Sergeant Major John Gipe.

Defending champion Steve Stricker, No. 2 in the FedEx Cup points standings, will also be present to help mark the start of the eighth Deutsche Bank Championship, which will feature an expanded program for members of the military that will include an opening ceremony to kick off the Championship and Red Sox Pro-Am as well as a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a new Military Patriot Outpost on-site. The DBC also will provide complimentary admission to all active, reserve and retired military service members and their dependents throughout the week.

A live webcast of the opening bell (9:29 a.m.) and closing bell (3:59 p.m.) will be available on the homepage of nyse.com.

Nice going, DBC. We can't do enough to recognize those who put their lives on the line every day to allow us to live in freedom. Whenever you see a member of the armed forces, take a moment to extend your hand and say thanks. You'll feel much better.

The PGA Tour made a good first move Tuesday, and it had nothing to do with a takeaway on a swing.

Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced the suspension of the rule that resulted in Jim Furyk's disqualification last week from The Barclays for being late to his pro-am starting time. This part of the regulation will be suspended for the duration of the 2010 season.

What made Furyk's inadvertent tardiness because his cell phone alarm didn't go off because of a dead battery was the fact he arrived at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J., just minutes after his scheduled tee time. His amateur playing partners could have played one hole without him, then enjoyed his company and game for the remaining 17 holes. It wasn't like Jim, ranked No. 3 in the FedEx Cup points standings entering the first playoff event of the year, was blowing off his obligation with some lame excuse.

Now, if a player is late, the situation will be handled as a matter of unbecoming conduct. The player will participate in the rest of the pro-am round and might be required to perform additional sponsor activity. A player who missed his entire pro-am obligation will still be ruled ineligible for the tournament unless he has been excused in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.

Well, that sure makes sense to me and is exactly what should have happened to Furyk.

Finchem has asked the Player Advisory Council and player directors to evaluate the current pro-am regulations to determine if alternative measures can effectively ensure players honor their pro-am obligations without placing them at risk of disqualification. The matter will be discussed at the policy board meeting in November.

Hopefully the board and players will agree on what is being done for the rest of the year. It won't help Furyk, but it's the right thing to do. And Jim should again be commended for his classy behavior. I'm sure he wasn't happy sitting home last week, but now he should receive even greater support after the way he handled the matter. Jim, good luck this weekend at the Deutsche Bank Championship and throughout the playoffs. It would be poetic justice if you won the FedEx Cup and its $10 million bonus.