September 2010 Archives

Three of the four present and former Travelers Championship winners on the U.S. Ryder Cup team will see action in the opening foursomes (best-ball) matches Friday morning at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales.

Phil Mickelson, the only back-to-back winner in Travelers Championship history, will start the proceedings with fellow long hitter Dustin Johnson in the first match against Lee Westwood, Europe's No. 1 player back after an almost two-month hiatus with a calf injury, and PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer. Mickelson and Johnson, two of the best sportsmen in the game, have played a lot of practice rounds together lately since Johnson began using Mickelson's coach, Butch Harmon, as his coach. Johnson didn't make a playoff between Kaymer and reigning Travelers Championship champion Bubba Watson when he got assessed a two-stroke penalty on the last hole of regulation for unknowingly grounding his club in a bunker.

Two-time Travelers winner Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar, whose grandparents live in Madison, then take on outspoken upstart Rory McIlroy and U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell. So it was Georgia Tech vs. Ireland.

Tiger Woods, one of U.S. captain Corey Pavin's four wild-card picks, then plays with close friend Steve Stricker against Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter, Europe's best player in its loss two years who once said he and Tiger would be vying for the No. 1 spot in the world. Woods and Stricker were 4-0 in the U.S.'s victory in the Presidents Cup last year.

In the cleanup spot, long-hitting Bubba Watson, who won his only PGA Tour title in the Travelers Championship in June, will team with fellow Ryder Cup rookie against three-time majors winner Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald, two of European captain Colin Montgomerie's three wild-card picks.

The afternoon foursomes (alternate-shot) pairings will be announced as the morning matches wind down, and Pavin and Montgomerie each said they plan to play all 12 of their players the first day.

In the morning, Pavin is sitting 2007 Travelers winner Hunter Mahan, who played all five sessions in 2008; Jim Furyk, who won The Tour Championship and FedEx Cup on Sunday; and captain's picks Zach Johnson and Rickie Fowler. Montgomerie isn't using Miguel Angel Jimenez, Peter Hanson and the Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco, who won the World Cup last year.

Golf fans can get an early start and fix Friday, as ESPN will start its telecast at 2:30 a.m. ET (7:30 in Wales), with Mickelson-Johnson/Westwood-Kaymer match scheduled to start 15 minutes later. Barring four blowouts, the foursomes will begin as the begins as the four-balls are ending, so look for those sitting out in the morning to be paired in the afternoon.

The format is the same on Saturday, then there will be 12 singles matches on Sunday. The first team to 141/2 points wins the Ryder Cup, but if the match is tied at 14, the U.S. retains the Cup after capturing it two years ago. But the American side hasn't won in Europe since 1993.

So get psyched everyone!!! Set your alarm for an earlier than usual wakeup call or just say up all night, nestle onto the couch and watch until your eyes fall shut. I'm taking the latter approach.

I think Europe will win 21/2-11/2 this morning and will prevail 141/2-131/2 at the end of what is certain to be another emotional demonstration of golf and spectating.

But I hope not. USA!!! USA!!! USA!!! Go USA!!!

You need a scorecard (no pun intended) to figure out the lead in the Viking Classic, the first stop in the PGA Tour's Fall Series.

Bill Haas, Bill Lunde and Brendon de Jonge each made an eagle 3 in 6-under-par 66s that gave them a share of the six-way lead after the first round Thursday at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Miss.

Rhode Islander Brett Quigley, Arjun Atwal and Ken Duke also have a piece of the top spot, with only de Jonge having played in the tougher afternoon wave of the field.

"I've never played in conditions like this," said Atwal, who said he was a bit rusty after a five-week layoff since winning the Wyndham Championship but birdied six of his last 11 holes. "I've always played when it's softer. But it's playing perfect, it's firm. It's just the way it's supposed to be played."

De Jonge had six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 seventh to offset two bogeys.

"It got a little bit tricky out there," De Jonge said of the swirling winds on the front nine.

Quigley, 152nd on the PGA Tour money list, is one of the players working to lock up an exemption for 2011. Quigley, winless on 386 starts on tour, birdied six of his last eight holes, including the final three to tie his low score of the year.

Haas, winner of the Bob Hope Classic in January who finished one spot out of making the 30-man field in The Tour Championship, finished birdie-par-birdie-eagle. Haas, son of PGA and Champions Tour player Jay Haas, has tied for third and fourth in his two starts at Annandale.

Lunde, winner of the Turning Stone Resort Championship earlier this month, had an eagle 3 at No. 7. Duke, making only his fourth PGA Tour start after spending most of the year on the Nationwide Tour, got to 7 under until he made double-bogey 6 at No. 17 and bogeyed the 18th.

Former University of Hartford teammates Jerry Kelly and Tim Petrovic shot 70 and 74 and are tied for 26th and 117th. Trinity College grad Jay Williamson, shot 77 and is tied for 126th.

Unlike last year, when the tournament was canceled because of heavy rain, the wind and warm, dry weather has left the greens firm and fast. More of the same is forecast over the last three days, which could make play difficult.

Danbury native Kenny Green is working hard to get back to the Champions Tour after a horrific RV accident cost him the lower part of his right leg. But even that might be as painful as the Yankees reaching the playoffs again.

Here's Kenny latest take of the world through his always comical eyes, even after one of the most physical mishaps imaginable. Not to mention the mental anguish of losing his girlfriend, brother and beloved dog in the accident.

So here's the latest edition of "As Kenny Green Turns":

Damn Yankees,

Well, the damn dopes made it to the playoffs.

Thought I would send out a quick mini-update on my life in procedure world. Had another one done, and for a week it was like living with a constant 3-putt. After a week, it started to get a little better, and I thought, well, if this is the end I will live with this amount of electricity. Then the last two days hit and I was in 4-putt pain. Today, I'm back to 2-putt world, so basically I have no idea what the hell is going on.

On some interesting news that makes me wonder what the tour is thinking about. ... I have been asked to go to Bermuda and play in the Gosling Invitational and to go to New Zealand to play in a couple of senior events down under. Bermuda I love, and NZ will be my first trip down so if it all works out I will certainly enjoy both places.

I know it seems strange to some that I have put all my eggs in one basket for my "getting thru this crap," but I did, so now I have something to gear towards with enthusiasm. I will figure it out eventually, but for now I'm not giving up on playing some golf again.

I don't want to beat myself up too much, but I will say that I'm sorry if I've hurt or offended anyone with some of my comments. Some of these were written when I was just not well in the head due to the constant pain. Most of you know that I'm not well in the head when healthy, so you can only imagine where I've been.

I'm going up to CT soon where I have been honored with the Chelsea Cohen award for courage, although not really sure I'm deserving of that with all my whining.

Be good and take care,

Ken

Kenny, you never cease to amaze. You truly are an inspiration and certainly deserving of the Cohen award for courage. Can't imagine a more qualified winner. Good luck on the latest recovery, safe travels and hope to see you at the awards presentation.

The ninth hole, one of the more difficult par-3s at Tallwood Country Club in Hebron, proved to be plenty easy and the site of much celebration the past two Saturdays.

First, Jeff Norris of Meriden used an 8-iron to score a hole-in-one on the 167-yard hole while playing with Tom Schultz, Chris Nyser and Pete Suydam.

CROMWELL _ The Wolf Pack had barely finished their third day of training camp when reinforcements arrived at Champions Skating Center from the Rangers.

Goalie Chad Johnson and forwards Dane Byers, the team captain, Dale Weise and Kris Newbury showed up with their equipment and renewed acquaintances with some former teammates as team officials met with three representatives of Whalers Sports and Entertainment a week after the group headed by former Whalers president and managing general partner Howard Baldwin signed a three-year agreement to take over the business operations of the Rangers' top affiliate.

Others assigned to the Wolf Pack were veteran defenseman Wade Redden, who cleared waivers Monday to free up $6.5 million of the Rangers' $59.4 million salary cap, forwards Evgeny Grachev and Mats Zuccarello, who is only 5-foot-9, 170 pounds but led the Swedish Elite League in scoring last season (23 goals, 41 assists in 55 games) and won the Guldhjalmen Award as the league's most valuable player.

Byers, Newbury and forward Jeremy Williams, signed as a free agent in the offseason after getting career highs of goals (32), points (63) and shots (210) last season with the AHL's Grand Rapid Griffins, will practice with the Wolf Pack but have to clear waivers to be officially assigned because they have more than three years of pro experience.

Defensemen Garnet Exelby, Brandon Manning and Alexei Semenov were released from their tryout contracts, leaving the Rangers with 27 players (two goaltenders, nine defensemen and 16 forwards), which is four over the limit they can have for their opener Oct. 9. But captain and Trumbull native Chris Drury is expected to miss the first three or four games because of a broken left index finger.

Redden's agent, Don Meehan, emailed several Rangers beat writers that his client will report to the Wolf Pack on Wednesday, a week after his wife, Danica, gave birth to the couple's first child. If the 23-year-old Redden refused to report, the Rangers would devoid the remaining four years and $23 million of his contract, and the defenseman would become an unrestricted free agent. Regardless, Redden's $6.5 million salary will be deducted from the Rangers' salary cap.

Redden has played 994 NHL games in a 12-year career, including 156 with the Rangers the last two seasons after signing a six-year, $39-million contract as a free agent from the Ottawa Senators on July 1, 2009. Wolf Pack players should be asking Redden to pick up plenty of meal checks since stands to earn $6.5 million in each of the next two season and $5 million in each of the final two years of the deal.

Left wing/center Brodie Dupont was among those who greeted Johnson, Byers, Weise and Newbury after he cleared waivers but will be making pocket change compared to Redden. Dupont was disappointed to be among the first Rangers cut last week, but after a bit of a slow start, he has played well in the last two scrimmages while skating with former Quinnipiac University standout Brandon Wong and Marc-Olivier Vallerand.

"(Dupont) worked hard today, and (coach) Ken Gernander said he came down with a great attitude and has worked hard," said Rangers assistant general manager and Wolf Pack GM Jim Schoenfeld, who made his first appearance at Wolf Pack camp. "But you've got to be better. There are other guys that are ahead of him. It's the most depth the Rangers have had since I've been there."

Dupont was initially disappointed to be among the Rangers' first cuts but was happy he remained in the organization.

"I wanted to stay here or in New York, but I didn't expect anything to happen," said Dupont, who had 17 goals and 22 assists while playing in all 80 Wolf Pack games last season at left wing and center. "Very rarely does a guy get picked up because then they have to hold you up there (in the NHL) for 30 days. But I haven't played any (NHL preseason) games, so to pick me up right now is kind of pointless. They might want me for their AHL team, but they have to hold me for 30 days."

Greenville Coach Scouting

Dean Stork, coach of the Rangers' new ECHL affiliate in Greenville, S.C., is on a four-day scouting mission in Hartford, though he doesn't need many more bodies. Stork said he has already signed 23 players, some of whom will have to be released once he gets players from the Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, Greenville's secondary affiliate. ECHL teams can have 20-man rosters with three spots for injured reserve (one three-day, seven-day and 21-day). There is no limit to how many players can be put on the 21-day IR, but only one player usually is unless there are extenuating circumstances.

"I'm looking for a veteran, two-way center who kills penalties and plays a little on the power play," Stork said. "We need some experienced guys because my youth is really good with guys like Vallerand and potentially Wong. Defensive-wise I'm stacked, and I've got some good young guys but need some more experience up front.

"I'll probably get five or six guys (from the Wolf Pack), but I don't know who. It's hard to say who Hartford will send down right now, depending on injuries. I hope I get my pick (of players) because there are some guys here who wouldn't make my team in Greenville. There are some guys here under contract who wouldn't really beat out my free-agent kids."

Stork said he and Schoenfeld would discuss possible player assignments, depending on how Greenville was doing and how the player reacts when sent down.

"We're definitely going to have a good relationship with the Rangers, but they have to work with us in Greenville as well," Stork said. "Neil Smith has been involved with the Rangers (as general manager) and is now my owner, but there has to be a fine line on what talent they're going to send us. They can't send us their junk or I'll have to find a different place for them to play.

"It's the same with the Flyers. We're just not going to be a deposit place. You're going to have to get us some development youth. There are a lot of kids here who are really good who might need a year in the ECHL. But I also look around, and there are some players who are bums, but that's the way it is everywhere because teams have to fill their rosters. I actually have a kid from Greenville that I sent here but might have to release him because he's just not good enough."

Stork said he expects to get four defensemen from the Wolf Pack after already having nine free-agent blueliners already signed.

"I went into this year's recruiting thinking I can't be thinking about Hartford and I can't think about the Rangers or Flyers," Stork said. "I've got to recruit for Greenville, so I didn't want to wait around. Now I over-recruited, which is a good thing. Now I'll just have to release and cut."

Stork said Dov Grumet-Morris is one of his goalies after playing the last two seasons in Austria. He said he also likely will get Nic Riopel from the Flyers, whose assistant GM is John Paddock, who coached the Wolf Pack to their only Calder Cup title in 2000.

"I worked out with John that we're only going to get one goalie and one forward," Stork said. "If he calls me in the next couple days and says he's sending more, I'm going to tell him he's going to have to find another place for them because the Rangers are my No. 1 affiliate and they're who I'm going to look after."

The Road Warriors open training camp Oct. 5 and play their opener at home Oct. 21 against the Florida Everblades.

"I'm going to run camp just like they're doing here, and we have three exhibition games, so it's going to be really good competition," Stork said. "Guys are going to be competing for jobs, even if they're under contract with the Flyers and the Rangers."

New Logo Unveiling Wednesday

Whalers Sports and Entertainment will unveil the logo for the Connecticut Whale to the media Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Koeppel Community Sports Center at Trinity College in Hartford. The logo then will be available for viewing by the public as the Wolf Pack, who likely will become the Connecticut Whale between Thanksgiving and Christmas, open their preseason schedule at 7 p.m. against the new Albany Devils. Donations, in lieu of an admission charge, will be accepted at the door to benefit the Ryan Gordon/Hartford Wolf Pack Community Scholars Fund. The fund is a memorial to young Wolf Pack fan Ryan Gordon, who died in 2006 and asked that a portion of the monies set aside for his college education be donated to the Wolf Pack Community Foundation.

The Wolf Pack also plays Friday at 7 p.m. against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the TD Bank Sports Center at Quinnipiac University in Hamden. A $5 admission charge will benefit Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford. The Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers then have a rematch the next night at 7 p.m. at the Rinks at Shelton.

The Wolf Pack wraps up preseason play against the Worcester Sharks on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Champions Skating Center. A $5 admission charge benefits Junior Wolf Pack Youth Hockey.

The Wolf Pack start the regular season Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. against the Charlotte Checkers, their former ECHL affiliate and one of the AHL's two new teams.

Tickets for home games are available at the XL Center box office, through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. For information on season tickets and numerous ticketing options, call the Wolf Pack ticket office to talk with an account executive at 860-548-2000 or visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

Blue Rallies To Beat Red

Ryan Garlock, Chris McKelvie and tryout Bretton Cameron (empty net) scored in the third period as the Blue rallied from two one-goal deficits for a 4-2 scrimmage victory over the Red. Defenseman Nigel Williams also scored for the Blue around two goals by Brendan Connolly, another tryout player who impressed with his speed for the third consecutive day. Some defensemen continued to play some at forward because an injury to Chris Chappell left only 14 healthy forwards and 14 defensemen. That problem was alleviated with the Rangers' reassignments later in the day. ... Players put on waivers by the Monday noon deadline included former Wolf Pack players Greg Moore (Columbus), Jake Taylor (Edmonton), Chad Wiseman (New Jersey), Mitch Fritz (Tampa Bay), Ryan Hollweg (Phoenix), Anders Eriksson (Phoenix), and former No. 1 draft picks Al Montoya (Phoenix) and Hugh Jessiman (Nashville), the only first-rounder from the 2003 draft who hasn't played in the NHL. Others included South Windsor native Jon DiSalvatore (Minnesota) and former Whalers goalie Manny Legace (Carolina). Former Rangers and Wolf Pack right wing Jed Ortmeyer has been invited to Islanders camp and could play with the Sound Tigers. ... Defenseman Mathieu Dandenault, who helped the Detroit Red Wings win the 2002 Stanley Cup and played 19 games with the Wolf Pack last season before heading home, announced his retirement from hockey.

Congratulations to Doug Dalziel, John McGoldrick and the late Ed Burke and Fran Kringle on being the 2010 inductees into the Connecticut Section PGA Hall of Fame. Here's the release from the section:

ROCKY HILL -- PGA Life Members Doug Dalziel and John McGoldrick, along with Edward "Eddie" Burke and Frank Kringle, are the newest inductees to be enshrined in the Connecticut Section PGA
Professional Hall of Fame. Burke and Kringle are being inducted posthumously.

The foursome represents the third class of honorees, and they will be formally inducted Sunday, November 21, 2010, at the PGA Special Awards Banquet at MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Conn.

Connecticut Section President Ralph Salito who made the announcement, said: "I am proud to be a member of an association that has had these gentlemen as members, leaders, and players. Each one richly deserves this recognition for all that they have done to promote golf in our section."

Dalziel, who was born in Carnustie, Scotland, has been a PGA Member for 33 years. He began his career as an assistant golf professional at Aspetuck Valley Country Club and then Mill River Country Club. He went on to be the head professional at Mill River and later at Grassy Hill Country Club. Some of his playing highlights include: A three-time Bermuda Open Champion, a National PGA Stroke Play Champion, three Connecticut PGA Championships, two Connecticut Open Championships, a Connecticut Senior Open Championship, Low Qualifier for the Senior PGA Tour, qualifier for the Greater Hartford Open three times, Senior Series Championship, and runner-up at the British Senior Open. He was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame in 2005 for distinguished golf achievement. Now a PGA Life Member, he resides in Hobe Sound, Florida.

McGoldrick was elected to PGA membership in 1954 and is a member of the Half Century Club. He served as the head professional at D. Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course until his retirement in 1989. He was an active member of the section serving on the Board of Directors for five years,
as Tournament Committee chairman for three years, and on the Membership Committee for seven years. Now a PGA Life Member, he resides in Bridgeport and still plays at D. Fairchild most days of the week.

Burke, head golf professional at Race Brook Country Club in 1944-47 and Woodbridge Country Club in 1948-51, was the first five-time winner of the Connecticut PGA Championship (1940, '45, '46, '48, and '50). He was the 1938 Connecticut Open Champion and also won the Senior PGA
Championship in 1963 and 67. He competed in several PGA Championships and holds the distinction of having defeated Sam Snead, 1-up, in the third round of Match Play in 1950. He also holds the Race Brook course record of 63. He was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame in 1971 for distinguished golf achievement.

Frank Kringle, a 59-year member of The PGA, was the section's 1996 Golf Professional of the Year, the first to be honored from Western Massachusetts. He was the first golf professional at Crestview Country Club. Kringle was one of the driving forces behind the chartering of the
section's Western Massachusetts Chapter. He led his Pioneer Valley contingent to obtaining a charter in order to have better representation on the section Board of Directors and was named the first Chapter President in 1964.

Anyone wishing to attend the Special Awards Banquet and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony should contact Sue Bell at sbell@pgahq.com for ticket information.

The Hall of Fame was been established in 2008 to acknowledge PGA Professionals for their dedication and contributions to the game of golf and the Connecticut Section. Professionals that are inducted are honored for their service and historical impact on their fellow members, the golfers that they have served, and for the support of the PGA mission statement of growing the game and making golf a better game for all.

Talk about justice being served.

Now Jim Furyk can buy all the batteries he needs.

Four weeks ago, Furyk was disqualified from The Barclays, the opening event of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup, when he missed his pro-am starting time by just minutes after the alarm on his cell phone didn't go off due to a dead battery.

Sunday, a typically grinding Furyk scrambled around in the rain at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, making a clutch par save from a bunker at the 18th hole for a 1-under-par 70, 72-hole total of 8-under 272 and a one-stroke victory over Luke Donald in The Tour Championship.

Furyk's 21/2-foot putt made the funky swinger from Florida via Pennsylvania 9-for-9 in sand saves for the week, an obvious reason he earned $1.35 for the victory and $10 million bonus for capturing the FedEx Cup.

"I hit it, and I knew it was in the middle, and I'm taking a step to pick it up as it's going in, and it just hit me," Furyk said. "I was excited and dropped the putter and , I guess at that moment you're not really responsible for what happens next, you just go with whatever happens."

In a rare show of emotion, Furyk, who turned his hat backwards as he had the previous hole in a steady rain, whipped around, thrust both arms in the air, threw a celebratory punch into the sky and let out a holler that would have made any of his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers happy.

"I had to scramble a lot, and getting up-and-down was the key," Furyk told NBC during the awards ceremony. "I felt confident (in the 18-hole bunker) and nipped it perfect. I was happy to hear the crowd cheer and then walk up and see it was so close. I had a calm about me all day, but I'm glad it wasn't a six-footer, just a two-footer."

If Furyk had missed the putt, he would have dropped into a playoff with Donald, with both the tournament and the FedExCup on the line. Instead, Furyk notched his third victory of the year, a personal best and put him firmly in the lead for PGA Tour player of the Year as he headed to Wales for the Ryder Cup, which starts Friday at Celtic Manor.

But it didn't come easy for Furyk, who had a three-stroke lead with three holes to go before bogeying the 16th and 17th. Donald, one of European captain Colin Montgomerie's three picks for the Ryder Cup, then holed a 30-yard chip at No. 17, forcing Furyk to par the final hole to win.

After holing the decisive putt, Furyk said he never believed he would have accomplished the daily double after the alarm clock snafu and disqualification in The Barclays.

"First and foremost after that, I just wanted to make sure I played well enough to make this tournament," Furyk said. "I didn't play particularly well in Boston (Deutsche Bank Championship) or Chicago (BMW Championship), but I hung in there and stayed alive. ... What a special moment. What a special year. I never had a three-win season and now the FedExCup, too."

And to think Furyk did it with a discounted putt he bought for $39 at Joe & Leigh's Discount Golf Pro Shop in South Eastern, Mass., after the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass.

"It was the only non-lofted putter in the shop without a white line on it," Furyk said. "I guess we were meant to be."

The putter retailed for $65, but Furyk got it at a discount because it was used. There's a nick here and a ding there, but nothing he can't live with.

"I didn't think it was all that pretty, to be honest with you," Furyk said, "but it's getting a lot better looking every day."

Furyk prevailed after a two-hour rain delay in which he watched the Steelers on the way to a 38-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"The good thing about the delay is I saw Charlie Batch throw three touchdown passes," Furyk said.

Now Furyk has his three titles in 2010, having previously won the Transitions Championship and Verizon Heritage Classic.

Donald started poorly but birdied three of the last six holes to shoot 70 and finish at 273, one ahead of Retief Goosen (71).

"It was a mixture of disappointment, but I have pride in myself for at least digging deep and giving myself a chance in the end," Donald said. "I knew if I could get to 8 (under), I'd have a chance. That was the number I had in my head."

Bubba Watson, who won his only PGA Tour title in the Travelers Championship in June, shot 71 to tie for 17th at 282.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson had 74 for 283 and a tie for 22nd, failing for the 12th time to overtake Tiger Woods and become No. 1 in the world rankings for the first time. He needed to finish in a tie for second or better to end the 277-week streak of being No. 1 for Woods, who didn't qualify for the 30-man field.

Woods, two-time Travelers Championship winner Stewart Cink and Justin Leonard flew to Atlanta to meet the nine members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team that played in The Tour Championship for a flight to Wales. Donald was the only member of the European team in the tournament.

The final top 10 in the FedEx Cup points standings: 1. Furyk, 2,980; Matt Kuchar, 2,728; 3. Donald, 2,700; 4. Charley Hoffman, 2,500; 5. Dustin Johnson, 2,493; 6. Paul Casey, 2,250; 7. Steve Stricker, 2,028; 8. Jason Day, 1,660; 9. Ernie Els, 1,438; 10. Goosen, 1,360.

The Rangers notched quite an inspiring preseason victory Saturday night in Newark, N.J.

Second-year defenseman Michael Del Zotto scored the Rangers' fourth power-play goal 52 seconds into overtime as they rallied from a two-goal deficit to a 5-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

Del Zotto got the winner on a 4-on-3 after Devils goalie Johan Hedberg lost his stick. Forced to play with a defenseman's stick, Hedberg had no chance as Del Zotto fired a shot from the left circle after a pass from former Wolf Pack All-Star wing Ryan Callahan zipped through the slot and onto the stick of the defenseman, who assisted on all three of the Rangers' third-period, power-play goals. Tim Kennedy, who signed as a free agent Aug. 30, also assisted on Del Zotto's winner for his first point with the Rangers.

Del Zotto, who will be even more important to the Rangers after veteran Wade Redden was put on waivers Saturday morning, also assisted on third-period, power-play goals by Matt Gilroy, who spent a few weeks in Hartford in his rookie season in 2009-10, former Wolf Pack center Artem Anisimov and Ruslan Fedotenko, who is on a tryout and added two assists. Fedotenko played for Rangers coach John Tortorella when he led the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup.

Del Zotto, who finished second on the team and second among NHL rookies with 22 power-play points last season, logged a game-high 24:18. He was one of five young defensemen that the Rangers used with tryout veteran Alexei Semanov. Gilroy had one assist.

Todd White, stolen from the Atlanta Thrashers in the offseason for worthless Patrick Rissmiller and Donald Brashear, got his first point with the Rangers when he set up an early goal by Callahan, who had two assists.

Henrik Lundqvist went the distance in his first preseason start and had 25 saves as the Rangers scored a second OT win over the Devils. The Rangers were outshot 29-20, but Del Zotto's goal was the only shot of overtime.

Wolf Pack captain Dane Byers and Kris Newbury, who joined the Wolf Pack after being traded from Detroit in March, demonstrated their grit again in two fights. Byers helped spark the Rangers' comeback after getting in a fight with David Clarkson, who was also called for a roughing minor drawn by Sean Avery. Avery so angered Clarkson with his words that Clarkson went after Avery, only to be stopped by Byers.

Just 26 seconds later, Anisimov deflected Callahan's power-play shot in front of Hedberg and then knocked in his own rebound to make it 4-3 with 9:59 left in regulation. After Fedotenko tied it, Del Zotto quickly won it in OT.

The Devils used a more veteran lineup that included Ilya Kovalchuk, whose controversial offseason contract negotiations cost the Devils two draft picks, fellow All-Star Zach Parise and standout defenseman Andy Greene. Kovalchuk had the game's first goal, Parise had three assists and Greene had one goal and one assist.

Matt Taormina and veteran Brian Rolston also scored for the Devils. Former Wolf Pack wing Chad Wiseman had an assist.

Tortorella said the Rangers might reassign more players to the Wolf Pack after the game before heading to Detroit for Sunday's game at 5 p.m.

CROMWELL _ Did Brodie Dupont skate his final skate with the Wolf Pack Saturday at Champions Skating Center?

Dupont hopes not, but he won't know for sure until noon Monday. Dupont was placed on waivers by the New York Rangers at noon Saturday because he's a fourth-year pro who has to clear if he is to be assigned to the minor leagues.

Dupont, who expanded his game last season when used at center more than left wing because of the Wolf Pack's shortage in the middle, was caught in a numbers game with the Rangers and didn't get even one preseason game with the parent club.

"I was a little surprised and a little disappointed (with the demotion)," the 23-year-old Dupont said after the Wolf Pack's first on-ice practice. "But (the Rangers) have a logjam on the left side so whether I got one or two exhibition games or not, I was probably going to end up here anyway. So whether it's now or later, I just have to work hard to get back up."

Dupont, the Rangers' third-round pick in 2005, had 17 goals and 22 assists last season while playing all 80 games with the Wolf Pack. But stiff competition with the Rangers included Sean Avery, Vinny Prospal, former Wolf Pack Brandon Dubinsky and enforcer Derek Boogaard, signed to a four-year, $6.5 million contract on July 1 after playing with the Minnesota Wild last season. And Brandon Prust, signed to a two-year, $1.8 million contract on July 3 after being acquired from the Calgary Flames on Feb. 1, was moved from left wing to right wing to try to accommodate other players.

"I wanted to stay up there as long as I could and get a (preseason) game or two, but it didn't work out way," Dupont said. "I had a good exit meeting, so I've got to look forward, dominate this league (American Hockey League), make a difference, be a game-breaker and show them I can play at that (NHL) level."

Dupont said he wasn't thinking about his waiver plight the next 48 hours. It's double the normal time because it came over a weekend.

"A lot of times a lot of teams won't pick people up because they're trying to get rid of players from their training camp," Dupont said. "I don't expect to get picked up. I don't hope to get picked up. My heart is here, but it's kind of out of my control. I just want to get the season started."

If the standup Dupont clears waivers, he'll be a veteran coach Ken Gernander will lean on for leadership and could become an alternate captain or even captain if Dane Byers sticks with the Rangers. Dupont is especially needed because the Wolf Pack lost veterans such as Corey Locke and P.A. Parenteau, their No. 1 and 4 scorers, and defensemen Corey Potter, Bobby Sanguinetti and Ilkka Heikkenen. Parenteau and Potter were the Wolf Pack's alternate captains last season.

"Whether I have a letter or not, I feel like I'm a leader," Dupont said. "You can put a letter on me, but it doesn't matter because I'm going to lead by example. I just have to be the hardest worker on the team, play my game and shoot the puck more. I want to get more points, and I'm not a Parenteau-type passer. I'm a shooter. I've got a good shot, so I have to use it more. I only had 145 shots last season, and I'd like to get 300. If I score on 10 percent, that's 30 goals."

Dupont said he was surprised to start Rangers training camp on left wing because he played well at center last season.

"I feel comfortable and faster at center," Dupont said. "My top speed is pretty good, and at center you're always moving a little bit. Wing is more stop-and-start, but I don't mind wing. You're more involved at center and get in more battles, but I'm just kind of a tool for G (Gernander). If he wants to put me on wing or in the middle or on the penalty kill, I'm OK with it. I was good on face-offs last season, so I don't think he'll be scared to put me out there for defensive-zone draws. Or if there's big draw, I think he has enough confidence to put me out there."

Gernander said Dupont hasn't fallen off the Rangers' radar.

"It's great to see guys get a game and get rewarded for service, but also there's a big picture," said Gernander, who had some input into the player moves. "There are tough decisions to be made, and you don't want to short yourself as far as how much you've actually seen and been able to assess that person. This doesn't mean that Brodie's not part of their plans or part of their development thing. Right now, they have more pressing decisions to be made. Brodie can start here, and just like anybody else, if he goes great guns and is a huge impact player, then everything changes.

"At the American League level, your opportunity isn't that three-day window or five-day window in New York. You've got 80 games to prove yourself night in and night out, to make a statement for your candidacy for a Ranger position. The bottom line is if a guy is here and he's a point-a-game guy with stiff body checks and penalty killing and all those things, he's not going to be overlooked. And that's the way you have to approach it if you're Brodie Dupont. You can't say, 'Well, I guess I have to wait until next year and hopefully they'll give me a game (in New York).'

"Part of the camp experience is you evaluate your game: I was sent down, but why? Maybe I can get more shots. Maybe I can be a stiffer body checker. But another individual might say, 'I wasn't ready physically. I'm not on the same level conditioning-wise.' So even if they don't get a game, you learn something in training camp. Now that's why there's an American League season, to put that into practice or develop whatever your shortcomings might be."

Redden Waived

Gernander said he didn't know veteran Wade Redden well enough to know how the Rangers defenseman might react if sent to Hartford to get his $6.5 million salary off the salary cap total. Would he be professional like Sylvain Lefebvre or sulk like Patrick Rissmiller and Donald Braesher?

A Baldwin Scores the Winner

It seemed appropriate that a Baldwin scored the winner in the Wolf Pack's first scrimmage. After all, former Whalers owner and managing general partner Howard Baldwin and his Whalers Sports and Entertainment group officially took over the business operations of the Wolf Pack on Monday.

Ironically, Lee Baldwin scored the Red's winner in a 3-1 victory over the Blue after moving from defense to forward for the first time in his career because there are 15 defensemen and only 14 healthy forwards in camp. But he didn't find any special significance to his winner. When asked about a Baldwin getting it, a quizzical look filled Lee's face. "I wasn't aware (it was the winner)," he said. When told Howard Baldwin had taken over the off-ice activities of the Wolf Pack, Lee smiled and said, "I didn't know that. I don't know who Howard Baldwin is."

Lee is certain to meet Howard soon, and hopefully Baldwin (the defenseman) performs as well as he did in seven games at the end of last season after being signed to a tryout contract following the completion of his career at the University of Alaska-Anchorage.

"The end of last season was good," said Lee, who had his only pro point, a goal, in a 6-1 victory over Springfield on April 3. "I didn't except to play that much, but I got a lot of ice. (Assistant coach) J.J. (Daigneault) gave me the opportunity to play, but I have to pick my game up a bit. My defensive-zone coverage has got to be a lot better if I'm going to make it to the next level. And I've got to win all my one-on-one battles."

Lee had a setback this summer when he lost 12 pounds while battling mononucleosis for six weeks. He's still trying to catch-up after resuming workouts in mid-August.

"I've struggled trying to put the weight back on," Baldwin said. "My energy is somewhat all right, but I kind of feel side effects of (the mono) from time to time. It goes and come backs and can last up to a year. But I'm trying to stick with it."

Scoring the winner in the camp opener gave Baldwin a jolt of energy. He didn't stick out Saturday until he stole the puck from tryout goalie Jordan Parise behind the net, circled in front and a broke a 1-1 tie in the third period. Moments later, Trevor Glass, another player who split time between defense and forward after missing last season with several injuries, scored off a scramble to clinch the victory. Glass won a Memorial Cup with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League in 2008-09.

The Blue's Samson Mahbod, a tryout right wing, scored the first scrimmage's goal before Ryan Garlock tied it for the Red. Dov Grumet-Morris, who played several good games against the Wolf Pack while with the Portland Pirates in 2006-07, was especially strong in goal for the winners.

Mixed Review from Gernander

Gernander watched the scrimmage in the upper-level stands with assistants Daigneault and Pat Boller.

"I think the (14) guys sent down by New York worked very hard," Gernander said. "It was a little scrambly in structure, which you probably expect because so many guys are new and we haven't had a lot of time to go over systems work. The important thing is guys are able to show their skills, abilities and conditioning level based on their summer commitment. As camp goes along and we weed out some people, we'll obviously pay a little bit more attention to structure and team play."

Gernander said no one stood out or played like a plumber. "I didn't see any four-goal performance or a shutout," he said. "Everybody was within range of one another. No big surprises and I don't know if that's good, bad or otherwise. Nothing off the charts one way or another."

Gernander said he didn't know when more players will arrive from the Rangers or be sent to the Wolf Pack's new ECHL affiliate in Greenville, S.C.

"Decisions in New York are made on what actually transpires (in preseason games), so you can't really make an assessment or judgment on when you're really going to send someone down until you allow him to play the game and show what he can do," Gernander said. "If someone in New York gets a game and plays lights out, you better give him another one. And if he's red-rotten or not quite ready for prime time, then things change."

DiDiomete Still Recuperating

Feisty left wing Devin DiDiomete continues his rehab from major surgery on his left hip May 7 in New York. He had an impingement, micro-fracture and torn labrum repaired during an operation that took 6 hours, 15 minutes and came a few days after Tortorella had similar surgery. DiDiomete, who chuckled when he was told Torts was a warm-up for him, skates on his own before practice and gets treatment afterward for a degenerative condition that apparently has been corrected. "It feels awesome" said DiDiomete, who hopes to return by early November. "The doctor said it would be six-to-nine months (of recovery), and I'm ahead of schedule." DiDiomete played only 49 games last season with the Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL before shutting it down in March. ... The "togetherness" between Wolf Pack and Whalers fans that Howard Baldwin said he hoped would develop after years of bickering was demonstrated by one fan watching the Wolf Pack practice while wearing a Whalers No. 1 jersey of goalie Sean Burke. ... The Wolf Pack will hold all preseason workouts at Champions Skating Center because four new video boards taken from the Staples Center in Los Angeles are being installed in the XL Center scoreboard. They're about four times larger than the previous boards and are scheduled to be ready for their debut Oct. 9, when the Wolf Pack open their 14^th season against the Charlotte Checkers, their former ECHL affiliate and one of two new AHL teams. Ironically, the Checkers are affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes, who succeeded the Whalers after owner Peter Karmanos took his pucks, sticks and skates and ran out of Hartford 13 years ago.

You can only wonder where Jim Furyk would be in the FedEx Cup proceedings if his alarm had gone off for The Barclays pro-am.

Furyk started the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedExCup ranked third, then dropped without taking a swing when he was disqualified from the first event for missing his pro-am time when his cellphone alarm didn't go off because of a dead battery.

After then finishing tied for 37th in the Deutsche Bank Championship and tied for 15th in the BMW Championship, Furyk fell to 11th on the FedEx points list entering the playoff finale, The Tour Championship. But if Furyk continues to play as he did Friday at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta while the top players in the FedEx Cup standings continue to struggle, justice will be served Sunday.

Furyk had six birdies and one bogey for a 5-under-par 65, the low round of the week, a 36-hole total of 8-under 132 and a share of the lead with Englishman Luke Donald midway through The Tour Championship.

Furyk, who won the Transitions Championship and Verizon Heritage Classic earlier this year, wasn't his usual straight-shooting self, hitting only seven of 14 fairways. But he made it through the first two rounds with only one bogey thanks to hitting 29 of 36 greens in regulation.

"I don't know how to explain how I shot as low as I did, except that I kind of got away with it," said Furyk, who is not in position to claim golf's biggest payoff, a $10 million bonus that goes to the FedEx Cup champion. "Every time I hit it in the rough, I manufactured something and got it near or on the green. When I hit it in the fairway, I made a lot of birdies.

"But there's so much golf to be played. My only concern is playing another good round, shooting in the 60s and giving myself a chance on Sunday."

Donald, one of European captain Colin Montgomerie's three picks for next week's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales, had five birdies and one bogey, making an 8-foot, par-saving putt at No. 18 for another 66 after hitting his tee shot on the par-3 finishing hole into a bunker.

Aussie Geoff Oglivy, who shared the first-round lead with Donald, had a roller-coaster ride of seven birdies, seven pars and four bogeys for 67 and third place at 133. He had a share of the lead until he bogeyed No. 17, but he's still three ahead of Korean K.J. Choi, who made a curling, 50-foot putt for birdie at No. 18 for his second 68.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson, who has a 12th chance to overtake absent Tiger Woods as the No. 1 ranked player in the world with a three-way tie for second or better, shot 72 and fell into a tie for 13th at 141.

Matt Kuchar, whose grandparents live in Madison and whose career is linked to the Atlanta area, gave his followers more reason to cheer when he shot 3 under the first 15 holes. But the man ranked No. 1 in the FedEx Cup points standings bogeyed Nos. 16-18 for 70-142 and a share of 15th.

Bubba Watson, who won his only PGA Tour title in the Travelers Championship in June, shot 69 to move into a tie for 23rd at 144.

Temporarily trading in my golf sticks for my hockey sticks:

Veteran left wing Brodie Dupont was among 14 players that the Rangers assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday but will have to clear waivers before he can start working out with the AHL team.

Others who joined 18 players who began the Wolf Pack's 14^th training camp Friday at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell with on-ice testing were forwards Justin Soryal, Ryan Garlock, Chris Chappell, Chris McKelvie and Kelsey Tessier, defensemen Nigel Williams, Lee Baldwin, Blake Parlett, Sam Klassen, Tomas Kundratek, Jyri Niemi and goalies Cameron Talbot and Jordan Parise, who is on a tryout with the Wolf Pack.

Players who reported Friday have been signed to AHL contracts or are trying out for the AHL team or its new ECHL affiliate in Greenville, S.C. Those who tested Friday and will join the players assigned by the Rangers are goalie Dov Grumet-Morris, defensemen Jared Nightingale, Steve Black, Joe Charlebois, Tysen Dowzak, Trevor Glass, Matt McCue, Dan Ringwald, Joe Ryan, David Strathman and forwards Bretton Cameron, Brendan Connolly, Tyler Howe, Samson Mahbod, Steve Matic, Marc-Olivier Vallerand, Mark Voakes and Brandon Wong, who played the last four seasons at Quinnipiac University in Hamden.

Left wing Devin DiDiomete also will be working out with the Wolf Pack while recovering from off-season hip surgery. He isn't expected back until at least mid-November.

The Rangers also returned 10 players to their junior teams: goalie Scott Stajcer (Owen Sound, OHL; defensemen Daniel Maggio (Sudbury, OHL) and Dylan McIlrath (Moose Jaw, WHL); and forwards Ryan Bourque (Quebec, QMJHL), Roman Horan (Chilliwack, WHL), Randy McNaught (Saskatoon, WHL), Christian Thomas (Oshawa, OHL), Ethan Werek (Kingston, OHL), Jason Wilson (Owen Sound, OHL) and Andrew Yogan (Erie, OHL).

The Rangers still have 38 players and have to reassign at least 15 players before they open the season Oct. 8. That group includes six players who were with the Wolf Pack at the end of last season _ goalie Chad Johnson, defenseman Michael Sauer and forwards Dane Byers, Evgeny Grachev, Kris Newbury and Dale Weise.

Captain and Trumbull native Chris Drury is among the 38 players still with the Rangers but is expected to miss the first three or four regular season games because of a broken index finger on his left hand sustained when he blocked a shot by defenseman Matt Gilroy during a scrimmage Sunday.

The 32 healthy players in Wolf Pack camp have been split into two groups, with both scrimmaging Saturday at 10:05 a.m. between practices for each that start at 9:10 and 11:10. On Sunday, the first practice begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by a scrimmage at 9:25 and the second practice at 10:30. On Monday, the first group starts at 9 a.m., followed by a scrimmage at 10 and second practice at 11:15.

The rest of the training camp schedule is to be determined and will be released as it is finalized. Practices and scrimmages are open to the public.

The Wolf Pack, who likely will become the Connecticut Whale between Thanksgiving and Christmas, opens its preseason schedule Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the new Albany Devils at the Koeppel Community Sports Center at Trinity College in Hartford. Donations, in lieu of an admission charge, will be accepted at the door to benefit the Ryan Gordon/Hartford Wolf Pack Community Scholars Fund. The fund is a memorial to young Wolf Pack fan Ryan Gordon, who died in 2006 and asked that a portion of the monies set aside for his college education be donated to the Wolf Pack Community Foundation.

The Wolf Pack also plays next Friday at 7 p.m. against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the TD Bank Sports Center at Quinnipiac University. A $5 admission charge will benefit Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford. The Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers then have a rematch the next night at 7 p.m. at the Rinks at Shelton.

The Wolf Pack wraps up preseason play against the Worcester Sharks on Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. at Champions Skating Center. A $5 admission charge benefits Junior Wolf Pack Youth Hockey.

The Wolf Pack start the regular season Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. against the Charlotte Checkers, their former ECHL affiliate and one of the AHL's two new teams.

Tickets for home games are available at the XL Center box office, through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. For information on season tickets and numerous ticketing options, call the Wolf Pack ticket office to talk with an account executive at 860-548-2000 or visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

You'll be able to watch present and past Travelers Championship winners almost from start to finish when the Golf Channel carries the second round of The Tour Championship today from 12:30 to 6 p.m.

Bubba Watson, who won his only PGA Tour title at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell in June, will tee off first at 11:40 a.m. with Martin Laird after each shot 5-over-par 75 to tie for last with Jeff Overton in the 30-man field.

Then the fourth-to-last group that starts at 1:30 p.m. will consist of 2007 Travelers champion Hunter Mahan and Phil Mickelson, the only back-to-back winner (2001-02) since the PGA Tour began stopping in Connecticut in 1952 who had two eagles in four holes in an opening 69 on Thursday. It could be a prelude to a U.S. pairing in the Ryder Cup, which begins next Friday at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales.

The "Short Name of the Day" pairing goes to (K.J.) Choi and (Kevin) Na at 1:40 p.m.

Paul Casey, who shares the lead at 66, tees off at 1:50 p.m. with Jim Furyk in the penultimate group and what could be a Ryder Cup singles match if the Englishman hadn't been snubbed by European captain Colin Montgomerie despite being ranked seventh in the world.

The final group off at 2 p.m. is the other leaders, Aussie Geoff Oglivy and Luke Donald, who was one of Monty's picks and whose brother caddies for close friend Casey. A Donald-Casey pairing on Sunday with a $10 million bonus on the line would make for an interesting sidebar to the finale of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup at East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta.

Tune in and stay tuned.

Here's the list of all the starting times:

Congratulations to Fran Marrello on clinching a fourth Connecticut Section PGA Senior Player of the Year Award in the six years that he has been eligible.

With one major event remaining, the head pro at Canaan Country Club who tied for second in the Section PGA Professional Championship on Tuesday, has 375.62 points, far ahead of the 215.86 of Tom Gleeton of the Country Club of Waterbury.

Marrello has an outside shot to be Senior Player of the Year and Player of the Year in the same year for the second time. He's third in the Player of the Year points standings with 231.82, trailing only Kevin Giancola (Golf Quest-Southington, 263.50) and Brian Keiser (Wethersfield Country Club, 238.66), who won the Section PGA Professional Championship at Wintonbury Hills Golf Club in Bloomfield.

Marrello won both awards in 2007, and Tony Kelley (Wyckoff CC-Holyoke, Mass.) duplicated the rare feat last year. Marrello and PGA Life Member Dennis Coscina have won POY six times, second to Paul Ryiz's record nine. Giancola has won the award four times.

The 2010 POY Award will be determined at the Match Play Championship Oct. 4-6 at Crestview Country Club in Agawam, Mass.

An Australian and two buddies from England share the top of the leaderboard at 4-under-par 66 after the first round of The Tour Championship, the finale of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

But in familiar fashion, two-time defending champion Phil Mickelson stole some of the thunder while shooting a 69 that put him in a tie for sixth with fellow former Travelers Championship winner Hunter Mahan, Kevin Na and 22-year-old Jason Day, the youngest player in the 30-man field.

Phil The Thrill made two eagles in four holes, knocking in a 116-yard wedge shot from the right rough for a 2 at No. 12 and making a 14-foot putt for a 3 at No. 15. It was the second time this year that Mickelson had two eagles in a round. He went 3-2 on the 13th and 14th holes at Augusta National in the third round of the Masters.

"It was a challenging test today," Mickelson said. "There were some good scores and some high scores, and I was somewhere in the middle," Mickelson said. "I was kind of fortunate with those eagles and some bad swings led to some bogeys. But I'm happy to shoot under par. It wasn't easy out there."

Mickelson needs a three-way tie for second or better to take over the No. 1 in the world rankings for the first time from Tiger Woods, who won the FedEx Cup in 2007 and 2009 but didn't qualify for The Tour Championship this year. And a Mickelson victory would make the Masters champ the front-runner for PGA Tour Player of the Year.

Mickelson finished with the two eagles, one birdie and four bogeys and is three back of Aussie Geoff Oglivy and Englishmen Luke Donald and Paul Casey, the world's eighth-ranked player who would get special satisfaction from a win. It would give the Popeye lookalike the $10 million bonus as FedEx Cup champion and at least erase some of the disappointment of being snubbed by European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie as one of his three wild-card picks. 

Donald, who hasn't won on the PGA Tour since the 2006 Honda Classic, was one of Monty's selections, but Casey is one of five players who control their destiny as far as winning the lucrative bonus. It's an awkward situation for both because Donald's brother is Casey's caddie.

Jim Furyk was the top finisher among eight U.S. Ryder Cup team members, hitting 11 of 14 fairways and 16 greens in regulation while shooting the only bogey-free round, a 68 for fourth place.

Matt Kuchar, whose grandparents live in Madison and whose golfing career is rooted in Atlanta, didn't give his local followers much to cheer about in his Tour Championship debut. The FedEx Cup points leader holed a 50-foot chip for eagle at No. 15 but sliced his tee shot at the par-3 18th into the bleachers on the way to his fourth bogey for 72 and 19th place.

Bubba Watson, who won his first PGA Tour title in the Travelers Championship in June, had a wild round of one double bogey, six bogeys and three birdies for 75 and a tie for last.

Perhaps the best year of Dave Szewczul's distinguished career just got even better Wednesday.

The personable sharpshooter from Tunxis Plantation Country Club in Farmington completed an awesome 36-hole performance in the New England Senior Amateur Championship at Pawtucket (R.I.) Country Club, winning by seven strokes over defending champion Robert Linn of Enfield. It put an exclamation point to repeating as the Connecticut State Golf Association Dick Siderowf Senior Player of the Year.

Here's an account of the lopsided victroy provided by the Massachusetts Golf Association:

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Despite the long list of titles he has won over the years, Dave
Szewczul remains humbled by each victory.

His most recent accomplishment came this week at the 13th New England Senior Amateur
Championship at Pawtucket Country Club where he put on a dazzling show of golf en route to a closing 1-under-par 68 and 36-hole total of 5-under 133 and a seven-stroke victory.

"I didn't have a specific game plan," said Szewczul, of Farmington, Conn., who tied for second last year. "I just felt that if I could continue to hit fairways on this golf course it would make the rest of my game set up much better. I drove it perfectly both days and consequently that set up my second shots. I never had any pressure or tough situations to come out of."

While his journey to the top may have appeared inevitable, Szewczul is simply thankful that he is still playing golf. After all, it was nine years ago when he was told that he would never play again. It took three surgeries and the expert touch of Dr. Bill Morgan, the team physician for the Boston Red Sox, who gave Szewczul hope. Much like he did for Nomar Garciaparra in 2001 and Curt Schilling and his bloody tendon in 2004, Dr. Morgan performed reconstructive surgery on Szewczul's left wrist and gave him a second chance at golf.

"Like I said out there (during the trophy ceremony), we are lucky; I am lucky," said Szewczul, who was forced to wear a shoulder-to-wrist cast and could not compete for 18 months following the surgery. "I count my lucky stars that I am able to play. I drive by my golf course and see people playing and they don't realize how lucky they are to hold a golf club. I am competitive as anybody, but I don't get that upset anymore. Compared to where I was and what I could have been, I am a very lucky guy."

That renewed appreciation for the game shined through this week as Szewczul put on a masterful show of golf from tee to green. Over the course of 36 holes, there were no Hail Mary putts or dramatic hole-outs from the fairway. Rather, it was a clinic on what good can happen when you consistently find the fairway and green.

After a 4-under 65 on Monday, the 56-year-old from Farmington entered Wednesday's round wth veteran poise and closed the door of opportunity for those looking to close the gap out of the gate. Szewczul made six straight pars before draining a 15-foot birdie putt on the 173-yard, par-3 seventh hole. He made the turn at 1-under 34, which was seven shots ahead of his
closest competitor. He went on to fire an even-par 34 on the back nine to seal his victory. He finished with nine birdies and four bogies and was the only player to finish under par for the tournament.

"I didn't do anything spectacular out there," Szewczul said. "I was very steady. I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens, and I didn't get myself in trouble."

The reigning Connecticut Senior Open Champion has been a dominating force in Connecticut circles as he has captured the Connecticut State Golf Association Amateur Championship, Mid-Amateur and Public Links. He also has been a shining star nationally by competing in 15 USGA Championships and two British Amateur championships. He also enjoyed a practice round with Arnold Palmer before the 2004 U.S. Senior Open.

"Playing with Arnold was a thrill and an honor, but they are two different things," Szewczul said. "To win a tournament against your peers is just so gratifying."

Now with his first New England Senior Amateur Championship title in hand, Szewczul is looking to keep the momentum going next week when he competes in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. With his 15-year-old son David by his side (much like he was six years ago when he played with Palmer), Szewczul will look to put on a performance that would make even The King proud.

"I feel good and I feel healthy," Szewczul said. "I have been playing well and will hopefully continue to drive the ball like I have been. That is the key to this game. If you don't drive the ball well, you are playing catch up the rest of the way."

Robert Linn (Berkshire Hills CC in Massachusetts) finished second at 140. A year ago during his senior amateur debut, Linn turned the tables on Szewczul by winning this title by three strokes at Wyantenuck Country Club.

The Super Senior
Paul Quigley (Swansea CC) became the second player in the event's 13-year history to win both the Harry B. McCracken Senior Amateur Trophy and the Super Senior Division title. Quigley, the 2004 winner, finished at 6-over 144. A year ago, Shawn McLoughlin (Ridgewood CC-Danbury), the 2000 champion, became the first to accomplish that feat.

This latest accomplishment continues what has been another strong summer of golf for the 65-year-old Quigley. In July, Quigley, who has won the most Rhode Island events in history, became what is believed to be the oldest man ever to reach the quarterfinals of the RIGA Amateur Championship. He is a three-time champion of that event (his most recent coming in 2000) and is the reigning RIGA Senior Champion who earlier this summer captured the
RIGA Four-Ball Championship with Bobby Leopold.

The 2011 championship, open to those 55 and over, will be played Sept. 19-21 at Race Brook Country Club in Orange.

West Haven native Doug Ford, a two-time major winner, is among the latest to be elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.

Others to be enshrined May 9, 2011 will be two-time U.S. Open and 2006 British Open champion Ernie Els, the late Jock Hutchison and former President George H.W. Bush. A fifth and final inductee will be announced in October.

Els was elected with 66 percent of the vote on the PGA Tour Ballot. Ford and Hutchison were selected in the Veterans Category and President Bush in the Lifetime Achievement Category.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was on hand for Wednesday's announcement at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, where The Tour Championship begins Thursday.

"Each of the inductees richly deserves this honor,and on behalf of the World Golf Foundation Board, I look forward to welcoming them into the Hall of Fame next May," Finchem said in a statement. "Ernie has compiled an extraordinarily successful international career and continues to compete at the highest level. It's terrific that Doug Ford and Jock Hutchison's careers will be highlighted in this way as both enjoyed great success in their professional careers. And, President Bush has been and continues to be a great friend to the game of golf; he's a terrific addition to the Hall."

Ford had 19 PGA Tour victories, including the 1955 PGA Championship and 1957 Masters. He was named PGA Tour Player of the Year in 1955, which also marked the first of his four Ryder Cup appearances.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be named to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum," Ford said in a statement. "It took a little while, but I think it's great they're doing this while I'm still alive. It is an honor of which I am deeply proud."

Els, who is competing in this week's PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup finale, has 18 PGA Tour victories, including two World Golf Championships events, and more than 40 international victories, many of which he won in his native South Africa and others in Europe and Australia. He is ranked eighth in the FedEx Cup and is fourth in the European Tour's Race to Dubai. He is a six-time member of the International Team for The Presidents Cup.

"I was shocked and extremely honored when the call came through from Commissioner Finchem to say that I was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," Els said. "I would like to thank all those who have helped make this possible, not least my family whose support has never wavered. There are too many others to mention by name, but they know who they are and can be assured of my eternal gratitude. Also to those who saw fit to believe I was worthy of a place among those who have been previously honored, I say a big thank you."

Hutchison, a native of St. Andrews, Scotland, won 14 PGA Tour titles, including the 1920 PGA Championship, 1921 British Open and the 1920 and 1923 Western Opens. He won the inaugural Senior PGA Championship in 1937 and 1947. Hutchison and Fred McLeod were the first honorary starters at the Masters from 1963 to 1973.

President Bush helped raise the profile of golf considerably during and after his presidency. He has been recognized by the golf community over the years, including receiving the 1997 PGA of America Distinguished Service Award, the USGA's 2008 Bob Jones Award and the 2009 PGA TOUR Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 1996, President Bush served as honorary chairman of The Presidents Cup and has since attended every Presidents Cup. He is an honorary member of the PGA Tour, honorary chairman of the USGA Museum and Archives President's council and has served as honorary chairman of The First Tee since 1997.

"I am deeply honored to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame," President Bush said. "I would like to thank PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors for everything they do to support the traditions of golf. I wish everyone gathered here today all the best."

For more information about the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum or the induction ceremony, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org.

Class of 2011 PGA TOUR Ballot Results

Candidate  Voting Results (percentage)
Ernie Els        66
Doug Ford        50
Fred Couples        32
Mark O'Meara        29
Davis Love III        27
Macdonald Smith        23
Ken Venturi        20
Fuzzy Zoeller        18
Tony Lema        14
Dave Stockton        12
Don January        10
Miller Barber        9
Harold (Jug) McSpaden        7
Kenny Perry        2
Jay Haas        2

Ryan Leahey of Orange, Jim D'Addio of West Haven and Richard Woolworth and Raymond Floyd Jr. of Greenwich, the son of former PGA and Champions Tour standout Ray Floyd, will be among 264 starters in the U.S. Mid-Amateur Golf Championship, which begins Saturday at the Atlantic Golf Club and The Bridge in Bridgehampton, N.Y.

The field also includes former Stamford resident Austin Eaton of North Sutton, N.H., and George J. Zahringer III of New York, who beat Norwalk native Jerry Courville Jr. to win the 2002 title at one of his home courses, The Stanwich Club in Greenwich.

The low 64 scorers after qualifying Saturday and Sunday advance to match play, which ends with a 36-hole final Sept. 30.

Dave Szewczul of Burlington took a giant step toward winning the New England Senior Amateur Championship and clinching his second straight Connecticut State Golf Association Senior Player of the Year award Tuesday.

Szewczul shot a 4-under-par 65 to take a five-stroke lead in the Senior Amateur Championship at Pawtucket Country Club in Rhode Island.

Here's a story sent by the New England Golf Association, and a legitimate question was asked in the first paragraph:

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Minutes after Dave Szewczul (Tunxis Plantation CC in Farmington) signed his scorecard Tuesday at the 13th New England Senior Amateur Championship, one
fellow golfer asked, "Did you really finish all of the holes?"

Although the question was said in jest, Szewczul's first-round score of 4-under-par 65 at Pawtucket Country Club was truly eye-popping considering that the second-lowest score posted at an event featuring the top senior amateurs in all of New England was a 1-over 70.

"I didn't get into too much trouble out there," said Szewczul, who saw the course for the first time on Monday afternoon. "I didn't know the golf course that well, but sometimes you play better when you don't know the golf course."

Tuesday's performance continues what has been a sensational summer for the 56-year-old from Farmington. In just one season, he has won nearly every major Connecticut senior amateur title, including the CSGA Senior Match Play Championship and CSGA Senior Four-Ball Championship. He also finished second at the CSGA Four-Ball Championship and fourth at the CSGA Mid-Amateur Championship.

But one of the highlights came at the Connecticut Senior Open Championship where Szewczul captured a title that had eluded him for years. In fact, after finishing as low amateur on five occasions and as runner-up in 2005 and 2006, Szewczul outlasted top professionals in a five-hole playoff to win the title. Over the course of his career, he has also won the CSGA Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Public Links championships.

On this day, Szewczul found a way to make birdies while others struggled to keep scores close to par. After beginning his round on the 10th hole, Szewczul found no trouble as he carded eight pars and one birdie on the 434-yard, par-4 17th hole.  It was on the front nine where he found his rhythm as he played 5-under during a seven-hole stretch. He posted birdies on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 8th holes.

Even his miscues could have easily gone the other way. On the 414-yard, par-4 sixth hole, Szewczul -- 120 yards from the hole and in the middle of fairway -- made bogey and then on the 449-yard, par-4 ninth hole he missed a four-foot putt for par.

"It has been a good year," Szewczul said. "I have been driving the ball very consistently and that puts less pressure on my short game. I have also been putting well the last half of the season. A tip from my son has helped."

That helpful putting tip came from Szewczul's15-year-old son David, who has been a lucky charm for his father. A standout student-athlete who excels at both hockey and golf at Avon Old Farms has served as caddie on numerous occasions for his father. While young David has not been able to follow his father this week in Pawtucket, the dynamic duo will be heading to Florida this weekend to take aim at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship title.

Before the plane leaves the jetway, however, Szewczul still has plenty of work to do at Pawtucket where he is looking to improve on his second-place finish from one year ago. That impressive finish came during his first year of eligibility in senior amateur events.

"My game plan will be the same," said Szewczul when asked about Wednesday's second and final round. "I am going to go out and play my game. If I play the way that I have been playing, then we'll see what happens.... I am going to try and hit fairways. If you hit fairways here it makes it a lot easier."

Looking to catch Szewczul will be a strong group of competitors at 70 that includes Andrew Congdon (Wyantenuck CC) and Jack Kearney (Elmcrest CC), who will be joining Szewczul at
next week's U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Lake Nona Golf Club in Orlando.

Kearney matched Szewczul's medalist score of 3-under 69 at a sectional qualifier at The International Golf Club in Bolton (Mass.), while Congdon was medalist at a qualifier at The Golf Club at Equinox in Manchester, Vt. Jack Weeks (Wollaston GC) and Tom Bergeron (Crumpin-Fox Club) were the two other players at 70.

"Super" Senior Stars
While one New England Senior Amateur Champion will be crowned Wednesday, there is another honor which will be bestowed on a deserving competitor.

In addition to battling for the rights to the Harry B. McCracken Senior Amateur Trophy, all competitors 65 years and older are in the running for the Super Senior Division title. Rev. Bill Lee (The Course at Yale in New Haven), Bob Foehl (Lake Sunapee CC) and Dave Houghton (The Captains GC) lead at 72.

A year ago, Shawn McLoughlin (Ridgewood CC-Danbury), the 2000 champion, won in a one-hole playoff with Dick Weigold (Torrington).

Brian Keiser's terrific Summer of 2010 continued in a major way Tuesday.

Keiser, the assistant pro at Wethersfield Country Club, shot a 3-under-par 67 for a 54-hole total of 137 and a five-stroke victory in the Connecticut Section OGA Professional Championship at Wintonbury Hills Golf Course in Bloomfield.

Keiser broke open a tight race with a 5-under 30 on the front nine, highlighted by an eagle and three birdies to forge a four-stroke lead. He then cruised to victory over Fran Marrello of Canaan CC (69), Ed Slattery of Candlewood Valley CC-New Milford (71) and Kevin Mahaffy of Pequabuck GC in Bristol (71).

Keiser earned $3,000 and a spot in the 2011 PGA National Championship at Hershey (Pa.) Country Club. Mahaffy won the second exempt spot when he chipped in for birdie on the second playoff hole. He, Marrello and Slattery each won $1,583.33.

The 2011 national championship will have a $550,000 purse and be telecast on the Golf Channel. The low 20 finishers earn berths into the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club on Aug. 11-14. The national champion also receives the Walter Hagen Cup, an exemption into the next 10 PGA Professional National Championships, a spot on the 2011 PGA Cup Team and exemptions into six PGA Tour events in a 12-month period.

Leaders and money winnings

 1   Brian Keiser    Wethersfield Country Club       70-67--137 -3  $3,000
T2  Fran Marrello    Canaan Country Club             73-69--142 +2 $1,583.33
T2  Ed Slattery      Candlewood Valley Country Club  71-71--142 +2 $1,583.33
T2  Kevin Mahaffy    Pequabuck GC                    71-71--142 +2 $1,583.33
T5  Dave Cook        Pomperaug Golf Course           73-70--143 +3 $925.00
T5  Greg Farland     Quaboag Country Club            71-72--143 +3 $925.00
T7  Paul Barnsley    Race Brook CC                   72-73--145 +5 $700.00
T7  Tom DelRosso     Black Hall Club                 71-74--145 +5 $700.00
T9  Ian Marshall     Watertown Golf Club             75-71--146 +6 $575.00
T9  Jim Alexander    H Smith-Richardson            73-73--146 +6  $575.00
T11 Tony Kelley      Wyckoff Country Club           74-73--147 +7 $415.00
T11 Michael Bechard  Ludlow Country Club             74-73--147 +7 $415.00
T11 Ron Dellostritto Wethersfield Country Club       74-73--147 +7 $415.00
T11 Kevin Shea       New London CC                   73-74--147 +7 $415.00
T11 Joe Mongillo     Tumble Brook CC                 71-76--147 +7 $415.00
T16 Casey Roan       Shennecossett Golf Course       76-72--148 +8 $180.00
T16 Andrew Gruss     Shuttle Meadow Country Club     75-73--148 +8  $180.00
T16 Paul Ryiz        Brownson Country Club           74-74--148 +8 $180.00
T16 Mickey Hawkes    Hawkes Golf Vehicles, LLC       73-75--148 +8  $180.00
T16 William Street   New Haven Country Club          72-76--148 +8 $180.00
T21 Bob Kay          Tumble Brook Country Club       77-72--149 +9 
T21 Dave Dell        Springfield CC                  77-72--149 +9 
T21 Kevin Cain       Richter Park GC                 75-74--149 +9 
T21 John Paesani     Norwich GC                      73-76--149 +9 
T21 Patrick Aldrich  Sharon Country Club             72-77--149 +9 
T21 Larry Thornhill  Alling Memorial Golf Course     72-77--149 +9 
27  Ted Perez        East Mountain Country Club      79-71--150 +10
T28 Bob Brown        Tashua Knolls Golf Course       75-76--151 +11
T28 William Wallis   New Haven Country Club          74-77--151 +11
T30 Frank Leja       Evergreene Golf Center          77-75--152 +12
T30 Tim Gavronski    Shuttle Meadow Country Club     76-76--152 +12 

Congratulations to Tom Lehman on being named the 2010 winner of the Payne Stewart Award.

Lehman, one of the classiest acts in all of golf during a 30-year pro career on the Nationwide, PGA and Champions Tour, was to be honored during a private reception Tuesday night as part of the festivities at The Tour Championshiip, the finale of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedExCup.

The Payne Stewart Award is presented annually to a player sharing Stewart's respect for the traditions of the game, his commitment to uphold the game's heritage of charitable support and his professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct.  Stewart, an 11-time winner on the PGA Tour and a World Golf Hall of Fame member, died tragically in a plane crash the week of The Tour Championship in 1999.

"I am humbled to receive this year's Payne Stewart Award," Lehman said in a statement released by the tour. "It is an honor that so many truly deserve. To be selected from among so many remarkable human beings only makes me want to be a better person.  We are all the result of the influence and love of many, many people in our lives.  I am deeply appreciative of all of those in my own life.  I desire to be a worthy recipient of this award, and I hope to always uphold the legacy of our friend, Payne Stewart."

Lehman, a native of Minnesota, turned pro in 1982 and has been a steady force throughout his career, although it took him several years to establish himself as a top player. Lehman played on PGA Tour from 1983-85 with little success and turned to tours in Asia and South Africa to hone his game for several seasons.

  
In 1990 and 1991, Lehman won four times on the Nationwide Tour (then the Ben Hogan Tour), was Player of the Year and gained his PGA Tour card again by topping the 1991 money list. His first PGA Tour victory came in the 1994 Memorial Tournament, but the highlight of his career was winning the 1996 British Open and a course-record 64 in the third round at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. He was the first American professional to win at that venue and the first since amateur Bobby Jones in 1926. He capped that season with a six-stroke win at The Tour Championship and was named PGA Tour Player of the Year, becoming the first -- and so far only -- player to win the honor on both the PGA and Nationwide Tour.  His fifth and most recent PGA Tour victory came in 1995 at the Phoenix Open.

Lehman competed for the United States in three Ryder Cups (1995, 1997, 1999) and three Presidents Cups (1994, 1996, 2000) and was Ryder Cup captain in 2006.

In April 2009, Lehman became the 13^th Champions Tour player to win his debut, as he teamed Bernard Langer to win the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in a playoff with Jeff Sluman and Craig Stadler. Earlier this year, Lehman won the Senior PGA Championship in a playoff with Fred Couples and David Foster for his first Champions Tour major title.

Lehman, a born-again Christian, is dedicated to using the game of golf to give back to his community and those in need.  From 1995-2002, Lehman hosted a charity golf tournament that raised more than $4.7 million for the Children's Cancer Research Fund at the University of Minnesota.  He is also involved with "Match Point," a Phoenix-based program that matches adults with troubled children, giving both his money and time.  

Lehman was honored with the 2001 Charles Bartlett Award, given by the Golf Writers Association of America, for unselfish contributions to golf.  He also received the first Byron Nelson Prize from the Salesmanship Club of Dallas at the 2007 EDS Byron Nelson Championship.  The award is given to a person or organization in the golf world who exemplifies the ideals of "giving back" that Nelson personified.

Lehman and his wife Melissa live in Arizona and have four children.

"As we enter the second decade of the Payne Stewart Award, Tom Lehman's name, reputation, character and accomplishments are certainly at home on the list with those who have received the award before him," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. "Tom has achieved success both on the course and in his personal life, and he has utilized that success to help improve the lives of those around him.  We're thrilled to honor Tom with the Payne Stewart Award and thank him for his service to the PGA TOUR, the game of golf and the charitable community."

Lehman is the 13^th recipient of the award.  The inaugural award was given in 2000 to Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Ben Crenshaw was the 2001 recipient, followed by Nick Price, Tom Watson, Jay Haas, Brad Faxon, Gary Player, Hal Sutton, Davis Love III and Kenny Perry.
 
In addition to a sculpture presented to the recipient, the award is accompanied by an annual Payne Stewart Award Grant presented by Southern Company. The $300,000 supports several initiatives in Stewart's name and is distributed as follows: $100,000 to Payne and Tracey Stewart's primary charity, The Stewart Family Foundation; $100,000 in Stewart's honor to The First Tee of the Ozarks located in Missouri at Kids Across America, which is affiliated with Kanakuk Kamps; and $100,000 to a charity designated by the winner.  Lehman chose the Lehman Family Foundation.

Again, congratulations, Tom. Another terrific choice for one of the game's most meaningful awards.

Rangers center and captain Chris Drury was delighted to learn The Whale was coming back to Hartford.

"How about that?" said a smiling Drury, a Hartford Whalers fan while growing up in Trumbull.

But Drury wasn't at all happy about sporting a soft cast around his left hand and down his index finger, which was broken when he blocked a shot by defenseman Matt Gilroy during a scrimmage Monday.

"Obviously I'd much rather be out there," Drury said at the Rangers' training camp in Greenburgh, N.Y., before heading to see the team's hand specialist, Dr. Martin Posner at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Manhattan. "Two, three weeks maybe, four at most and I'll be fine. I think I can start off-ice (Wednesday)."

Drury is expected to miss the Rangers' first three or four games after the finger was broken despite him wearing reinforced gloves, the puck apparently striking him in a seam. In 2009, Drury broke his right wrist blocking a shot and was severely limited in the Rangers' playoff series against the Washington Capitals. This time, the injury is to Drury's top hand gripping the stick, which requires less pressure while playing, and the timing is much better.

"No one wants to miss anything," the 34-year-old Drury said. "But if something does have to happen -- if something does happen -- it's certainly better to miss exhibition games than the real stuff."

Maybe Drury will travel to a Wolf Pack exhibition game to see the team that will become the Connecticut Whale, likely between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That became official Monday when former Whalers managing general partner Howard Baldwin announced a three-year deal with the Rangers and AEG to take over control of the off-ice management of the Wolf Pack. The team will be renamed the Connecticut Whale once jerseys and logos are finished.

Brian Keiser shot an even-par 70 Monday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Connecticut Section PGA Professional Championship at Wintonbury Hills Golf Course in Bloomfield.

Keiser, the assistant pro at Wethersfield Country Club, is one ahead of Tom DelRosso (Black Hall Club-Old Lyme), Greg Farland (Quaboag CC-Monson, Mass.), Kevin Mahaffy (Pequabuck GC-Bristol), Joe Mongillo (Tumble Brook CC-Bloomfield), Ed Slattery (Candlewood Valley CC) and Mike Zaranek (Crumpin-Fox Club, Bernardston, Mass.)

The low two finishers after the final round Tuesday qualify for the 2011 PGA Professional National Championship on June 26-29 at Hershey (Pa.) Country Club. The 2010 Player of the Year will receive an exemption.

Leaders

1   Brian Keiser     Wethersfield Country Club       35-35--70 E  
T2  Joe Mongillo     Tumble Brook CC                 33-38--71 +1 
T2  Tom DelRosso     Black Hall Club                 34-37--71 +1 
T2  Kevin Mahaffy    Pequabuck GC                    36-35--71 +1 
T2  Mike Zaranek     Crumpin-Fox Club                37-34--71 +1 
T2  Ed Slattery      Candlewood Valley Country Club  36-35--71 +1 
T2  Greg Farland     Quaboag Country Club            35-36--71 +1 
T8  Larry Thornhill  Alling Memorial Golf Course     36-36--72 +2 
T8  William Street   New Haven Country Club          36-36--72 +2 
T8  Paul Barnsley    Race Brook CC                   37-35--72 +2 
T8  Patrick Aldrich  Sharon Country Club             35-37--72 +2 
T12 Stan McLennan    Suffield Country Club           34-39--73 +3 
T12 Mickey Hawkes    Hawkes Golf Vehicles, LLC       37-36--73 +3 
T12 Fran Marrello    Canaan Country Club             36-37--73 +3 
T12 John Paesani     Norwich GC                      37-36--73 +3 
T12 Dave Cook        Pomperaug Golf Course           40-33--73 +3 
T12 Jim Alexander    H Smith-Richardson Golf Course  37-36--73 +3 
T12 Kevin Shea       New London CC                   35-38--73  +3

T19 Ron Dellostritto   Wethersfield Country Club       36-38--74 +4 
T19 William Wallis   New Haven Country Club          36-38--74 +4 
T19 Michael Bechard  Ludlow Country Club             36-38--74 +4 
T19 Tony Kelley      Wyckoff Country Club            35-39--74 +4 
T19 Paul Ryiz        Brownson Country Club           35-39--74 +4 
T24 Bob Brown        Tashua Knolls Golf Course       36-39--75 +5 
T24 Andrew Gruss     Shuttle Meadow Country Club     33-42--75 +5 
T24 Ian Marshall     Watertown Golf Club             34-41--75 +5 
T24 Kevin Cain       Richter Park GC                 38-37--75 +5  

As Whalers Sports and Entertainment boss Howard Baldwin prepared to officially announce his takeover of off-ice activities of the Wolf Pack on Monday, there was bad and good --- mostly bad --- news out of Rangers training camp in Tarrytown, N.Y.

The worst news was Rangers captain and Trumbull native Chris Drury will be out four weeks with a broken finger sustained when he blocked a shot in a scrimmage and could miss the first three games of the sesaon. Got to love Drury for blocking shots in training-camp scrimmates. He had worked out especially hard in the offseason in hopes of regaining the offensive touch that deserted him last season, when the Rangers missed the playoffs by a shot when they lost a shootout to the Flyers in the season finale.

Rangers forward Vinny Prospal tweeted: "Tough break for (Drury) bc he was skating well & he's in great shape."

Also, prospect Ethan Werek left the scrimmage with a leg injury and Andrew Yogan, the Rangers' fourth-round pick in June, will undergo left shoulder surgery to repair a labral tear. Yogan's injury didn't occur during camp. The Rangers decided the shoulder needed to be tightened from previous injury.

"I'm not too worried about it," Yogan said. "I'm still really young, which is the main reason they want me to this now."

On the good news front, Chad Johnson, who shuttled between the Wolf Pack and Rangers last season, and newcomer Jordan Parise combined for a 2-0 shutout as the Blue team beat the Red, which included Marian Gaborik and Alex Frolov, who combined for four goals in their scrimmage opener Sunday. Johnson is ticketed to be the No. 1 goalie in Hartford this season after the Rangers signed free agent Martin Biron in the offseason.

Meanwhile in Hartford, Baldwin and Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather will be the featured speakers at a press conference at 5 p.m. at the XL Center atrium. Baldwin will announce he and the Rangers have reached an agreement for Whalers Sports and Entertainment to run the off-ice duties and hopefully increase attendance. The Wolf Pack will be renamed the Connecticut Whale and start play between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The press conference is open to the public so hope to see you there.

Southern New England Women's Golf Association Championship winner Debbie Johnson of Stamford heads the state contingent in the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship, which begins Saturday at Wichita (Kan.) Country Club.

Other Connecticut players in the 132-women field are former SNEWGA champion Daria Cummings of Monroe and Debbie Jamgochian of Greenwich.

The low 64 after qualifying Saturday and Sunday advance to match play, which culminates with the final Sept. 30.

Best of luck to all three. Making match play is an accomplishment. A few match-play wins only makes it all that much more an exciting experience. And a victory? Don't need to ask.

A third consecutive top-10 finish has moved University of Hartford grad Patrick Sheehan within striking distance of the Nationwide Tour's top 50 money winners and a spot in the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship.

Sheehan tied for seventh Sunday in the Albertsons Boise Open after finishing fifth in the Mylan Classic and tied for 10th in the Utah Championship. Sheehan, who played on the PGA Tour for three years, moved from 73rd to 62nd in earnings with $83,929.

The magic number right now is $96,420. That's how much 50th-ranked Doug LaBelle II has earned with six tournaments left, including the Nationwide Tour Championship.

Here's hoping Sheehan can continue his late-season surge and get into the top 50. And it was would especially terrific if he somehow made it into the top 25 and earned a PGA Tour card for 2011. Good luck, Patrick.

Please don't miss the terrific feature on pgatour.com on 2009 Travelers Championship winner Kenny Perry.

The PGA Tour's website traces Perry's charitable work from how a broke fledgling pro parlayed the $5,000 that he received from a friend in Franklin, Ky., into a highly successful career that has funded about $1.5 million for deserving, local students.

Perry is taking the rest of the year off because of fatigure and to spend time with his family and ailing father, but this is a must-see piece more than worth about five minutes of your time.

University of Hartford grad Patrick Sheehan continued his steady late-season climb up the Nationwide Tour ladder on Sunday.

Sheehan birdied three of the last four holes, including Nos. 17 and 18, to shoot a 5-under-par 66 for a 72-hole total of 14-under 268 and a tie for seventh in the Albertsons Boise Open at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho.

It was the third consecutive top-10 finish for Sheehan, who moved from a tie for 12th in his bid to advance into the top 50 money winners and earn a spot in the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship. Sheehan finished fifth in the Mylan Classic and tied for 10th in the Utah Championship the previous two weeks.

Sheehan finished eight strokes behind Hunter Haas, who had a bogey-free 64 for 263 and a one-stroke victory over third-round leader Daniel Summerhays. It was Haas' second win in four weeks and fourth of his career.

Haas birdied six of the first 10 holes to tie Summerhays, who started the day two ahead of John Mallinger and three in front of Haas. Summerhays birdied Nos. 2-4 but closed with 14 pars, while Haas birdied the 16th hole for the victory.

Haas won $130,500 to jump from 12th to fourth on the money list with $331,766, guaranteeing his return to the PGA Tour next year as a top-25 finisher in earnings. The 33-year-old former Oklahoma player also is a victory away from an immediate promotion to the PGA Tour since he also won the Price Cutter Charity Championship last month in Springfield, Mo.

Mallinger (69), who narrowly missed qualifying for the FedEx Cup playoffs and is trying to keep his game sharp for the Fall Series that starts in two weeks, tied for third at 267 with Jhonattan Vegas (66), Keegan Bradley (68) and PGA Tour veteran Kirk Triplett (69).

Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer, shot 71 for 276 and tied for 43rd after making his first cut in four Nationwide Tour starts this year. He has made three of seven cuts on the PGA Tour, with his best finish a tie for 17th in the Honda Classic.

Commentary-free golf proved quite interesting to watch Saturday during the third round of the Nationwide Tour's Albertsons Boise Open.

Golf Channel's announcers Jerry Foltz and Curt Byrum spent the telecast chatting and analyzing from their chairs outside the clubhouse at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho. They also answered Tweeter questions from viewers and talked via phone with former Nationwide Tour standouts such as Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson and Ryan Palmer, who were at home prepping for next week's Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Kuchar, whose grandparents live in Madison and is No. 1 on the FedEx Cup points list, and Johnson then will head to the Ryder Cup against Europe on Oct. 1-3 in Newport, Wales. Kuchar earned the eighth and final automatic spot and will be one of four rookies on the team, while Johnson will make his second appearance as one of U.S. captain Corey Pavin's four wild-card picks. Palmer was considered by Pavin but not selected.

"I learned a lot about social networking," Foltz said of the no-commentary approach, the brainchild of Keith Hirshland, a producer at Golf Channel since it started in 1994. "The fans were basically split down the middle, but their thoughts were strong either way. They really loved it or hated it."

One of the Tweeters was Travelers Championship winner Bubba Watson, who was among those giving the idea a thumbs-up.

"(The players and caddies) helped set up the shots and told us what they were thinking," Watson twittered.

Walking commentators Kay Cockerill and Stephanie Sparks interviewed players during their rounds, but it seemed strange not hearing any chatter in the booth as players hit drives, irons and putts. But it did allow for an upclose-and-personal look at the interaction between players and caddies, though some were quite talkative while others barely broke the on-air silence. Regardless of the amount of their interaction, they were careful not to let any four-letter words slip from their lips and earn a fine.

In the all-important scoring department, Daniel Summerhays, whose older brother Boyd plays on the Nationwide Tour and whose uncle Bruce is on the Champions Tour, birdied the first three holes and three of the last four in a 7-under-par 64 for 54-hole total of 17-under 196, tying the tournament record. The 72-hole record of 21-under 263 was set by Jon Mills in 2007.

"I've been playing well all year, and it's just a matter of time before one of these weekends is mine," said Summerhays, who is 17th on the money list and could lock up a berth on the PGA Tour in 2011 with a victory. "Whether it's a bunched field or a spread-out one, it's the same game.

"I putted really well today. The putter was definitely rolling. I hit it solid enough to score well to give the putter a chance. ... I've got a more positive mindset now, not allowing anything to bother me. That's what I told myself on the 14th hole. I made a birdie there and then had the good finish. I had a chance to win earlier this year, and I'm looking forward to seeing how my body reacts (Sunday). Hopefully I can pull it out this time."

Summerhays has the distinction of being the only amateur to win a tournament in the Nationwide Tour's 21-year history. Three summers ago after his junior year at Brigham Young University, Summerhays won the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational but couldn't accept the $126,000 first prize because of his amateur status. He turned pro shortly thereafter but hasn't won since.

Summerhays, who lives five hours from Boise in Salt Lake City, Utah, is two ahead of PGA Tour veterans Kirk Triplett (64) and John Mallinger (64), who finished birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie.

"It was just one of those things where I wanted to get back into the tournament and shoot 6 or 7 under," Mallinger told Sparks when he was finished. "I'm struggling on the the front nine at 1 under, but I'm 14 under on the back nine so I just tried to stay patient. I made a nice putt on 14 and then holed a bunker shot for eagle at 15 and hit some nice shots coming in."

Mallinger's 7-under 28 on the back nine tied the lowest nine-hole score on the Nationwide Tour this year and the lowest nine-hole score in tournament history. Chris Zambri (2000) and Tripp Isenhour (2003) are the others to shoot 28 on the back nine. Mallinger, who narrowly missed qualifying for the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup, is taking time to sharpen his game until the Fall Series begins in two weeks.

"I came out here just to play and stay competitive," said Mallinger, who finished T7 at last week's Utah Championship. "I was looking at 6 or 7 (under) to get back into it. Normally on the weekend the scores are going to level out a little bit so I thought I could just get back to where they started (14 under), then I'd be there on Sunday.

"I'm at a point now where I've got nothing to lose so I'm just going to go out there and fire at flags. I've got four or five events to play (on the PGA Tour), but it would definitely help my confidence going into the next few weeks."

Tied for fourth at 199 are John Kimbell (64), Keegan Bradley (66), third-round leader Peter Tomasulo (71) and Hunter Haas (67), who agreed to wear a microphone as an "isolated audio" that really gave viewers insight into the player-caddie relationship.

University of Hartford grad Patrick Sheehan continued his last season surge with a 67, which didn't have a blemish until he bogeyed the 18th hole. Still, Sheehan, who had his best finishes of the year in his last two starts, improved from a tie for 22nd to share of 12th at 11-under 202.

Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer, shot 71 to fall from a tie for 22nd to a share of 33rd at 212.

The "Quiet Please" signs won't be up for the announcers during the final round Sunday, and before signing off, Foltz quipped to viewers, "Make sure you tune in to see if we all still have jobs."

Here's hoping they all do because they offer an intriguing insight, but I give Golf Channel a thumbs-up for trying the idea. I like hearing the insight, though some commentators do flap their gums a bit too much. Then again, that's why there are three billion people in the world. Everyone is different and has an opinion. Let's hear your thoughts in the comment section.

It has been about 15 months since Danbury native Ken Green was part of a horrific RV accident that led to the amputation of the lower part of his right leg and the deaths of his brother, girlfriend and dog.

But the terrible losses haven't deterred Green's perseverance and gift of gab. Here's his latest entry on his blog, www.kengreenscomeback.com:

0-6 on Spots,

Straight out of the doctor's office and filled with juice, so I speak again! We won't know for about four days as to whether this second procedure will work, so I will just calmly pray.

I must relay the news that, despite what the PAC and some sponsors think, I'm coming off two straight wins, which means I still have some game or my competitors truly stink.

First, I partnered with Dr. Ron and won the Hunt-Four-Ball 36-hole Par-3 golf extravaganza and quietly followed it with a 36-hole win at the Richter Park Member Guest. My partner Bags and I managed to birdie the last hole to win by a half a shot over my friends Ramey-Bussey. I might be just a better partner than golfer these days. Maybe I should have been chosen by Mr. Pavin for the Ryder Cup.

Now that I have carefully slid my way into that arena, I will say that I believe that his choice of young Mr. Fowler is a disgrace to the game of golf. Please understand I believe that he will have a tremendous career, but in no way did he deserve this invite. I think he was chosen simply to try and excite the game to whatever degree it does. With that said, understand that the difference between him and the 64th guy is so marginal it will not make a difference one way or the other. It is simply the right thing vs. the wrong thing here. In an era that winning is supposed to be the end of all ends, how do we pick three guys who have not won this year? (I think) Tiger is automatic and correctly so. Off the top of my head, you leave off Ryan Palmer, Charley "Stole my Shoes" Hoffman, Anthony Kim and probably a few more that have won this year for so-called experience and youth. If you ask them, they will very well tell you they have not played well.

The best player to ever play in bad weather and on the other side of the world should be there as some sort of help, period. Tom Watson, that is. It's October in Wales so we should plan on strange weather, and he would be an asset. I wish them the best -- I will not be rooting for the other people -- despite my love for their captain Mountfullofself.

Now, some quick points for unknown reasons. The USGA should be getting the ball back that goes left and right when you miss it, not shorter. Let them hit it far, but pay the price if the swing is off.

I have to comment on the recent ad run by the Hollywood actors in regards to illegal immigration. I've already stated that Munch is smarter than me; he is now smarter than many.

My Yankees and Jeter have pulled off more dishonesty and everyone is fine with it again. For the first time in 43 years, I will not root for them; a two-month timeout.

I have to teach someone how to putt this weekend who has never played golf before. I'm clearly dumber than those actors!

I'm also getting the feeling that it's time to get another dog. Munch, Dream and Knight need a Hunch, I say. To the pound I will go. It is my hope to someday have a place where I can let some old and abandoned dogs live out their days with this old and fat dog. The complex will be named Baby's Place -- after my love, Jeanne.

Be good my friends and please remember that I will never forget what my friends, family and strangers have done for me so I may continue this fight we call life. I'm so lucky and honored. 

Ken

Longtime Ellington resident Jeff Curl continued his recent strong play Friday in the Nationwide Tour's Albertsson Boise Open. After recording his best back-to-back Nationwide finishes, Curl finished poorly in an opening, even-par 71 Thursday at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho.

But after starting on the 10th tee and making a par and two bogeys on his first three holes Friday, Curl shot 5 under the rest of the way, highlighted by an eagle 3 at No. 2 for a 4-under 67 that vaulted him from a tie for 97th to a share of 45th when he finished in the morning.

But Curl's 138 total ended up one shot too many as he finished tied for 64th, with the top 60 and ties advancing to the final two rounds. Mark Brooks, who won his first PGA Tour title in a playoff in the 1988 Canon Greater Hartford Open, shot a second 69 and also missed the cut by a stroke.

Curl and Brooks were among those 10 strokes behind leader Peter Tomasulo, who made an eagle at the second hole and then four consecutive birdies on his way to 63-128. Tomasulo is two ahead of Michael Putnam (64), who won the Utah Championship on Sunday, and three in front of first-round leader Cliff Kresge (68), who played four years on the PGA Tour.

University of Hartford grad Patrick Sheehan, who played three years on the PGA Tour, shot 5 under to finish at 135, two under the cut. After starting at No. 10, Sheehan went birdie-par-birdie-eagle from the 18th to the third hole and is tied for 22nd with 12 players, including Sam Saunders (69), the grandson of Arnold Palmer.

The telecast of the third round Saturday will have limited talk by announcers under an alternative being offered by Golf Channel. Instead of the announcers doing all of the chatting, most of the sound will be coming from the players and caddies.

It's never been done before, so the player-caddie conversations won't be interrupted as they usually are. More on-course microphones will be utilized, and Tomasulo is scheduled to wear a microphone during play.

The man behind the idea is Keith Hirshland, 54, who has been a producer at Golf Channel since it started in 1994. Hirshland, who produces 25 to 30 tournaments a year, says he's a bit nervous because viewers will be hearing more from the participants.

Golf Channel plans to make the broadcast utilize social networks like Twitter for viewers to ask questions. Jerry Foltz and analyst Curt Byrum, a former PGA Tour player, will interact more with viewers who send in questions to Golfchannel.com or pgatour.com. And they'll limit their comments on the play-by-play.

On-course reporters Kay Cockerill and Stephanie Sparks, who usually follow particular groups, will set up at interview stations at the par-3 13th hole and the par-4 15th, which players can drive with a good tee shot. There's a likelihood of some delays on the 15th as players will try to drive the green.

Also, Phil Parkin will interview players after their rounds, but instead of giving the broadcast back to the booth, play will just continue. And there will be enhanced statistical and biographical information added to the broadcast in the form of graphics. Some of the Twitter questions to Byrum and Foltz will also be shown on screen at certain times.

Kudos to Golf Channel for giving this new initiative a shot.

With a busy week ahead before boarding a plane for Wales, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin held a teleconference call Friday to give some thoughts on the upcoming matches against Europe. After next week's Tour Championship, the Americans will depart Atlanta at 10 p.m. after the final round Sept. 26, arriving at Cardiff at 11 a.m. on the 27th.

Pavin and European captain Colin Montgomerie and Pavin will do a quick press conference at the airport and then a longer news conference at 4 p.m. at the media center at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales.

But here's a Q&A with Corey on Friday:

            COREY PAVIN:  Good morning, everyone.  Hope everyone is doing good.  It's been ‑‑ the last time I talked to you guys was probably around the picks' times, and been busy the last, what's it been ‑‑ I don't even know what it's been, nine, ten days, just busy talking to the assistant captains and players and trying to get everything organized with them so that they understand what's happening during the week and trying to figure out pairings; been working on that for the last few days pretty hard. And with that, I guess let you guys ask your questions and we'll go from there.

          Q. I guess start it off with a question about Tiger. You know, in every other Ryder Cup that he's played in, he's been the leading points‑getter. It was a foregone conclusion he would be a big part of the team. This time, it was different; you had to pick him. Just curious from your standpoint, do you feel there's a good bit of pressure on him this time, maybe more so than in past Ryder Cups?

            COREY PAVIN:  I'd argue the opposite, actually.  I think, you know, he's in a position as a pick, and he has not played up to his own standards, but he's playing some very good golf now; that I think just like everybody on the team, he's one of 12 guys and I'm going to pair him and talk to him just like all of the other players I've talked to about what they want to play with and who I feel is best for them. I'm just going to look at every player and try to figure out how many times to play them and where they will do better. The object is to get more points than the other team at the end of the competition, and that's what I'm looking at.

            Q.  Wondering if you can mentally rewind to 1991.  I'm hoping to put together a story talking to various a guys on the team about their first shot struck in Ryder Cup competition. Some guys have said that's about as nervous as it gets because of having at additional pressure of having a country kind of riding on your back and all that.  What do you remember about your first match? Who were you paired with, what were the circumstances, did you hit the first ball, and was your heart in your throat?

            COREY PAVIN:  The first match I played in '91, I was paired with Mark Calcavecchia, and to be honest with you, I don't remember the first shot.  So I either topped it or something.  I must have hit a bad shot and I put it out of my mind. You know, I just remember being pretty excited about playing, and I had been playing pretty good that year. You know, we lost that match pretty badly, actually. I think we were playing Steven Richardson and Mark James, I believe. We got pummeled pretty good. So that was my introduction to The Ryder Cup. I remember '93 a lot better because Lanny Watkins was my partner and we were playing foursomes and we were the first match out and I hit the first shot of The Ryder Cup that year.

            Q.  Wow.

            COREY PAVIN:  We had about a two‑hour fog delay, and I remember just standing around waiting and waiting and waiting, and then we got to the tee and it dawned on me that I had the odd holes.  So I was hitting the first shot of The Ryder Cup that year as the away team, we had the honor.  And I just remember being extremely nervous.  I remember putting the peg in the ground and trying to putt the ball on the tee, and I was having a difficult time of it because my hand was shaking so much, but I managed to get the ball on the tee and I hit a good drive and we went on to win that match.

            So I remember that. And in '95, we were actually the first match out again and Tom Lehman was my partner and he was a rookie on that team, and he hit the first shot off the first hole and just piped it right down the middle. So for some reason, '91 is not sticking out in my mind, so there wasn't anything too memorable about it, but I am sure I was as nervous as can be.

            Q.  Is it as simple as having teammates, and you're not just out there playing for yourself?  Is that the simple explanation or is there more to it than that, something that I'm not ‑‑ maybe not considering just in terms of why the pressure seems to be a little bit more?

            COREY PAVIN:  I'm sure you've got it all figured out, but I think it's a combination of a lot of things. No. 1, The Ryder Cup only comes around once every two years. So you have eight majors in the time that you have one Ryder Cup, and so there's quite a build‑up and a lot of anticipation with The Ryder Cup; more so than even with majors in my opinion.  And you have 11 teammates that you don't want to let down and you want to play well for.

            Obviously you're representing all your peers on TOUR and of course you're representing the United States of America.  There's more attention given to The Ryder Cup by fans than anything else, just even in the last few weeks walking around Dallas or L.A. or wherever I am, I've had so many people come up and say something to me, you know, good luck, bring back the Cup, things like that, that you don't hear normally walking around between tournaments.

            So there's a big awareness that the fan base have in the United States in Europe and around the world, and after a while, you just realize how big an event it is.  It's just gigantic.  That creates a lot of pressure, and obviously if you're playing with a partner, the first two days, you don't want to let your partner down, and that's an unusual feeling to have because we don't play that format very often.  So there's pressure there.

            And you know, you're playing in front of a lot of people that are emotionally charged when you're on the golf course so you combine all those things, and I've always said I've been so much more nervous playing in Ryder Cups than any other time; hitting the last shot at the U.S. Open in '95, seemed like a walk in the park compared to playing in The Ryder Cup.

            Q.  What will you tell rookie players about how to handle that first tee shot?

            COREY PAVIN:  Well, the first thing is ‑‑ breathe would be a good thing.  I think, you know, when you're nervous like that, you tend to do things a little bit quicker, so, you know, I'll just ask him to slow down a little bit and take some breaths and just try to relax and just try to make a good rhythmic swing.  Things happen so fast when you're nervous.

            I think those guys will have three practice rounds under their belts, and they will have a pretty good taste of what the crowds are going to be like and the feeling; and I'll just ask them to try to integrate all that that's happening Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and just try to relax as much as they can.

            But I certainly want them to be nervous.  I want them to be feeling that way because that means it means a lot to them and they will just have to deal with their emotions and their feelings the best way that they can. My job is just to make sure that they know that those emotions and feelings are going to be coming and to be prepared for it.

            Q.  Could you talk a little about Dustin Johnson and his resiliency, obviously tough break at the PGA Championship, U.S. Open but he wins last week at Cog Hill.  So can you just talk a little bit about Dustin?

            COREY PAVIN:  I think Dustin has had one of those years that he'll never forget, and hopefully there will be a lot more positive things happening in the next couple of weeks. His win in Chicago was a huge deal for him. The things that have happened to him this year, the maturity that he's shown as the year has gone on. And to come back after the U.S. Open and play well at the PGA Championship the last day and with the bad break there on the last hole, he handled that very well, certainly with the media, and he just seemed to be ‑‑ he understood it and he digested the whole situation very quickly, and that was a big sign of maturity.

            And then to come to Chicago and win that tournament with everything that's happened during the year, you can just see him growing as a player. Obviously as captain, I was very pleased to see it. And he's playing well, things look good and he'll we how he plays at THE TOUR Championship. But he's definitely on a good roll right now, and I'm certainly happy to see that going into The Ryder Cup. I hope he plays well next week at East Lake and he keeps on that same track.

            Q.  Can you talk about how to prepare your team for an away game may be different for a home game?  What are the big differences you try to make players aware of, especially for rookies who have never played the event?

            COREY PAVIN: I think the most important thing is just to understand where we are and what kind of reaction that the players on the team are going to see from the fans out there. Obviously there's going to be 80, 85 percent of the fans are going to be pro‑European, which is great. I think that's good fun. They are going to be cheering and going crazy for The European Team, and I'm sure they will be very respectful for our guys.

            But it's different when you're out there and you're playing and maybe you miss a putt somewhere and Europe wins the hole; you know, there might be a pause and then applause, which you're not used to hearing. But I think the players have to be aware of that, the young guys that haven't been in that situation need to understand that there might be some clapping for bad shots possibly and to kind of be able to integrate that into their thinking before you go out there.  That's just preparation for them.  And you know, just a general preparation for them to be in a stage that they have never been on before.

            You can't really explain it to them completely so that they can handle the situation and be 100 percent sure.  They are going to have to get out there, feel what's going on and understand their feelings and deal with them.  But I can just tell them as much as I can say.

            These guys are professionals and they know what they are doing out there and they have been in a lot of different situations and some of the players have played Walker Cup, some of the rookies, and they have played it overseas and they have seen that type of situation before.  Maybe not quite on the scale that they will see it on The Ryder Cup but they have seen it before, as well.

            Q.  You mentioned Lanny Watkins a minute ago.  He was one of the real, true Ryder Cup studs that America has produced. What does it take for a person to kind of become a great Ryder Cup player? Because there are some great players right now in America who really don't have very good Ryder Cup records?

            COREY PAVIN:  To become a great Ryder Cup player, you've got to obviously play in a lot of Ryder Cups and win points. I think that's the general definition. But you could still play a lot of Ryder Cups. We have some guys on the team that have played a lot of Ryder Cups that maybe have a 50/50 record that are still great Ryder Cup players. It's hard to win matches. You're playing against great players, and they are pretty tough. And in match play, one bounce of the ball could mean the difference between winning and losing. It's tough. You know, just having the experience of playing certainly helps.

            I had Lanny as my partner, since you mentioned him earlier, we played three times in '93 as partners, and I mean, there's a tough guy that just loved match play, loved the situation of The Ryder Cup, and everything about it, he embraced.  When you get a type of player that likes that situation, they are usually going to perform well. Performing well doesn't mean you're going to win your match necessarily, but performing well under that kind of pressure is a pretty incredible feeling as a player.  It's something that you can take into the rest of your career and it can really help the rest of your career after playing in Ryder Cups.  I think I've seen guys that have had good careers and they have done well and they get into a Ryder Cup and the next year, they seem to have a fabulous year because they are playing under a new kind of pressure and they are understanding more about their game.

            Q.  Maybe some of the less‑than‑Lanny, with Ryder Cup records, guys like Furyk and Phil, have coincided with European success in the Cup. You were there when that shift began.  What do you attribute that to?  Why have the Europeans have the upper hand since about '95?

            COREY PAVIN:  I think their teams have been a lot stronger. As simple as that. I think that their players from one to 12 have gotten better over the years, and they are just a stronger team than they used to be. I don't think there's any question about that.  And to me, there's nothing much more to it than that.

            Q.  Despite being the giant event that it's become, The Ryder Cup is pretty much everything that golf typically is not. It's team; it's not individual, it's nationalistic, us versus them.  Is that okay and easy to deal with because it's the uniqueness of every two years, or is that something that you have to think about and talk about and try to embrace?

            COREY PAVIN:  It's certainly okay. Is it easy to deal with?  No. I think that's why you see certain things happen in The Ryder Cup that you don't see other places. I think the fans cheer for their teams, and it's pretty rare now that you see them cheering against the other guys.  And you know, I think that's what's kind of cool about golf is that you know there's not that cheering against, which I think is fantastic; it's just more for.

            I think the event itself is so unique, and happening every two years creates an atmosphere that you don't see anywhere else in the golf world. And I think as a fan that is watching The Ryder Cup, I can't tell you how many people I've talked to that have said, you know, I watch golf and The Ryder Cup is just something different; I mean, I watch every minute of The Ryder Cup on TV, because the fans get to see something different.  The players get to do something different, as well, and it's fun for us to do that.

            I always loved, obviously, playing in it, but I played once overseas and that was a blast for me, because I loved going into that type of atmosphere and trying to quiet the crowd down with making birdies or whatever I did.  That was fun for me.  And it was fun for a lot of the players on the team and I think the group of guys that we have on the team this year, are going to enjoy playing over there.  I think they understand what's going to happen over there, and they are looking forward to it. As you said, they are going to embrace it, and that's the type of team that I would like to see the USA take over there, guys that are up for the challenge and want to be in that situation.

            Q.  Another story I'm working on, Mickelson has been saying the last couple of years that he thinks the FedExCup Playoffs have really helped keep the team sharp leading into either the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup, and you're aware the U.S. has won three in a row in international competition. Back in your day, was there a lot of disconnect between when the matches were held and when you were winding down your season; and can you understand his point in that regard?

            COREY PAVIN:  I've actually said that in the past; that the FedExCup has really helped the United States prepare for the Ryder Cup. Guys are playing leading up to The Ryder Cup, where last time it was right in the middle of the FedExCup and this year it's the week after. That helps us a lot.

            I think back in the day, so to speak, when I was on teams, we played the PGA Championship, and I think it was six weeks till we played The Ryder Cup.  And honestly, a lot of guys had a hard time because they weren't playing events between the PGA and The Ryder Cup, and it's hard to keep your game sharp when you're not playing tournaments.  And that's a difficult thing. I believe the FedExCup, being where it is now and with The Ryder Cup right in the middle of it, has definitely helped the United States be more ready to play, and you know, I think the change in the system the last time is a big help to create a better team for the United States.

            Q. There's been a lot of feedback on the early iterations of the uniforms.  I'm wondering, are we actually going to see these guys wearing lavender sweaters?

            COREY PAVIN:  I think the actual colors ‑‑ what's the color, Julius, cornflower?  If you look at Peter Millar, their catalog or whatever, you'll see the color.  Yeah, we are wearing that. I think Lisa and I are really pleased with the way the uniforms turned out.  We had a vision of what we wanted, and Lisa made it happen and she was involved in it a lot. But there's a lot of cool things about the uniform. It's kind of an old school look, it's kind of a retro look, but you know, with a modern twist to it. There's some cool things.  There's a felt patch on the chest that's unique and different, and I'm really pleased with the way the uniforms turned out.

            Q.  There was a feeling for the longest time that Tiger was somebody who was hard to find a partner for and Steve Stricker and Tiger were so good together at The Presidents Cup; wondering about your observations about their chemistry together and how it affects your decisions in pairings this year?

            COREY PAVIN: I think Tiger can play with quite a few guys. There's a lot of options for partners for Tiger. I think it's easier now to pair him, and I just think as you get ‑‑ as a player, when you've been out here longer and longer, I think the players get to know you better and better, and certainly players know Tiger a lot better than they used to know him.  I think there's a lot of options open for me to pair Tiger with almost anybody on the team.  So I'm thinking about it, I'm working on it obviously, and I guess we'll all find out, you know, Friday who he's going to play with, or two weeks from today.

            I just feel like there's so many options with all of the players on the team.  It's a team that really mixes well. You can almost pull two names out of a hat and you've got a good pairing, and that's a nice problem to have as the captain.  It also creates an issue to me to try to figure out who to pair with. Sometimes there's pretty obvious pairings and sometimes there aren't.  I think this year, there's so many options, and that helps a lot, it really does.  But I've got to figure it out and work on it the next couple of weeks.

            Q.  How much do you take into account who players want to play with?  Is that important to you?

            COREY PAVIN:  Absolutely.  It's very important. I want guys playing together that want to play together, and I've asked the guys, and they have given me their lists. Some are very long, some are not as long, and I'm going to try to make that happen.  Because I think that's, you know, when the guys want to play with another guy, it makes for a better pairing, simple as that, a better partnership.

            Q.  Do you remember any angst over the pairings, and do you remember if you felt that it helped or hindered in the victories and losses overall, or did you feel it just more came down to how well the guys played?  When it was all said, did the playing matter more than the discussion about who got put with whom?

            COREY PAVIN:  Well, obviously you have to play well.  I mean, that's the bottom line.  Everybody would agree with that. Who you're paired with is important, definitely.  You want to have guys that are out there that understand each other and that play well together.  For me, my captains, the three Ryder Cups I played, I had a pretty good idea of who I was going to play with.  There might have been a surprise here and there, but for me it's very easy for me to adapt and kind of roll with the punches so to speak, and I had no problems with that.  I think there's certain players that can do that very well and there are certain players that it helps them immensely to know who they are going to play with.

            You know, that's all part of my thinking and how I go about pairings and what I tell the guys beforehand.  So you know, if there's ‑‑ if I'm doing something on the fly during The Ryder Cup, that is going to be part of my thinking is, you know, can I put this player with that player and do it at the last minute and are they going to be fine with it, or do I have to go a different direction.  All of those things are part of the equation.

            Q.  Do you think you need to use the practice rounds to experiment, or do you feel that you have a pretty good handle on what you want to do regardless of those three days leading up?

            COREY PAVIN:  I'll probably have a pretty good idea going in what I want to do.  It certainly helps the guys to play a little bit of golf together, but I don't think it's critical having guys who I'm going to pair together play practice rounds together.  They might play once together and that's enough. It depends on who they are and how I think they are going to react. So each pairing is going to be its own individual pairing, and I'll deal with that as we go on.

            Q.  A lot of the so‑called experts have spent time analyzing the upcoming matches and the U.S. often comes up as the underdog.  You've had some time now to take a good look at both teams, and I'm curious how you feel yours shapes up, stacks up?

            COREY PAVIN: I think both teams are pretty good, that's for sure. I still feel that we are going to be the underdogs going in there.  Playing overseas and playing in that environment is difficult.  Travelling and going to a five‑hour time zone change is not easy, and just being in a foreign country is never an easy thing to do to get acclimated.

            Do I think these guys can do it?  Absolutely, I think they can do it.  I think the Europeans will be favored.  We will be playing in front of obviously a fan base that's going to be European, pro‑European, and that's difficult.  We are playing a golf course that they play one of their Tour events on, so some of the European players have had experience playing Celtic Manor in a tournament situation, and that helps, too. So there's a lot much things going on there, so can Team USA overcome toes things?  He is why, I think we can, but it's an uphill battle.

            Q.  Getting back to the last thing I asked you about European dominance in The Ryder Cup, and definitely improvement of depth in their team, but is there an attitude thing there, too?  Is it that they bond better or have a different view of The Ryder Cup, do you think?

            COREY PAVIN:  I was over in '06 with Tom Lehman as captain, as an assistant captain, and you know, obviously I was in Team USA's, where, we eat and hang around, our team room, and I saw 12 guys that had a great time and bonded beautifully.  When it's all said and done, you have to go out and play well, and you know, the team just didn't play that well that week.  It wasn't because of lack of bonding or anything like that.  I think that's kind of a misnomer that's been out there.

            Every team I've been on has been fantastic.  All of the guys have been great together.  It's just a matter of how you play when you get on the golf course, and you know, Europe for the last decade has played some pretty good golf.  We have had a couple wins in there, as well. But they have just played better in The Ryder Cup, except for, in '99 and '08.  So to me, I see both teams get along great.  They have good times, fun times in the team rooms, but you have to go out and perform.  You have to go out there and play golf and you have to make putts and hit great shots, and that's what wins The Ryder Cup.

            Q.  Do you think that when they had the breakthrough, was it maybe 79 or so, that that kind much just shifted their mentality, that they kind of broke through and felt like, hey, we can win this thing now and that kind of maybe opened a flood gate so to speak?

            COREY PAVIN:  I think when Europe was added ‑‑ when the Continent was added to Great Britain and Ireland, it not initially gave them more depth, but over time it's given them a lot more depth.  And when you have that depth that they have now, and really both teams have great depth; that it's going to be much more competitive. Any time you get in a situation where you haven't been competitive and then all of a sudden you are, you know, it certainly gives you confidence.  There's no doubt about it.  But both teams are pretty equal now and it's been that way for a little while.  And as I said, it's just a matter of who goes out and performs better.  But both teams I think are fairly confident going in there year and feel good about their chances and it's just a matter of who makes the putts.

            Q.  What's the roll‑out the first day?  Is it best‑ball or what's first, what's second on Friday and Saturday?

            COREY PAVIN:  Both Friday and Saturday are better‑ball in the morning and foursomes in the afternoon.

            Q.  Does Monty get to set the schedule because he's the home team or do you guys do that jointly?

            COREY PAVIN:  No, that's Captain Montgomerie's call. I think that started ‑‑ I think the order of the matches, whether you play better‑ball or foursomes, the captain has decided that, I think I want to say starting in '06, I believe.  You'll have to check on that.  I think that was the first year where the captain had a choice of the order of how the matches went.

            Q.  Does that create any kind of advantage that you can see for either side?  Are you okay with that?  Obviously it seems like the team that starts fast historically seems to get a leg up in these things, and the U.S. has often struggled in the two‑man affair; what are your impressions going in about that order?

            COREY PAVIN:  Obviously Colin thinks an advantage or he wouldn't have done it.  Why he thinks that's an advantage, you'll have to ask him.  As far as I know, we have to play both formats each day, and the order is not that important to me.  So you know, I'm just going to try to putt out the best teams that I can in the morning and the afternoon, and hopefully they will play well and we will do nicely.

Mike Ballo Jr. of Stamford tied for fourth with Kensington native Jon Veneziano in the individual competiton to lead Connecticut to a tie for 29th in the U.S. Golf Association's Men's State Team Championship at Mayacama Golf Club in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Ballo, the son of longtime Wee Burn-Darien head pro and two-time Connecticut Open champion Mike Ballo, had a 54-hole total of 1-under-par 212, four behind medalist Bryan Norton, who led Kansas to the team title at 3-under 423. The 51-year-old Norton is a two-time USGA runner-up, in the 2003 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and last year at the Men's State Team Championship. He also was second low amateur in the 2009 U.S. Senior Open.

Other members of the Connecticut team that shot 449 were Ryan Leahey of Orange (240) and Bill Hermanson of East Lyme (244). The low two of three scores each day determined team totals.

Veneziano, who now lives in Eustis, Fla., led the Sunshine State threesome to a tie for second at 427. He played with Doug Snoap (219) and Don Bell (221), as Florida had its best finish since the inaugural event in 1995 at Lake Nona, Fla., where the home team was solo second to champion Virginia.

Rhode Island also tied for second, led by Cranston's Bobby Leopold, whose 213 tied for seventh in the individual competition. Other members of the Rhode Island team were Garrett Medeiros (217) and Charlie Blanchard (223). It was the Ocean State's best finish after tying for fourth last year with South Carolina.

After his best two Nationwide Tour finishes of the year, longtime Ellington resident Jeff Curl will have to improve Friday to make the cut in the Albertsson Boise Open at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho.

Curl, son of former PGA and Champions Tour player Rod Curl, birdied two of the first three holes and then had two bogeys and 13 pars the rest of the way to shoot an even-par 71 in Thursday's first round. That put Curl in a tie for 97th after he was T14 in the Mylan Classic and T34 in the Utah Championship the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, University of Hartford grad Patrick Sheehan, who also had his best showings in the last two events, had four birdies in a 69, which was the first-round cut number.

Cliff Kresge, who played on the PGA Tour for several years and challenged for a win until the last few holes last week, closed with an eagle 2 at No. 15, two birdies and a par to take the lead at 63. That was one less than Barrett Jarosch, who was 5 under for the first eight holes and then capped his day with an eagle 3 at No. 16.

West Hartford's Natalie Sheary had a solid start to her senior year at Wake Forest.

Sheary, named an All-American last year, shot a 4-under-par 212 and tied for ninth in the NCAA Fall Preview at the Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas. It was her best finish in her fourth Fall Preview.

Tiger Woods' niece, Cheyenne Woods, a junior, tied for 70th at 301 as the Demon Deacons shared 13th place with Texas at 34 over. Cheyenne won her first college tournament in April, the Bryan National Collegiate, which gives her one more victory in 2010 than the No. 1-ranked male player in the world.

LSU's Megan McChrystal tied the course record with a closing 65 to claim medalist honors at 10-under 206. She overtook 36-hole leader Marina Alex of Vanderbilt with five birdies in the final six holes, including 17 and 18. Despite McChrystal's fast finish, the Lady Tigers finished one stroke behind 36-hole leader Alabama, which shot 15 under.

Several players expected to be playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whalers excelled Wednesday as they finished fifth in the Traverse City Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Mich.

Derek Stepan, who helped lead Wisconsin to the NCAA title game in April and could be the No. 1 center in Hartford this season, had a goal and two assists in a 7-2 rout of the Dallas Stars prospects.

The Rangers finished the tournament with a 2-2-0 record and seven points, and several players will head to the team's main training camp, which opens Friday in Tarrytown, N.Y.

Other Rangers goals were scored by Andrew Yogan, Jason Bast, Jason Wilson, Sam Klassen, Ethan Werek and Evgeny Grachev, who played with the Wolf Pack last season in his rookie year in North America.  Stephan, Grachev, Klassen and Werek should be going to Rangers camp, though all are expected to end up in Hartford.

The Wolf Pack start camp at the XL Center on Sept. 25 and open their 14th American Hockey League season at home Oct. 9 against the Charlotte Checkers, their former ECHL affiliate. Former New England/Hartford Whalers owner and managing general partner Howard Baldwin is close to finalizing a deal with Madison Square Garden and AEG to take over control of the team's off-ice activities and rename them the Connecticut Whalers. Baldwin hopes to revitalize the local pro hockey market and eventual bring another NHL team to Hartford.

For all of you out there who think the talking heads of television flap their gums too much, you're in luck this weekend with an alternative being offered by Golf Channel.

Instead of the cable network's announcers doing all the chatting during the third-round telecast of the Nationwide Tour's Albertsson Boise Open, most of the sound will be coming from the players and caddies.

It's never been done before, so the player-caddie conversations won't be interrupted as they usually are, though there was some excellent upclose-and-personal work done last weekend by NBC during the BMW Championship.

But more on-course microphones will be utilized on Saturday, and there's a chance a player will wear a microphone during play. It's a great week to try this experiment as the PGA Tour takes a rare week off before the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

The man behind the idea is Keith Hirshland, 54, who has been a producer at Golf Channel since it started in 1994. Hirshland, who produces 25 to 30 tournaments a year, says he's a bit nervous because viewers will be hearing more from the participants.

"The sound will be coming mostly from the players and caddies," Hirshland told pgatour.com. "Originally, we kind of thought about having (announcer) Jerry Foltz come on and say here's the third round and then for the next two-and-half hours just air the golf without any announcers at all. But then it just kind of morphed into what we have now."

Golf Channel plans to make the broadcast utilize social networks like Twitter for viewers to ask questions. Foltz and analyst Curt Byrum, a former PGA Tour player, will interact more with viewers who send in questions. And they'll limit their comments on the play-by-play.

"Fans can go to Golfchannel.com, PGATOUR.COM and we'll be on Twitter and Facebook so we thought it would be a great for fans to interact with Jerry and Curt while the broadcast is going on," Hirshland said. "The idea is to kind of have them sitting and watching the telecast and answering questions from viewers."

Plans also call for on-course reporters Kay Cockerill and Stephanie Sparks, who usually follow particular groups, to set up at interview stations at the par-3 13th hole and the par-4 15th, which players can drive with a good tee shot. There's a likelihood of some delays on the 15th as players will try to drive the green.

Also, Phil Parkin will interview players after their rounds, but instead of giving the broadcast back to the booth, play will just continue.

Foltz said he's looking forward to the different type of broadcast, and is trying to familiarize himself with Twitter and the entire social network scene a little more.

"I don't use Twitter that much, but it's going to be a lot of fun and I think it's going to attract some attention," Foltz said. "It takes a lot of guts to do this, because I'm sure there will be some who don't like it."

Foltz said that one of the best lines about the experiment came from Sparks, who was talking about what this might do for golf announcers and analysts.

"Stephanie said, 'This might do what reality TV did for actors,' " Foltz said.

What Hirshland is most excited about are the possibilities of the player-caddie conversations as they size up shots. He's frustrated when the on-course microphones start to pick up a conversation between the player and caddie, then the on-air host or analyst interrupts.

"It's the most aggravating thing in the world," Hirshland said. "It happens every week, and with what we are doing there's no chance of it happening on Saturday."

Another aspect Hirshland is excited about is the chance to put a microphone on a player who is in contention. The only directive from the PGA Tour's Policy Board is the player's comments not air live.

"We'll put it in the tape machines and then turn around and air it pretty quickly," Hirshland said.

There will also be enhanced statistical and biographical information added to the broadcast in the form of graphics. Some of the Twitter questions to Byrum and Foltz will also be shown on screen at certain times.

One of the benefits Golf Channel will have in Boise is one of the best fields on the Nationwide Tour this season. All of the top 25 on the money list are playing and 57 of the top 60 are entered.

The Nationwide Tour has seven tournaments left, and the push to make it into the top 25 and earn a PGA Tour card for 2011 is heating up.

Among those trying to reach that magic number are University of Hartford grad Patrick Sheehan and former Ellington resident Jeff Curl. Each has had his best two finishes of the year in their last two starts.

I'm betting lot of folks tune in to see what the telecast sounds like and to participate. If it works well, Golf Channel might try it again. If not, it was worth a try.

Kudos to Golf Channel for giving it a shot.

Here's a story that appeared Tuesday in the Quad News, an independent student newspaper at Quinnipiac University, on former star center/left wing Brandon Wong, who signed an American Hockey League contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack on Monday:

Former Quinnipiac men's hockey forward Brandon Wong will be returning to Connecticut as a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack after signing a minor league contract with the American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Rangers. It was a long waiting process for Wong, but he was able to sign a contract just a couple of weeks before training camps begin.

"It's a tough market this year," Wong said in a phone interview with the Quad News. "I just ended up waiting it out and things worked out for me, especially with Hartford being close by. I thought it would be a great opportunity for me."

Wong was one of the most prolific scorers in Quinnipiac men's hockey history. He is second in goals scored with 68 and also amassed 75 assists over his QU career. He also led all of NCAA division I scorers in power play goals last season with 14.

At the end of last season, Wong signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. Wong played in three games with the Griffins, tallying only one assist, but it was still a valuable experience for the Victoria, British Columbia, native.

"I was there for three weeks with [the Griffins], and I went on the road. It was a good stepping stone coming into this year, knowing what to expect and what it takes to play in the AHL," Wong said.

Wong will hope to step in on one of Hartford's scoring lines after a difficult year for the Wolf Pack, who finished in sixth place in the Atlantic Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.

"I'm a player who puts up points, scores goals and brings speed," Wong said. "I definitely bring some offense and I play a two way game, so hopefully I can fit right in there."

Ironically, before Wong plays a game at Hartford, he will be returning to his old stomping grounds and playing at Quinnipiac in front of some familiar faces. If he makes the team, he will be returning to Hamden Oct. 1 in an exhibition game when the Wolf Pack take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the first ever professional game played at the TD Bank Sports Center.

"It's funny how it worked out. I'm very excited to play [at the TD Bank Sports Center]. It worked out to sign with Hartford, and it'll be very nice to come back and play at the arena in front of the QU fans and community."

Over the summer, Wong has spent his time in between Connecticut and Canada. He's currently rooming with former Quinnipiac teammate Eric Lampe, who also recently signed an AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch. While Wong waits for the season to start, he and Lampe have been participating in preseason workouts with the Bobcats, and he hopes to take advantage of the proximity to Hamden to be able to get a firsthand look at the Bobcats this season.

"I'll do my best to support the team. I'm sure we will all keep in touch and hopefully we will all keep in touch this year," he said.

After the Oct. 1 exhibition game, Wong will start the regular season on Oct. 9, with a matchup against the Charlotte Checkers at the XL Center in Hartford.

It's kind of ironic that Wong could play his first pro game at Quinnipiac. Best of luck to him. 

Congratulations to pro Bill Wallis and amateur Ben Day of New Haven Country Club on winning the Connecticut Section PGA Pro-Am Championship on Monday.

Wallis and Day had five birdies and only one bogey in shooting a 4-under-par 67 on the always challenging Black Hall Club course in Old Lyme for a one-stroke victory over pro Tim Quirk and amateur Pat Pio of Longmeadow Country Club in Massachusetts.

Wallis earned $750 and Day $325 in merchandise credit for New Haven CC's first pro-am championship title since Tim Moher and Bruce Clinton in 1978.

Tied for third at 69 were Tom DelRosso and Phil Perry of the host club, Brian Keiser and Jeff Wise (Wethersfield CC) and Tony Kelley and Doug Riel (Wyckoff CC-Holyoke, Mass.).

For all the scores, visit CT Tournament Central at www.ctgolfer.com.

Here's some more local sports news outside the golf world.

Center/left wing Brandon Wong could be the third Connecticut player to play for the Hartford Wolf Pack, who hopefully become the Connecticut Whalers soon.

The 23-year-old Wong, coming off a stellar career at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, has signed an AHL contract with the Wolf Pack. Wong, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound native of Victoria, British Columbia, led the Bobcats in goals (19) and points (41) in 40 games last season. His point total was tied for fifth in the ECAC and helped earn him a Hobey Baker Memorial Award nomination. After completing his college career, Wong signed an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins and had one assist and four shots in three games.

Wong left Quinnipiac with the second-most goals (68) and fifth-most points (143) in the school's Division I history in 147 career games. That included a freshman season (2006-07) in which he set a single-season school Division I freshman record for goals with 27 in 40 games. That led the ECAC by eight goals, and Wong's point total of 44 was tied for the league lead, earning him ECAC co-Rookie of the Year.

In a YouTube clip on the Quinnipiac website, Wong said being in the prospects camp of his favorite team, the Vancouver Canucks, in 2008 was his best experience so far. But he hopes many more are in the future, and playing for one of the two AHL teams in Connecticut would have to add to his enjoyment and resume.

Wong will return to familiar territory on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. when the Wolf Pack play the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Quinnpiac's TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden. There is a $5 admission charge for the game, and proceeds benefit Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford. The teams have a rematch the next night at 7 at the Rinks at Shelton.

The only other players with Connecticut ties to skate for the Wolf Pack in their 13-year history are forwards Jeff Hamilton (Avon Old Farms, Yale) and Mike Hoffman (UConn).

The Wolf Pack remain the Wolf Pack while former New England/Hartford Whalers owner and managing general partner Howard Baldwin continues to try to take over control of the team's off-ice activities and rename the team the Connecticut Whalers. Baldwin and AEG are reportedly close to an agreement, but time is getting short for marketing a newly named team before the season.

The Wolf Pack's parent club, the New York Rangers, open training camp Friday in Tarrytown, N.Y., after most of their top prospects complete play in a tournament in Traverse City, Mich. The young Rangers won their opener 5-4 over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Evgeny Grachev's goal with 6.1 seconds left, then lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 on Zac Dalpe's goal with 56 seconds to go.

The Rangers can still win the Gretzky Division championship if they beat Minnesota on Tuesday afternoon and Carolina falls to Columbus in the night game. On Sunday, Minnesota improved to 2-0-0 by beating the Blue Jackets, 5-1. If Minnesota or Carolina wins on Tuesday, one of those teams would play for first place on Wednesday night and the Rangers would not get the chance to win their first Traverse City title since 2007.

Grachev played with the Wolf Pack last season as a rookie and started well before falling off dramatically in the second half, scoring once in the last 38 games. After reportedly getting stronger and faster in offseason workouts, Grachev is being talked up as possibly making the Rangers. He's on the prospects' No. 1 line with center Derek Stepan, who played for NCAA runner-up Wisconsin last season, and Ryan Bourque, the youngest son of Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque. Grachev and Stepan are the team's alternate captains, and defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who also turned pro after playing with Stepan at Wisconsin, is the captain.

But unless Grachev or any of the other top youngsters are going to play regularly for the Rangers, they should be in Hartford. And by the looks of all the players the Rangers signed in the offseason, there are virtually no openings on Broadway, barring injuries or a 3-for-1 trade. That's bad news for the kids, but good news for Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander and his staff, who should have plenty of talent, though it will be mighty inexperienced.

The only Wolf Pack players last season still in the organization are goaltenders Chad Johnson and Cameron Talbot, defensemen Michael Sauer, Nigel Williams, Jared Nightingale, Lee Baldwin and Tysen Dowzak and forwards Grachev, captain Dane Byers, Dale Weiss, Brodie Dupont, Kris Newbury, Justin Soryal and Devin DiDiomete, who won't be ready for training camp after major hip surgery in the off-season. And before leaving town in April, Willliams said he wasn't coming back, though he would be suspended if he doesn't show up for training camp.

A pep talk at the turn turned out to be the perfect elixir for Yani Tseng on Sunday.

Tseng started the day three strokes behind leader Michelle Wie, shot 1 under on the front nine and then rallied for her third victory of the year with five birdies in a back-side 30 for a 6-under-par 65 and one-shot victory in the LPGA Tour's P&G NW Arkansas Championship.

"After nine holes, I feel like my heart is not fighting, I didn't feel like I really want to win this tournament," Tseng said after finishing 72 holes at 13-under 200 at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark. "So after nine holes, I just wrote a lot of things on my yardage book, like, 'I can do this.' Just feel like you really, really want to win this tournament.

"So I thought it was good on the back nine, but my hand was still shaking, I was really, really nervous. Every time I win, I'm so nervous."

Tseng, who missed the cut in her previous start, could have fooled all the onlookers, as she birdied Nos. 11, 12, 14 and 15 to take a one-shot lead, then Wie bogeyed the 16th. Wie hit it to 6 feet at the 197-yard, par-3 17th for just the sixth birdie of the day at the difficult hole before she and Tseng each made birdie at the 18th.

It was Tseng's fourth comeback victory among her five career titles, including in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April, when she closed with a 68. She also won another major, the Women's British Open in August, and the latest victory came a little more than a year after Tseng bought the house of retired Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam in Orlando, Fla,, and began sleeping in her former bed.

Tseng's comeback prevented Wie from joining Al Miyazato, No. 1 in the Rolex Women's World Rankings, as the only back-to-back winners this year. It also enabled Tseng to overtake Miyazato as No. 1 in the Rolex Player of the Year race, and a $300,000 first prize enabled Tseng to move to second on the money list ($1,427,064) to defending champion Jiyai Shin ($1,463,833), who shot 66-205 to tie for fifth and win $63,537. Miyazato had 67-207 to tie for ninth, earn $36,583 and increase her 2010 winnings to $1,377,600, third on the money list.

"Yani played great, made a lot of birdies," said Wie, who lost to Tseng in the final of the 2004 U.S. Women's Public Links Championships. "Usually, if you're 12 under, it's good enough. But I played good. I had faith in myself, a couple iron shots went a little bit left.

"Considering that I didn't really feel comfortable all week, I did pretty well. But I just didn't feel comfortable today, just kind of grinded through it. Overall, I hung in there, made a lot of good putts. I just was a little short."

Wie returns to Stanford University on Monday to resume classes.

"I had a fun time," she said. "I'm ready for a little break right now, but this is great."

Mika Miyazato, playing with an orange ball, had nine birdies and a double bogey in a 64, the day's best round, to finish third at 203, the best of her career. Her only other top-10 finish this year was a tie for sixth at the Evian Masters. Her previous career best was a fourth at the 2009 Corning LPGA Classic.

LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member and 31-time winner Juli Inkster, 50, faltered in her bid to become the oldest winner in LPGA history. Inkster began the day three strokes behind and birdied Nos. 4 and 5 to get within a shot of the Wie. But bogeys on Nos. 7-8 killed the momentum of Inkster, who finished with a 72 for 207 and a tie for ninth.

Fan favorite Stacy Lewis, a 12-time winner, four-time All-American and national champion at the University of Arkansas, shot a third 69 for 207 and a tie for ninth.

University of Hartford grad Patrick Sheehan and former Ellington resident Jeff Curl continued their improved play on the Nationwide Tour on Sunday in the Utah Championship.

Sheehan birdied the first three holes and made eagle 3 at No. 17 on the way to a closing 5-under-par 66 that moved him from a tie for 20th to a share of 10th at 10-under 284 at Willow Creek Country Club in Ogden, Utah. A week earlier, Sheehan had his best finish of 2010, fifth in the Mylan Classic.

Curl, the son of former PGA and Champions Tour player Rod Curl, shot 69 to improve from 42nd to 34th at 279. Last week, Curl tied for 14th, his best finish of the year.

Meanwhile, a name that might be familiar to Connecticut golf fans rallied to win.

Michael Putnam, who finished fourth in the Travelers Championship in his pro debut on a sponsor's exemption in 2005, birdied six holes on the front nine in a closing 67 for 266.

Putnam finished three ahead of Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas (67) and Bradley Iles (71), who began the day one ahead of Putnam.

Tiger Woods took a double hit Sunday in the final round of the BMW Championship.

The top-ranked Woods got a whuppin' from his arch rival, No. 2 Phil Mickelson, at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemond, Ill., and was eliminated from the PGA Tour playoffs for the FedEx Cup, almost certainly ending his official playing time on American soil in 2010.

Mickelson had six birdies in a 4-under-par 67, which tied the low round of the day and was three less than Woods, who finished 42^nd in the FedEx Cup points standings. Only the top 30 advanced to the playoffs finale, the Tour Championship, which starts Sept. 23 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Mickelson finished in a tie for eighth at 4-under 280, five strokes behind winner Dustin Johnson, who hit a 96-yard sand wedge shot to 2 feet at No. 17 for birdie and then parred the 18^th for 69, a 72-hole total of 275 and a one-stroke victory over Paul Casey, vaulting to second on the FedEx Cup points list.

It was Mickelson's best finish at Cog Hill, first top-10 since tying for fourth in the U.S. Open in June and was his fourth "victory" over Woods in their last five head-to-head matches to get even at 11-11-4.

"He (Woods) certainly brings out the best in me, and I enjoy being paired with him," Mickelson told reporters after his round.

But the Masters champion goes to Atlanta at No. 2 in the world as Woods' record run at No. 1 reached 276 weeks in a row.

"It's nice to play a good final round, and it's good to have a little bit of momentum," Mickelson, who will defend at East Lake. "I felt like I played well all week, but I didn't score very well. I felt today I kind of put it together a little bit, but even today I left a lot of opportunities out there.

"I am looking forward to Atlanta, looking forward to Ryder Cup (in three weeks), and it'll be a fun last couple weeks of the year."

Mickelson improved from 14^th to 10^th in the FedEx Cup standings. A year ago, he was 14^th, won at East Lake and finished second to Woods in the FedEx Cup.

"I think the points system and all that stuff is fine, it's just I haven't played well enough," said Mickelson, who missed the cut in the first playoff event, The Barclays. "That's disappointing because I started off high enough to where if I just play halfway decent I should be up there in the top five where if I win the Tour Championship I can win it all."

That's not the case, but at least he has a chance, unlike Woods, who won the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus in 2007 and 2009 and didn't play in 2008 because of knee surgery. He tied for 15^th at 283 when he had to finish fifth or better to be among the top 30. Woods, who won the BMW by eight shots last year, moved up one spot the final day and won't be seen again until he and Mickelson play -- likely in different groups -- against Europe in the Ryder Cup on Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales. Woods' only other start in the country will be in the Chevron World Challenge that he will host Dec. 2-5 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

"It's just the way it is," Woods said when asked about missing the Tour Championship. "I didn't play well early in the year and I didn't play well in the middle of the year."

But after 10 tumultuous months since crashing his RV into a tree and revelations of numerous infidelities led to a divorce two weeks ago, Woods' game has improved after he began working with new coach Sean Foley at the PGA Championship a month ago.

"Of late I'm definitely getting along better, very pleased and looking forward to the future," said Woods, who won't be eligible for a tournament for the first time as a pro. "I'm starting to play well now. I'm headed in the right direction, which is good, a lot of good signs, and I just need to keep working and stay the course."

Woods will practice plenty before the Ryder Cup after going winless on the PGA Tour since 1995, when he was an amateur, unless he enters and wins a Fall Series event, which is highly doubtful.

"I can practice at home with Sean in peace and away from everybody and put some work in and also work on my short game and putting, things I have not been able to do out here," Woods said. "It'll be nice to work on all these things and concentrate on my game a little bit and sharpen up."

While Woods was thinking about continuing to improve his game, Johnson, who plays a lot of practice round with No. 1 and might be his partner in the Ryder Cup, could finally put aside the Summer of Frustration, especially in two major championships. He led the U.S. Open by three shots entering the final round but made a triple-bogey 8 at the second hole on the way to 82. Then at the PGA Championship, he seemingly got in a playoff with eventual winner Martin Kaymer and Travelers Championship winner Bubba Watson but was penalized two strokes for not realizing he was in a bunker and touching his 5-iron in the sand while hitting his second shot on the 18^th hole.

Casey, upset he wasn't among European Ryder Cup captain's Colin Montgomerie's three picks two weeks ago despite being ranked ninth in the world at the time, also put himself in the top five despite bogeys on Nos. 13-15 that cost him a three-stroke lead after birdies at the 11th and 12th holes. He parred the last three holes for 69-276 but came up a shot short.

Ryan Moore, who led by a shot entering the final round, nearly overcame a horrific break at No. 11, where his drive hit a fan in the shoulder and went out of bounds, leading to a double-bogey 7. He birdied No. 14 but bogeyed the 18^th for 73-278 and a tie for third with K.J. Choi (69), Kevin Na (70) and Matt Kuchar (72). Kuchar won the first playoff event, The Barclays, and continues to lead the FedEx Cup standings.

Others who hold destiny in their hands at East Lake are Deutsche Bank Championship winner Charley Hoffman (69-286, T30) and Steve Stricker (70-280, T8).

Four players played their way to Atlanta -- Na (41^st to 20^th), Choi (52^nd to 29^th), Moore (58^th to 26^th) and 2008 Tour Championship winner Camilo Villegas (70-281, T11, 33^rd to 25^th).

The four players eliminated from the playoffs were Bill Haas (74-286, T30, 28^th to 31^st), Rickie Fowler (73-289, T45, 25^th to 32^nd), J.B. Holmes (78-296, T60, 24^th to 34^th) and Irish rookie Rory McIlroy (69-287, T37, 29^th to 36^th). Woods, Fowler, McIlroy and Stewart Cink are Ryder Cup players who will have an extra week off to refine their games. Fowler and Cink were two of U.S. captain Corey Pavin's four wild-card picks.

There were plenty of candidates for the Hard Luck Award of the Week.

Wi, who challenged in three of the four playoff events, appeared set for his first Tour Championship appearance until he bogeyed the last two holes, missing a 12-foot par putt at the 18th to enable Haas to move to No. 30.

Kuchar then needed a birdie at No. 18 for any chance to get in a playoff but ran his putt 3 feet past the hole. He then missed coming back, the bogey dropping him from a two-way share of third into the three-way tie for fifth, enabling Choi to crack the top 30 and send Haas home.

Watney made eagle 3 at No. 11 to get to 25th in the points standings but finished with a double-bogey 6 at the 18th to enable Bo Van Pelt to be the final Tour Championship qualifier despite shooting 77. Van Pelt finished only seven points ahead of Haas, eight ahead of Fowler and 12 ahead of Wi.

Finally, Ian Poulter started the week 44^th in the standings, moved to 25^th after getting to 6 under through No. 10 Sunday and then hit his drive out of bounds at the 11^th and made a triple-bogey 8 to fall to 39^th. He shot 1 over the rest of the way for 75-282, a tie for 13^th and finished 39^th in the FedEx Cup race.

Only one player who started the playoffs outside the top 100, Kevin Streelman (No. 102), advanced to the Tour Championship after finishing tied for third in The Barclays, tied for 45^th in the Deutsche Bank Championship and tied for 43^rd Sunday.

Watson, who won his only tour title in the Travelers Championship in June, had a wacky round that included a 50-foot flop shot for eagle 3 at No. 15, three birdies, three bogeys and four double bogeys, including at No. 18, in a 77 that dropped him into a tie for 50^th at 292. He also dropped from 12^th to 18^th in the FedEx Cup standings but easily advanced to the Tour Championship for the first time.

Glastonbury native and University of Hartford grad Tim Petrovic, the only player with Connecticut ties still in the playoffs, won't be going to Atlanta after making 11 pars and seven bogeys in a 78 to finish in a tie for 57^th at 294. He remained 66^th on the FedEx Cup points list.

Former Ellington resident Jeff Curl birdied two of the last five holes but still fell three spots in the Nationwide Tour's Utah Classic.

Curl had three birdies and two bogeys in a 1-under-par 70 for a 54-hole total of 210 and a tie for 42nd at Willow Creek Country Club in Ogden, Utah.

Curl, the son of former PGA and Champions Tour player Rod Curl, is 12 strokes behind Bradley Iles, who birdied the last four holes for 63-198. The late surge vaulted Iles ahead of second-round leader Michael Putnam, who had six birdies and a double-bogey 6 at No. 8 in a 67.

An eagle 3 at the seventh hole was about all West Hartford's Liz Janangelo had to cheer about Saturday in the second round of the LPGA Tour's P&G NW Arkansas Championship.

That's because Janangelo also had only one birdie, five bogeys and a double-bogey 7 on the second hole on the way to a 5-over-par 76 and a 36-hole total of 6-over 148, five above the cut at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark.

It was the 10th time in 12 starts this year that Janangelo missed the cut. She also had to withdraw early in the second round of the U.S. Women's Open because of an ailing hip.

At the other end of the spectrum was Michelle Wie, who started at No. 10 and shot a back-nine 28 that included five birdies and a 50-foot putt for eagle 3 at the 18th, tying the LPGA record for nine holes. Wie hit a wedge to 6 inches for birdie at the par-5 second to get to 10 under but was 1 over the rest of the way to card an incoming 36 for 64, tying her career low.

"It was a fun round, but 59 actually never crossed my mind," Wie told The Golf Channel after the round. "I'm most proud of the way I've been grinding. I'm just concentrating on my game. I played better on the par-5s, and hopefully I can do it again tomorrow."

Wie, a partner of Janangelo on the victorious U.S. team in the 2004 Curtis Cup, won her second LPGA title two weeks ago in the tour's last event, the CN Canadian Women's Open. She would like to win No. 3 before returning to Stanford University next week.

Wie's 10-under 132 total for 36 holes is three less than playing partner and British Women's Open champion Yani Tseng, who hit a wedge to 3 feet for a closing birdie at No. 9 and 69, Na Yeon Choi (68) and LPGA Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, who was 5 under the last 11 holes and birdied No. 18 for 66.

You couldn't have blamed Tiger Woods for humming a few bars of the Bee Gees' "Staying Alive" after the third round of the BMW Championship on Saturday.

If Tiger knows who the Bee Gees are, that is.

Regardless, Woods kept his slim chances of playing in all four events in the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup alive. He birdied three of his last six holes to shoot a 3-under-par 68 and move into a tie for 22nd at even-par 213 after three rounds at rain-soaked Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, Ill.

More importantly, the defending champion moved to a projected 43rd on the FedEx Cup points list but is still seven shots from fifth, which is where he needs to finish Sunday if he is to be among the 30 players to advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

"It was better today," said Woods, who is in the midst of another swing change with new coach Sean Foley, told reporters after the round. "I hit the ball pretty good, but I was lacking a little pace on the greens. They're pretty slow so you have to make the adjustment. I haven't made the adjustment, and if I had, I probably would have made three or four more birdies."

That's what Woods needed to reach his objective.

"I'm trying to play myself into contention," Woods said. "If I win, everything takes care of itself. I was trying to shoot 6 or 7 under and give myself a firing chance, but now I'm relying on what the leaders do."

Woods figured he needs to shoot 61 or 62, his low of the year, or he'll be finished on American soil this year and off until playing for the U.S. against Europe in the Ryder Cup on Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales. Woods was one of captain Corey Pavin's four wild-card picks for the 12-man team. He had a third-round 62 last year that propelled him to an eight-stroke victory, his fifth at Cog Hill, but this would be golf's version of a Hail Mary seeing as it would be in the final round.

"Guys aren't running away with the tournament," Woods said. "The greens are not good enough to do that (because of adverse conditions from a hot summer in suburban Chicago), so we'll see what happens."

If No. 1-ranked Woods does pull off the minor miracle, it will be in the company of No. 2 Phil Mickelson, who birdied two of the last four holes for 70 and a tie with Woods, Jim Furyk (69) and Brian Gay (72). Mickelson, who will play with Woods for the 25th time but the first since he beat Woods in the HSBC Champions at Shanghai in November, and Furyk have clinched spots in the Tour Championship. Woods' last pairing with Mickelson was in his next-to-last tournament before his personal life became unraveled.

Woods, still the world's top-ranked player despite a tumultorous year on and off the golf course, and the others at even par are eight strokes behind leader Ryan Moore, who shot 66 for a 54-hole total of 8-under 205.

Moore thought the BMW Championship would be his last event for a while, but after eliminating mistakes from the previous day's 74, he made only one bogey to take a one-stroke lead over long-hitting Dustin Johnson, Charlie Wi, who shared the second-round lead, and Matt Kuchar, who held the first-round lead and shared the second with Wi.

Moore was No. 58 in the FedExCup standings and needed one of his best weeks to advance to Atlanta. A victory would not only send him to the FedExCup finale but give him a good shot at the $10 million bonus.

But Moore isn't concerned with that on Saturday.

"Just like any golf tournament, I came here to win," said the dapper Moore, again sporting a tie hung loosely around his shirt. "That's what I'm here for. I'm not here to try and qualify for the Tour Championship. I'm here to win the Western Open. All that other stuff takes care of itself. It you play good, you get in those things. I'm going to just focus on trying to stay patient, exactly how I have the last few days. Play hard and see what happens."

Moore couldn't explain how he went from 74 to 66, which tied Zach Johnson for low round of the day.

"It's hard to figure out sometimes why you play good and why you sometimes don't," Moore told NBC. "Today I rolled in a few good putts early. Yesterday it seemed like there was a goalie in front of the hole."

Moore's 26 putts Saturday were seven less than in the second round and gave him a shot to advance to Atlanta. When asked if his focus was on winning or getting to Atlanta, Moore said, "The win, absolutely. That's what I'm here for. That's what I play golf for."

Johnson (68) will be in the final group for the second time in the playoffs, having started there three shots behind Martin Laird in the first playoff event, The Barclays. It didn't look likely when Johnson struggled with his putter early to fall five shots back, but he registered the five straight birdies, nearly holing out a wedge for eagle 2 on No. 10.

"Any time you get on a run like that, especially on this course, it changes your momentum," Johnson said.

Kuchar (70) hasn't been as sharp as he was in a first-round 64, but he's starting to feel a bit better after battling laryngitis and a virus that he picked up from his children. But the man who won the 1997 U.S. Amateur at Cog Hill is hopefully of pulling off what he did in the opening playoff event, The Barclays, where he was five back entering the last round and won in a playoff.

"I wanted so bad to just pull out of the tournament and go home," Kuchar said. "The last thing I wanted to do was be out here trying to play golf, but I'm very pleased with the way I'm feeling at the moment."

Despite being dominant in the first 11 rounds of the playoffs (29 under and nearly 1,000 points ahead of No. 2 Charley Hoffman on the FedEx Cup points list entering the week), Kuchar cannot wrap up the FedExCup title because of a reset of points after the final putt drops Sunday.

Kuchar is guaranteed a spot in the top five in points heading to Atlanta, so he can win the FedExCup title if he wins the Tour Championship. But four other players also will have the chance, including the winner Sunday at Cog Hill. And 25 other players are vying to get in playoff finale to give themselves a shot at the FedExCup.

Moore was in even worse shape that Wi starting this week. Ranked 58th in points coming in, Moore needs a top-four finish to make it it East Lake.

"If I can get going and have a day like today and make a few putts, I'll find myself up there with a chance to win tomorrow," Moore said.

Wi had three birdies, two bogeys and made a brilliant save at No. 18 for 70.

"It's going to be really interesting tomorrow," Wi said. "I know everybody is jockeying for position to get into the top 30. I know where I stand and I know what I need to do, so it's almost nerve-wracking knowing what you have to do and that if you don't perform, you might not achieve that goal. It's going to be a tough test of nerves and emotions out there, but that's why we're here and what we do."

Unlike Kuchar, Wi arrived at Cog Hill fighting for his playoffs life. Ranked 37th in points, he needed to finish ninth or better to make the top 30. Now he has a shot to make the coveted top five.

Englishmen Ian Poulter and Paul Casey each shot 69 and are tied for fifth at 207.

Bubba Watson, who won his first PGA Tour title in the Travelers Championship in June, shot 69 for 215, a tie for 33rd and a projected 18th in the FedEx Cup standings.

University of Hartford grad Tim Petrovic, the only player with Connecticut ties still in the playoffs, shot 73 to drop into a tie for 36th at 216 and a projected 63rd in the Cup standings.

West Hartford's Liz Janangelo chewed up and spit out many par-5 holes in her amateur days, but it has been a different story since she turned pro four years ago.

Two of Janangelo's three bogeys Friday in the first round of the LPGA Tour's P&G NW Championship were on par-5 holes, including at No. 18, as she carded a 2-over-par 73 for a tie for 80th at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark.

Still, Janangelo is in position to make her second cut in 11 starts this year as 72 would have been the cut Friday. She also had to withdraw from the U.S. Women's Open early in the second round because of continued hip pain.

Janangelo is seven strokes behind leader Morgan Pressel, who birdied her last two holes, Nos. 8 and 9, for 66 and a one-shot lead over Gloria Park, Yani Tseng and Na Yeon Choi.

"I played very solid," said Pressel, who is winless this year with seven top-10s, including in five of her last eight starts. "I didn't miss a lot of shots. I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities and I got a few of them to go in. I made one bogey, and even that was kind of a silly bogey.

"I just didn't make any mistakes, didn't put myself in any trouble, which, out here, if you don't put the golf ball in the proper position off the tee, you can get behind trees and have to hit some really crafty shots pretty quickly. But I was lucky and didn't have to do any of that today."

Pressel's 66 came with an unwanted addition -- a splinter in her left hand.

"It didn't hurt, didn't affect my golf swing, but it was annoying," she said. "In my putting routine, I put my hand on my left leg and I could feel it every time I did that and sometimes when I set up to the ball. It's still there. I dug at it, I've seen the paramedics, I've seen the physiotherapist, I've begged for people to go and find tweezers and everything and I still haven't been able to dig for it. I can't see it, that's the problem; I can just feel it."

Talk about a clutch finish.

Former Ellington resident Jeff Curl made an eagle 2 on the 16th hole and a birdie at No. 17 to salvage an even-par 71 and make the cut in the Nationwide Tour's Utah Championship at Willow Creek Country Club in Ogden, Utah.

Curl's fifth bogey put him 3 over for the day, 1 over for the tournament and above the projected cut for the final two rounds. But the stirring finish gave Curl a 36-hole total of 2-under 140, which comes after a career-low, 8-under-par 63 Sunday that enabled him to finish tied for 14th in the Mylan Classic.

Curl, the son of former PGA and Champions Tour player Rod Curl, is eight strokes behind leader Michael Putnam, who had an eagle and five birdies in a second 66 for 132 and a one-stroke lead over former PGA Tour player Cliff Kresge (67).

Putnam, an All-American at Pepperdine University, made his pro debut in the 2005 Buick (now Travelers) Championship on a sponsor's exemption and had his best PGA Tour finish, a tie for fourth.

Barring a mind-boggling weekend of his ultimate A game reminiscent of the early part of the century, Tiger Woods' work on the PGA Tour will end on Sunday.

Woods was erratic again Friday while shooting a 1-over-par 72 that left him in a tie for 40th after the second round of the BMW Championship at wind-swept Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, Ill.

Problem is, the defending champion and world's top-ranked player was projected to need to finish fifth or better to move into the top 30 players to advance to the final round of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup, the Tour Championship in two weeks at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Woods, who has won five times at Cog Hill and was 51st on the FedEx Cup points list starting the week, teed off at No. 10 Friday and was 2 under for eight holes before he bogeyed the 18th and third holes and made a double-bogey 6 at No. 5. He got up-and-down from a bunker for a closing birdie 4 at the ninth for a glimmer of hope of advancing, though he is projected to be 53rd in the FedEx Cup points standings at week's end.

"I made nothing today," Woods told reporters after his round. "That pretty much sums it up."

It also sums up his biggest problem of adjusting to another swing change, which is what he's doing with Sean Foley after previously working with Butch Harmon and Hank Haney.

"When I went through the changes with Butch and Hank and now with Sean, I went through stretches where I didn't chip the ball well or putt well because there's only so much time you have to spend," Woods said. "I've been working hard on my full swing. It's coming around, but certainly my short game is not where it needs to be."

Woods, who won the FedEx Cup in 2007 and 2009 and didn't play in 2008 because of knee surgery, took one fewer putts (28) than in an opening 72. But he again wasn't happy with the greens, which were adversely affected by bad weather this summer.

"The guys ahead of us weren't making anything," Woods said. "It was a little tough to putt out there. I feel like I'm hitting good putts; they're just not going in on these things. A lot of putts were lacking speed. It's hard to make myself hit putts that hard, but I've got to make the adjustment."

While Woods shot 62-68 at Cog Hill on the weekend last year, being stuck between his old and new swing obviously is hindering the rest of his game.

"It's one of the things I have to talk to Stevie about," Woods said, referring to caddie Steve Williams. "I'm kind of caught right between takeaways, and I hit some bad shots around the greens because of it. It'll come around, just need more time, more practice."

At the other end of the spectrum was Korean Charlie Wi, whose 15-foot birdie putt at No. 15 put him at 4 under for the day, 8 under for the tournament and one ahead of first-round leader Matt Kuchar, the FedEx Cup points leader who won The Barclays two weeks ago and was preparing to tee off in the afternoon wave of the 70-man field.

But Wi promptly hit his 3-wood tee shot out of bounds at the 16th hole and then three-putted from 12 feet to make a triple-bogey 7. Still, he rebounded with a 12-foot birdie putt at No. 17, parred the 18th for 69-136 and is projected to be second in the FedEx Cup standings (from 37th) after an ailing Kuchar had to rally to shoot a gritty, hard-earned 72.

Kuchar, whose grandparents live in Madison, bogeyed four of the first six holes as he frequently coughed and sat down at every opportunity as he battled a virus he picked up from his children and laryngitis that forced him to turn down most interviews after his opening 64. But after the horrific start, Kuchar had five birdies and a bogey in the next 10 holes to get to even par for the day, 7 under for the tournament and one ahead of Wi.

Kuchar, who said he felt like "a zombie" during the round, made birdie putts of 29 and 20 feet on Nos. 12 and 13, had a two-putt birdie on the par-5 15th and sank a 7-foot birdie putt at No. 16 to regain the lead. He missed a 5-foot par putt at No. 17 but saved par at the 18th.

"I don't know how," Kuchar said when asked how he managed to hold it together. "It's probably the worst feeling I've ever had. ... (The doctors) pretty much didn't have much to say whether it's a viral or bacterial. They said by the time you run tests and get the tests back, you'll be home. There's no use in doing that.

"It was a struggle, but I learned young you never quit. Fortunately I had a few putts go in and made a respectable round out of it. It was definitely a wild day. I'm glad to be here. I felt terrible all day. I am very excited to get home and get in bed. Nice to bring it back. I knew that some good things would happen if I could just kind of hang in there the best I could."

It proved to a case of mind over matter.

"I just kept talking to myself, hang in there, hang in there, gut it out," said Kuchar, who won the 1997 U.S. Amateur at Cog Hill. "You never know when things can turn around for you in the game of golf. Fortunately I got a few breaks to go my way and made a pretty reasonable round out of it.

"I was as weak as could be, and I tried for the four or five seconds over the ball to flip the switch on and really give it what I had and go back to walking around without a whole lot of energy."

Patience also has been a virtue for Wi.

"Coming into this tournament, I just really told myself to be patient and play one hole at a time," Wi said. "I've been in tournaments where you play 72 holes and there's no cut, and I've caught myself being really impatient and looking ahead too far. So this week I know I was close to the top 30, and for me to play well, I knew I had to stay present and just play one hole at a time.

"Actually I wrote that down on my pin sheet every day so I look at it if I were to get ahead of myself, that it was a marathon. Other than 16 today, I've been playing beautifully, and I've been playing very well leading up to this tournament. The weekend coming up, I'm really looking forward to it."

Wi was tied for sixth entering the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship before a 3-over 74 dropped him into a share of 18th. But Wi said work with his coaches has him believing more confident in himself and his game.

"I just tell myself when I'm out there, just play Charlie Wi's game and nobody else," Wi said. "And I think that being comfortable and being out here for five years, I think it really helps to understand myself and understand the pressure."

The co-leaders are one ahead of Australian Marc Leishman, who started on No. 10, birdied four of his first five holes and then closed with birdies on three of his last four holes for 65, the low round of the day.

"I scrambled pretty well in the middle of the round and then finished strong," said Leishman, who tied for second in the BMW last year to earn a spot in the Tour Championship.

Leishman was one better than Ian Poulter (72), Paul Casey (69), Retief Goosen (71), Dustin Johnson (70) and Luke Donald (70), who attended Northwestern in Chicago and was one of European captain Colin Montgomerie's three wild-card picks for the Ryder Cup against the United States on Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales.

Casey recalled an entertaining tale from last week's Deutsche Bank Championship when a fan yelled after the Englishman holed a long birdie putt.

"If that's the way you putt, I'm glad they didn't pick you," a smiling Casey said Friday.

The voice was American, and the man referred to Montgomerie deciding not to make Casey one of his picks for the 12-man European team. Montgomerie selected Donald, Edoardo Molinari and three-time major champion Padraig Harrington, whom many feel -- this writer included -- should not be on the team because of indifferent play this year. Harrington didn't even make it to suburban Chicago after missing the cut at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass.

I think Montgomerie should have picked Englishman Justin Rose (68), who won his first two PGA Tour titles this year, the Memorial and AT&T Classic, and led the Travelers Championship after three rounds before being undone by putting problems. Rose is tied for eighth at 138 with Ryan Moore (74), Kevin Na (69) and Hunter Mahan, the 2007 Travelers Championship winner and a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team who had the best score in the morning, a 68.

Casey, ranked No. 8 in the world, was extremely disappointed not to be chosen for the European team, but he insists he's over it it, as a second 69 attested.

"I've played three of them now," Casey said, "and I was mentioned in Sam (Torrance's) speech when he was picking the team back in 2001, so I've had to deal with a lot of Ryder Cup stuff in the last nine years or so. So I've become used to it.

"It's done and dusted. You know what this game is like. You've got to get over things pretty quickly. I got over it pretty quickly."

University of Hartford grad Tim Petrovic, the only player with Connecticut ties left in the field, birdied two of his first three holes after starting at No. 10. But he was 2 over for the next 14 holes before a closing birdie 4 at No. 9 gave him 70-143 and tie for 27th with three Ryder Cup teammates -- Steve Stricker (73) and two-time Travelers Championship winners Stewart Cink (73) and Phil Mickelson, who shot 71 despite three penalty strokes.

"I hit more good shots today than I've hit in any one round, I think, all year," Mickelson said. "I played very well today."

But he found a water hazard off the tee at the par-4 seventh and hit drives out of bounds on the par-5 15th and par-4 18th, where he snap-hooked his tee shot, forcing him to hit a provisional en route to a double-bogey 6.

"My game feels pretty good," said Mickelson, who started the week 14th on the FedEx Cup points list. "But here you don't have an opportunity to recover, so if you miss some shots, it's a very stiff penalty. Either you can't get up-and-down or penalty strokes -- although I hit some pretty bad shots to cause those four penalty strokes."

When asked what he thought about the weekend, Mickelson said, "That's a good question. I'm not really sure. I mean, I played good golf the first two days, and I'm over par. I just don't think I'm good enough to play this course."

Mickelson was joking, but his dislike for the course made the comment no laughing matter. He's also upset that he's 2 over on the par-5s through 36 holes after entering the week second on the tour in par-5 scoring at 4.56.

The 73 for Stricker, ranked third in FedExCup points behind Kuchar and Deutsche Bank Championship winner Charley Hoffman, ended his streak of 15 consecutive rounds of par or better. His last tour round over par was in the second round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitation, when he shot a 1-over 71.

"Not very sharp today," Stricker said. "Kind of didn't drive it in the fairway, wrong clubs off some of the par 3s, mud ball here on the last hole to top it off. ... Just not good numbers, not the right clubs sometimes, and not making anything."

Bubba Watson, who won his first tour title in the Travelers Championship in June, started at the 10th hole and bogeyed Nos. 11 through 15, including two par-5s. But he shot 2 under the rest of the way for 74-146 and a tie for 47th.

The third round Saturday will be played early because of possible heavy rain in the afternoon. Players are paired in threesomes off the first and 10th tees, starting at 8:25 a.m. Englishmen Poulter, Casey and Donald are in the penultimate group off No. 1 tee at 10:05 a.m. ET, followed by Wi, Kuchar and Leishman at 10:15. Petrovic, Stricker and Cink are in the second group off No. 1 at 7:25 p.m. 

Officials hope to complete the round by 3:30 p.m., but rain might impact play.

Golfers everywhere, pros and amateurs, should take a look at how Michael Sim handled himself after his 15th hole at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in the second round of the BMW Championship on Friday.

The young Aussie needs a high finish in the third round of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup to get to the Tour Championship in Atlanta in two weeks and was getting himself into position by shooting 3 under par for 14 holes to vault 22 positions into a tie for 12th.

But Sim hit his drive on No. 15 deep in the woods, hit his second drive into a fairway bunker, blew his fifth shot over the green and made a triple-bogey 8 that dropped him to even par and into a tie for 35th, one spot lower than he started.

Sim had to be seething, but he didn't utter a profanity, throw a club or berate his caddie. He merely handed him his putter and walked to the 16th tee.

Here's hoping Michael rallies and somehow gets to Atlanta. He deserves it for that show of restraint and character.

The October issue of GOLF Magazine that hits the newstands on Tuesday will include a first-of-its-kind PGA Tour survey as part of the new GOLF Magazine's No. 1 Issue.

The magazine spoke with 70 tour players at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and the survey has -- as expected -- a common theme, Tiger Woods.

Woods wasn't voted No. 1 as the most unfaithful player on the tour only because the question wasn't posed. But the players and several celebrities, including Will Ferrell, Bill Murray, Jon Hamm, Donald Trump, Michael Jordan and Rush Limbaugh, selected Woods No. 1 in the world despite nearly 10 months of turmoil on and off the golf course.

Woods received 52 percent of the vote for current No. 1, which doubled runner-up Phil Mickelson, and all-time (51 percent to 29 for Jack Nicklaus). Woods also was second to whom they'd like to see miss a 3-footer to win a major (14 percent to 31 for no one) and No. 1 hothead (6 percent to 20 for Pat Perez and 2004 Travelers Championship winner Woody Austin), tied for second in best swing with Steve Elkington and Tiger circa 2000 (8 percent to Anthony Kim's 15) and third in favorite playing partner (6 percent).

On the subject of being the person someone would like to see blow a major, one player said, "Pretty much everybody would like to see Tiger miss." Whether that was because of Tiger's sometimes arrogant nature or disgusting series of sexual escapades that led to his divorce from Elin wasn't asked.

Here are some of the highlights of the poll: 

Kevin Brink is another reason why charity golf tournaments such as the Harry Nowobilski Memorial Celebrity Amateur Tournament at Tallwood Country Club in Hebron on Thursday are so meaningful.

The 33-year-old Brink from Milford has Down's syndrome, but there he was, smile from ear to ear, thanking longtime Tallwood head pro and tournament host John Nowobilski, his staff, the volunteers and the 140 golfers who competed in the tournament for helping others.

Not surprisingly, Brink received a standing ovation when he finished his two-minute speech that had brought a suddenly deafending silence over a celebratory post-round buffet.

"Golf is my favorite sport because I play every day," said a beaming Brink, who also enjoys swimming, is working on his high school equivalency diploma and volunteers three days a week at Milford Hospital.

Brink's father, Fred, acknowledged he and his son play golf at least three days a week, usually at Pine Orchards Country Club in Stratford, Orange Hills CC or Grassy Hill CC in Orange. Kevin also participates in many charity tournaments while sporting a 25 handicap. Brink received a PGA of America pin from PGA president Jim Remy of Vermont, who was part of the Ryder Cup announcement on U.S. captain Corey Pavin's four selections Tuesday and will be in Wales in three weeks for the biennial competition against Europe.

On Thursday, Brink, who has played golf since 1994, represented Connecticut Special Olympics, the beneficiary of the event that John Nowobilski, the longtime head pro at Tallwood, began in 2003 in memorial of his father, affectionately known as "The Cat."

Harry had an astonishing 29 verified and witnessed holes-in-one in a career that spanned an astonishing 70-plus years. He shot his age for 15 years in a row, starting with a 68 in 1986 to an 83 in 2001. He volunteered for years at the Greater Hartford Open and the Connecticut Section PGA Junior Golf Tour and won four city championships in his native New Britain, three club championships at Stanley Golf Course in New Britain, the 1965 New England Public Links Championship and was always most proud of two victories with John in the Connecticut State Golf Association Father-Son Championship.

The latest edition of the Nowobilski festivities raised $20,000, increasing the eight-year take to $135,000 for the Connecticut Section PGA Foundation and junior golf in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.

"The goal is to make it a fun event for everyone involved," Nowobilski said. "We really appreciate the fact all of the celebrities, past and present, have taken time out of their busy schedules to be part of this great tournament.

"We also want to thank all of the amateurs, without whose participation the tournament would not be possible. I'm very surprised that with the (bad) economy that we were able to raise as much as we did this year, but it shows how terrific the players are and how much dad meant to so many people."

Nowobilski was delighted that there was a full field of 34 teams without any no-shows among the celebrities. And he had two special feelings this year.

"It was really nice when Jim (Remy) said Tallwood seems to get it, that it understands the spirit of the game," Nowobilski said. "And it was the first time that myself, my wife Mary Ellen, my son Ryan and my daughter Mary-Kate all played in the same year."

Nowobilski also felt good when the celebrity in his group, Bill Holowaty, a basketball standout at the University of Connecticut before coaching Eastern Connecticut State University to four national championships in baseball, said, "It's mind-boggling what a family atmosphere there is at Tallwood."

Holowaty was one of seven celebrities with UConn ties, including former basketball coach and associate director of athletics for development Dee Rowe, an honorary co-chairman with former Hartford Whalers wing Yvon Corriveau. Other UConn family members were men's basketball assistant coaches George Blaney and Kevin Ollie, former forward Rudy Johnson, former women's basketball forward Meghan Culmo, now a television analyst, and longtime men's basketball and football play-by-play man Joe D'Ambrosio.

Other former Whalers in the field were Norm Barnes and Bobby Crawford, a 36-handicap who holed his second shot at No. 8 for an eagle 2. Other celebrities included Basketball Hall of Famer K.C. Jones, former Major League Baseball players Dick McAuliffe, Bob Montgomery and Gary Waslewski, former Central Connecticut basketball coach Bill Detrick, longtime Greater Hartford Open/Buick Championship/Travelers Championship official Ted May, longtime PGA and Champions Tour caddie Joe "Gypsy" Grillo, section pros John Paesani, Dave Cook, Mickey Hawkes, Ralph DeNicolo, Ron Dellostritto, Suzy Whaley and Eric DeStefano and section executive director Tom Hantke.

"A sold-out event each year since 2002, this wonderful tradition continues to support the Connecticut Section PGA Golf Foundation in its mission to promote youth participation and diversity in the sport in both Connecticut and Western Massachuetts," Remy said. "As part of the Connecticut PGA's 'Drive for the Game' campaign, the Nowobilski Memorial Tournament has helped PGA professionals from the section raise more than $663,000 to date.

"This noble cause is thriving through the hard work and passionate commitment of John Nowobilski. The tournament alone has been responsible for raising $135,000 of the figure above, and the participation of the celebrities and players means the charitable impact will increase even further. Thanks to the efforts of John and thousands of other PGA professionals across the country, more than $3.5 billion is raised annually by the golf industry for charitable causes."

I've been fortunate to play in the tournament six times and serve as co-honorary chairman in 2007 with Waslewski. It's always a pleasure being part of such a well-run event and to be able to commisserate with so many blue-collar folks, including the event's main sponor throughout its existence, Rob Tedoldi of Infocus Financial Group. It was windy and a bit chilly Thursday, but you can be sure Harry and his wife, Stasia, felt warm and fuzzy as they looked down smiling as Kevin Brink and dozens of others were doing likewise on earth. Great job, John & Co.!!!!!

Ryan Leahey of Orange, Mike Ballo Jr. of Stamford and Bill Hermanson of Old Lyme will represent Connecticut in the the U.S. Golf Association Men's State Team Championship Tuesday through Thursday on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Mayacama Golf Club in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Jeff Hedden, who plays out of the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme and is on his way to a third consecutive Connecticut State Golf Association Player of the Year Award, couldn't play because of previous commitments.

Leahey (Course at Yale-New Haven), is fifth in the player of the year race after finishing 10th in the Russell C. Palmer Cup and Mid-Amateur Championship.

Hermanson (Black Hall Club), sixth in the player of the year race, was a semifinalist in the State Amateur, finished second in the Two-Man Team Championship with longtime friend Dave Szewczul and tied for second in the Four-Ball Championship.

Ballo (Woodway CC-Darien), son of two-time Connecticut Open champion Mike Ballo, is eighth in the player of the year race after a tie for sixth in the Palmer Cup and tie for 13th in the Connecticut Open.

Laryngitis prevented Matt Kuchar from saying much, so he left his talking to his clubs.

As usual in 2010, Kuchar's sticks said plenty, as an eagle and six birdies led to a 7-under-par 64 and a one-stroke victory over fast-closing Ryan Moore in the first round of the BWM Championship at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, Ill.

Kuchar begged off several interviews after a birdie on his final hole, No. 9, moved one of the game's most personable players ahead in a 70-man field in the third round of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup.

"Just keep playing," Kuchar said to one question he felt good enough to answer. "I was driving it well. I was actually doing everything well. It felt very good. Last week was a little bit suspect, and this week I kind of figured some stuff out, hitting the ball solid and making some putts. I've got good memories of this place, so it continued to go well for me today."

Kuchar, who won his U.S. Amateur at Cog Hill, started on the back nine and turned in 31, thanks largely to a 5-iron to 10 feet that set up an eagle 3 at the 15th hole. He hit nine of 14 fairways, 14 greens in greens in regulation and capped his day with 18-foot birdie putt.

Kuchar, whose parents live in Madison, started his sixth consecutive tournament in the 60s, including the opening playoff event, The Barclays, which he won two weeks ago on the way to taking the FedEx Cup points lead. A week ago, Kuchar opened 66-65 at the TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., before closing 72-72 to tie for 11th in the Deutsche Bank Championship.

But the man who won the 1997 U.S. Amateur at Cog Hill started strong again in surburban Chicago, leaving little to be said except that he's the hottest player in the world and could be a major factor against Europe in his Ryder Cup debut Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Newport, R.I.

But Kuchar, enjoying the best season of his career, needed all the birdies he could muster to overtake Moore, who birdied seven of his last eight holes, including Nos. 14-18, to shoot an incoming, 7-under 29 for 65.

Moore was 1 over when he holed a bunker shot at No. 11. Then came a 3-iron to 5 feet, a 4-iron to 20 feet and a 5-iron that set up an easy birdie on the par-5 to start the five birdies in a row to end his round.

"I certainly wasn't expecting to do that," Moore said. "I hit a horrible tee shot on 11 with an even worse lay-up, and then I hit a terrible shot from there into a bunker and then holed out. I don't know. Just got a little positive momentum going from there."

Moore hasn't figured out what he needs to be among the top 30 to advance to the final playoff event, the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. He's No. 58 in the standings and was planning on this being his final tournament for a while. He felt more relaxed, even in the midst of his incredible stretch of birdies that gave him reason to believe Atlanta is not that far off.

Englishman Ian Poulter, who has finished in the top 10 only once since winning the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in February, is third after a 66, the best round of the afternoon despite opening with a double bogey.

Travelers Championship winners Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson took different routes to 72 and a tie for 34th.

Starting at No. 10, Mickelson birdied two of his first four holes but made only one more birdie the rest of the way and carded four bogeys, including at his final hole, the ninth.

Mickelson, not a fan of Cog Hill, had traded playing in the pro-am to do a corporate function at nearby Butler National on Wednesday, which he raved about. When asked if it was harder to play a course for which he has little affection, he said, "Yes."

Watson, who won his only tour title in June, started bogey-double bogey, rallied to get to 1 under after 15 holes, then bogeyed 16 and 18 to shoot 72 and tie for 34th.

Defending champion Tiger Woods, still ranked No. 1 in the world despite a disfunctional year on and off the course, shot 73 and is in a tie for 45th that includes University of Hartford grad Tim Petrovic, who was 4 over after eight before birdies at the 14th and 15th helped salvage his round.

Woods made double-bogey 6 at No. 1, then had three birdies and three bogeys, including at the 18th for his highest round at Cog Hill since he opened with a 73 in the 2005 Western Open. It ended a streak of 11 consecutive rounds in the 60s on the publlic course where he has won five times.

"I just didn't have much today," Woods said.

Woods also was nine shots behind in 2005 when he opened with a 73, and he finished in second two strokes back. But he was a little more predictable then. What gave Woods hope is that despite such calm conditions, no one went lower than 64.

"Guys aren't going low at this place because the greens aren't good enough to go low," he said. "Obviously, there's a couple of players that have played well, but overall, the guys just aren't tearing the place apart."

But this 73 put Woods in a big hole in his bid to advance to the final stage of the playoffs. Woods is 51st in the FedExCup standings and might have to finish as high as fifth to advance. It was unusual to hear Woods discuss how much ground he has to make up, not against Kuchar, but the finish he needs to get into the top 30 to advance

"As of right now, I'm only five shots back out of that spot," Woods said. "That's not bad."

The Ryder Cup will remind Connecticut golf enthusiasts of the many players they've recently seen in the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highland in Cromwell.

Nine regulars at the PGA Tour's annual stop in Connecticut are part of the 12-man U.S. team, led by two-time Travelers Championship winners Phil Mickelson and Stewart Cink, Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson, who won his only tour title in Cromwell in June.

Cink was one of captain Corey Pavin's four picks, while Mickelson, Mahan and Watson finished 1-2-3 on the PGA of America's Ryder Cup points list.

Other Travelers regulars on the U.S. team that will face Europe on Oct. 1-3 in Newport, Wales, are 2010 Travelers Championship participants Rickie Fowler and Jeff Overton and 2009 participants Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar, whose grandparents live in Madison. 

"It is great to have four former champions competing at this year's Ryder Cup," Travelers Championship tournament director Nathan Grube said. "In addition to these champions, it is great to see five other players who have competed in our event in the past two years."

Pavin, a three-time Ryder Cup participant, is also a regular in Cromwell and has lost playoffs to Olin Browne in 1998 and Watson in June. Hunter is the only member of the U.S. team with a winning Ryder Cup record (2-0-3), Mickelson has the most experience (seven appearances) and Watson, Fowler, Kuchar, Dustin Johnson and Jeff Overton are rookies.

The only team members who haven't played in the Travelers are Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker.

It's a homecoming of sorts this week for the men ranked first and third on the FedEx Cup points list.

Matt Kuchar moved to No. 1 in the race with a victory and tie for 11th in the first two PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup, The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship. Kuchar, whose grandparents live in Madison, also has found memories of a major win at Cog Hill that earn him a dime, the 1997 U.S. Amateur at Cog Hill.

"The people in the locker room still remember me, still get big smiles on their face," the always-smiling Kuchar told reporters Wednesday on the eve of the BMW Championship. "It's kind of a fun homecoming for me to see those old faces."

Ditto for third-ranked Steve Stricker, who grew up a few hours from Cog Hill in Madison, Wisc. But Stricker should be focusing more on his game than waving to family and friends in the gallery. Besides trying to finish No. 1 in the FedEx Cup and the tour money list, Stricker is tied with Kuchar for the lowest adjusted scoring average on the PGA Tour. The next two weeks likely will decide the Vardon Trophy since the top players rarely play in the Fall Series.

The top 30 after the BMW Championship advance to the Tour Championship and a shot at the $10 million bonus, which Woods won in 2007 and 2009. He didn't play in 2008 because he was recovering from knee surgery.

University of Hartford grad Tim Petrovic will have more than just Cog Hill Golf & Country Club to deal with the first two rounds of the BMW Championship.

The man known as Petro also could get lots of airtime on The Golf Channel if he plays a lick at all.

Why? Petrovic and playing partner Jason Dufner tee off last off the first tee Thursday at 1:20 p.m. in the group behind Tiger Woods and K.J. Choi. That's never an enviable position with the hordes scurrying around trying to get a glimpse of the world's No. 1, especially in suburban Chicago on a course where he has won five times.

Petrovic is 66th in points standings (Tiger 51st, Choi 52nd and Dufner 66th) and the last player with Connecticut ties left in the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup. Petrovic likely has to finish first or second to move into the top 30 on the points list and advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Fairfield native J.J. Henry was eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday when he missed the cut in the Deutsche Bank Championship and fell to 86th. Jerry Kelly, Petrovic's former UofH teammate, was ousted the previous week when he missed the cut in The Barclays and dropped to 102nd, knocking him out of the Deutsche Bank Championship, where the top 100 were eligible.

To the surprise of no one, Sean Foley is Tiger Woods' new coach.

Woods made the annoucement Wednesday at the BMW Championship at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Ill.

Foley succeeds Hank Haney, who worked with Woods for several years before leaving the world's No. 1 after the revelations of Woods' serial infidelities that led to his divorce 21/2 weeks ago.

Foley was working with 2007 Travelers Championship winner Hunter Mahan when he got a cell phone call from Woods saying he wanted the man who lives near him in Orlando, Fla., to officially become his new swing guru in the Tiger fishbowl.

"I needed to understand the whole concept before I committed to what I was doing," Woods told reporters Wednesday. "It's nice when you get rewarded with results, and the shots that I'm hitting now, it's been a long time since I've been able to do that. That's always a good sign."

Woods is lucky No. 7 for Foley, who will never be the same with Tiger as one of his clients. Others include Mahan, Justin Rose, Sean O'Hair and Stephen Ames, but you know whose phone Foley will answer first if several calls show up on his ID at the same time.

Woods has shown more consistency since looking like an amateur while finishing next-to-last in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, where he shot a career-high as a pro, 18-over-par 288. Woods and Foley hooked up the next week at the PGA Championship, where Woods tied for 28th. Woods then tied for 12th and 11th in The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship, the first two PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup. And Woods shot three rounds in the 60s at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., for the first time this year.

But Woods likely needs four good rounds Thursday through Sunday to qualify for next week's Tour Championship, the playoff finale. Woods has to hope his fourth swing overhaul takes shape quicker than the previous three if he wants to play again before competing in his sixth Ryder Cup after being one of captain Corey Pavin's four picks on Tuesday.

Woods, winner of 71 tour titles and 14 major championships, has usually responded when facing adversity during his 15-year pro career, especially in the 2009 U.S. Open he won basically on one leg and needed 91 holes to outlast Rocco Mediate.

But that was Woods' last tour victory, and he'll have to finish fifth or better Sunday as defending champion on a course where he has won five times to prevent from being eliminated from the playoffs he won in 2007 and 2009. He was absent in 2008 after having reconstrutive surgery on the ACL in his left knee.

Woods' game is once again a work in progress after a tumultous nine months, but Woods said his life is "much more in balance" and he has been able to concentrate on his golf game again.

Despite his third- and fourth-best finishes the last two weeks, Woods' goal hasn't changed.

"Winning has always been a priority," he said. "That's why I'm in any event. I don't play in an event just to play. Why do that? I'm in the event to win the tournament, and that's the goal, and it's always been that way since I was very little."

A win Sunday would not only get him to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, but it would put him in the top five on the FedEx Cup points list and give him a shot to win a third title. Second also might enable Woods to control his own destiny, but third would only boost him to eighth.

Everyone who qualifies for East Lake has a mathematical chance to win the FedExCup, but only the top five are guaranteed the $10 million bonus with a win. But first, Woods must perform well at Cog Hill.

Woods' back is near the wall, so let's see how the "new" Tiger responds.

Congratulations to Adam Rainaud, Brent Paladino and Kyle Bilodeau -- and double kudos to the leadoff hitter.

Rainaud shot a 2-under-par 70 Wednesday at the Lake of Isles South Course in North Stonington to win the Connecticut Section Callaway Golf PGA Assistant Championship for the first time.

Raindau, of the Orchards Golf Club in Holyoke, Mass., had a 36-hole total of 5-under 139 for a two-stroke victory over Brent Paladino (Timberlin GC-Berlin), who closed with 72.

Rainaud, who started the day tied with Paladino, won $1,000, the Joe Lynch Trophy and a spot in the Callaway Golf PGA Assistant Championship on Nov. 11-14 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The national event has a 120-man field and a $100,000 first prize.

Bilodeau (Hartford Golf Club) shot 77 but earned a share of third with Bob Kay (Tumble Brook CC-Bloomfield, 73)  and the third spot in the national championship as the properly entered pro. Connecticut Section Pre-Apprentices are not eligible for the national event.

Final scores, money winners

1   Adam Rainaud        Orchards GC                     69-70--139 -5 
$1,000.00
2   Brent Paladino      Timberlin GC                    69-72--141 -3 
$800.00
T3  Bob Kay             Tumble Brook Country Club       75-73--148 +4 
$650.00
T3  Kyle Bilodeau       Hartford GC                     71-77--148 +4 
$650.00
5   Brian Keiser        Wethersfield Country Club       72-77--149 +5 
$500.00
6   Josh Lebeau         Westover                        73-77--150 +6 
$450.00
T7  Chris Martinez      Golf Club of Avon               75-76--151 +7 
$375.00
T7  William Street      New Haven Country Club          75-76--151 +7 
$375.00
9   Adam D'Amario       The Ranch Golf Club             76-76--152 +8 
$325.00
T10 David Rhinehart     New London Country Club         78-76--154 +10
$290.00
T10 Casey Roan          Shennecossett Golf Course       76-78--154 +10
$290.00
12  Ross Sheflott       Ellington Ridge CC              79-76--155 +11
$260.00
T13 Jonathan Ellingwood Manchester CC                   78-78--156 +12
$230.00
T13 Ryan Kesten         Hartford GC                     76-80--156 +12
$230.00
T15 Tom DelRosso        Black Hall Club                 82-75--157 +13
$100.00
T15 Marty Byrnes        Golf Club of Avon               77-80--157 +13
$100.00
17  Kevin Cain          Richter Park GC                 79-79--158 +14

18  Andrew Gruss        Shuttle Meadow Country Club     79-80--159 +15

19  Jordan Cherebetui   Great River GC                  82-78--160 +16

T20 Chad Schofield      Lake of Isles                   83-79--162 +18

T20 Chuck Edler         Longmeadow Country Club         82-80--162 +18

T20 Chad Boyce          Race Brook CC                   82-80--162 +18

23  Tom Halsted         The Hartford Golf Club    24  Brandon Banks      
Pomperaug GC                    80-85--165 +21

25  David Burstein      The Farms Country Club          87-80--167 +23

T26 Jonathan Banas      Ellington Ridge Country Club    88-80--168 +24

T26 Jim Ferguson        Wallingford Country Club        85-83--168 +24

28  Kyle Hogan          New Haven Country Club          88-81--169 +25

29  Patrick Fiorito     Chippanee GC                    87-83--170 +26

30  Kent Dunn           Oak Lane Country Club           88-84--172 +28

31  Charles Slenker     Elmridge Golf Course            92-81--173 +29

32  Jodi Hitchcock      Indian Hill CC                  91-83--174 +30

33  Jonathan Phillips   Rock Ridge Country Club         87-88--175 +31

T34 Ryan Bowey          Indian Hill Country Club        88-88--176 +32

T34 Joshua Bialowans    Old Lyme CC                     84-92--176 +32

36  Brian Zielinski     Hartford GC                     88-89--177 +33

37  Paul Nothe          Quaboag                         86-92--178 +34

38  Patrick Gallagher   Race Brook CC                   91-90--181 +37

39  Conor Sullivan      Lake of Isles                   105-103--208
+64
40  James Magliano      Oronoque                        104-108--212
+68

DID NOT FINISH

WD  Brett McCormick     Springfield CC                  +9            

WD  Michael Nordstrom   Springfield CC                  +10           

WD  Matt Nyren          TPC River Highlands             +15           

WD  Ken Struckman       H. Smith Richardson GC          +15           

WD  Ian Enright         Clinton CC                      +16           

WD  James Erricolo      CC of Farmington                +16           

WD  Chris Boyd          Tashua Knolls GC                +17           

WD  Rick Cardoza        Glastonbury Hills Country Club  +20           

WD  Keith Cunningham    Hickory Ridge Country Club                    

WD  Joe Mongillo        Tumble Brook CC                               

WD  Matt Guyton         Black Hall Club                               

NC  Jeffrey Sobieraj    Rock Ridge Country Club                        

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin picked three veterans and a PGA Tour rookie who hasn't won anything to fill out his 12-man team.

Pavin was expected to choose Tiger Woods, Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson, but flamboyant Rickie Fowler was the wildcard for the American team that will face Europe on Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales.

Woods, the world's No. 1-ranked player for 274 consecutive weeks and winner of 71 PGA Tour titles and 14 major championships, needed to be a captain's pick for the first time after a poor season that started to go awry following a car crash in November and subsequent revelations of serial infidelities that led to a divorce two weeks ago.

This will be Woods' sixth Ryder Cup after finishing first in the PGA of America's points standings every other time, including in 2008 when he spent the second half of the year recovering from knee surgery and wasn't on the U.S. team that won for the first time since its record comeback in singles in 1999 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. In five Ryder Cups, Woods is 10-13-2 on golf's most emotional stage, about the only flaw in an otherwise impeccable career inside the ropes.

Woods, Cink and Johnson are major championship winners, and Fowler is the fifth rookie on this year's team but played on U.S. Walker Cup teams in 2007 and 2009.

Cink won the 2009 British Open and is a two-time winner of the Travelers Championship (1997, 2008). He joins fellow Travelers Championship winners Phil Mickelson (2001-02), Hunter Mahan (2007) and Bubba Watson (2010). It will be the fifth straight Ryder Cup for Cink, who also has been on four Presidents Cup teams and should again be a steadying veteran influence. Cink, Woods and Johnson are the only American players with the experience of having played in the Ryder Cup overseas.

Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, will be on his second Ryder Cup team after being on two Presidents Cup teams. He won the Colonial in May and has been improving recently. He finished one shot out of the playoff at the PGA Championship and was in contention in the first two PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup, The Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship.

The 21-year-old Fowler is one of the brightest new lights on the PGA Tour thanks to his solid play and colorful attire. The former Oklahoma State star has three runner-up finishes in 11 months as a pro but is the first not to have won, the first PGA Tour rookie to be picked and the third youngest U.S. Ryder Cup rookie behind Horton Smith (1929) and Woods (1997).

"I am very pleased to add these four to Team USA," Pavin said while making the announcement at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City, where the PGA of America was founded in 1916. "I think our team is very good. I think these four players complement those eight very well. That was the goal of these four players.

"I'm very proud to have Team USA completely assembled now, and I'm looking forward to the matches in three weeks."

Pavin said his selections "give me a lot of flexibility," and he wasn't concerned about any criticism, as European captain Colin Montgomerie received last week for selecting Edoardo Molinari, Luke Donald and three-time majors winner Padraig Harrington, who has struggled most of the year.

"My job is to put together the team that I feel is the best team and to represent the United States in the Ryder Cup," Pavin said. "What other people's opinions are I cannot control, and I'm not concerned about it. I am just trying to get the best guys together to go over there and win."

The eight automatic qualifiers in order of finish on the PGA of America's points list were Mickelson, Mahan, Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar, whose grandparents live in Madison. Watson, Dustin Johnson, Overton, Kuchar and Fowler are Ryder Cup rookies.

Mahan has the only winning record on the American side, going 2-0-3 in his only Ryder Cup in 2008. Besides Woods' 10-13-2, other American records are Mickelson's 10-14-6 in seven Ryder Cups, Furyk's 8-13-3 in six, Cink's 4-7-4 in four, Zach Johnson's 1-2-1 in one and Stricker's 0-2-1 in one.

The Tough-To-Take Award goes to Anthony Kim, a standout in 2008 and a shoo-in for the team until sidelined for three months after thumb surgery in May. The playoff winner of the Shell Houston Open who also was second in the Honda Classic and third in the Masters finished ninth on the points list and then missed four straight cuts since returning for the PGA Championship, the deadline for qualifying for the team.

The U.S. will attempt to retain the Ryder Cup and earn its first victory in Europe since 1993 at The Belfry. Europe has six Ryder Cup rookies -- Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari, Peter Hanson, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher and PGA Championship winner Martin Kayer. Others on the team are Donald, third-ranked Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Miguel Angel Jimenez and U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.

Westwood is ailing and might have to be replaced by Justin Rose or Paul Casey, who were legitimate possible picks but left off the team because Montgomerie had only three selections and chose Harrington on reputation, not what he has done this year.

Here are some thoughts from Pavin's press conference and a teleconference call with his four picks:

Cink: "It's obviously really exciting. This is the third time I've been a captain's pick. I'm starting to probably be close to being a record there. I guess all that means is I'm not very good in qualifying in the Top 10, I don't know. I'll be excited and pumped up to play and representing the U.S."

Johnson: "I'm thrilled and excited beyond belief. Team play, team sports in general, it's really something that drives me as a competitor, and when you incorporate a team element and chemistry into golf, it makes it just that much more special. Having your nation's flag on your sleeve and being led by captain Pavin and his associates makes it that much more special. So, I thank you guys and I thank you for trusting in me and knowing that I'm going to go out there and play really hard."

Woods: "It's great to be a part of this team. I'm honored to be selected and head over to Wales to represent the United States in the Ryder Cup. I've been to Wales previously in the Walker Cup and looking forward to going back and having a great time with the team and hopefully bring the Cup back. ... I look at (being a captain's pick) the same (as qualifying). I'm part of the team and honored to be part of the team and looking forward to going over there and playing and competing and hopefully bringing back the Cup. And that's our main focus as a team. Whether I was a person who was picked or a person who earned their way on the squad, it doesn't change the overall goal. It's still the same, and that's to go over there and win. ... I don't know where the perception of my indiference came from. I always love playing in Ryder Cup, being part of the team. It is an experience you will never forget. It is one of those things I have been looking forward to. It is nice my game is coming around. I feel my game is not very far away. It makes it a lot easier going into a pressure-packed environment." ... I've been looking forward to being on the and feel my game has been coming around working with (new teacher) Sean (Foley), especially going into a hostile environment. On the road, it's very different. You get booed a lot, you get jeered, and people say things they probably shouldn't say. I've had that experience and understand how to deal with it and make it a positive thing."

Fowler: "It was hard to sleep last night but it's awesome to be selected. To be a young player, this is awesome. The last time I played on a team was for the Walker Cup, so I'll be trying to play as hard as I can."

Pavin said he talked to the eight qualifiers and his four assistants -- Tom Lehman, Davis Love III, Paul Goydos and Jeff Sluman, who wasn't in New York because he's playing on the Champions Tour. Pavin wouldn't divluge the leaders among those not selected, though they reportedly were J.B. Holmes, a standout on the victorious 2008 team, and Charley Hoffman, who closed with a 62 Monday to win the Deutsche Bank Championship.

But Pavin said "a lot didn't change last week," when he was at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., on Thursday.

Why Fowler? "He obviously is deserving, as were a lot of other people," Pavin said. "We talked a lot, and it just came down to a gut feeling. He had a good Walker Cup record (7-1). I had a lot of people to consider, and that's the way I went."

Pavin on Tiger from two months ago to now: "What I tried to do is wait until this weekend. I didn't want to burden myself with a lot of things. Did I have any doubts? I was just watching and hoping he would qualify on points, but he has been playing better lately.

Pavin on picking Woods: "I asked (Tiger) last night if he ... I would like to have him on the team, and he said absolutely, and said, whatever you would like me to do, I will do, just tell me what you would like, which is exactly what a captain likes to hear from any player on the team. So obviously I was happy that he was very excited about playing, and he wants to be on a winning team, just like the other 12 guys, as well."

Pavin on Tiger's monetary influence on the Ryder Cup: "I would have to be in a bubble not to realize that, but it had no effect on his selection."

Pavin on philosphy of pairings: "There's a lot of combinations out there, and I'm not afraid to put anybody with anybody. You can put two young guys together, two veterans together and a young guy with a veteran. I think there are a lot of combinations and permutations, and we'll be sitting down to discuss that soon. That's my top priority right now."

Cink on the differences between competing for the Cup on the road being "blurred" in recent years: "That's because so many Europeans now attend the Ryder Cup in our country. Fans on both sides are getting louder all the time. It's a charged, exciting atmosphere. There's almost nothing like it in the game."

Fowler, on having no problem competing in a more structured team environment compared to the flashy wardrobe of bright orange that reflect his Oklahoma State University roots: "I made it through two Walker Cups (2007, 2009) not wearing orange; it worked out well there. I can bring, I guess, a lot of color to the team. I can bring some youth to the team and hopefully get the guys pumped up a little bit. But, as I said, we are all going over there to win so we area all going to be getting each other pumped up and kind of focusing on our main goal, bringing home the Cup."

That certainly doesn't sound like a Ryder Cup rookie barely old enough to vote.

The first weekend in October will be a time to be glued to the TV even before the sun rises.

That's always the way it is at Ryder Cup time. Cheers to one and all.

Though this is a golf blog, I like to include anything sports with Connecticut connections.

Especially when it involves hockey, the most extensive professional sport in state history.

And especially when it involves some of the greatest names in the game.

And especially when the Connecticut Whalers could be the new prime residents in the XL Center if certain parties apparently stopped hassling former New England/Hartford Whalers managing general partner Howard Baldwin in his bid to bring back the name that deserted Hartford 13 years ago, hopefully get more bodies into downtown by revitalizing the sport in the area and ultimately return the NHL to the city.

But we digress. Here's some of NHL.com columnist John Kreiser's selections for the best NHL players by the number, which include several Whalers, even though the team was around for only 24 years. Two of Kreiser's picks, Neil Sheehy and Brendan Shanahan, weren't in Hartford for long, but they still wore Whalers green and blue and skated to the memorable tones of "Brass Bonanza."

It's still difficult to believe the best right wing (Gordie Howe) and best left wing (Bobby Hull) in NHL history actually skated on the same Hartford Whalers team with future Hall of Famers Ron Francis and Dave Keon. Hull, who was in Hartford for about a month, is "also in the mix" behind Mr. Hockey at No. 9, and Keon is runner-up at No. 14.

BTW: We want to point out the runner-up, Cheshire native and Avon Old Farms grad Brian Leetch, one of the most wonderful skaters to watch and nicest guys in the world, and one of the "also in the mix," former Whaler Mark Howe, at No. 2. Former Whalers Ted Green and Ralph Backstrom are also among the "also in the mix" at No. 6. And the Whalers could have had other nominees at No. 16 or No. 19 if they had taken Pat LaFontaine or Steve Yzerman instead of Sylvain Turgeon with the second overall pick in the 1983 draft. LaFontaine and Yzerman were selected right after Turgeon, who had a handful of good seasons before disappearing into Quebec.

0 -- Neil Sheehy
When Calgary sent Sheehy, a rugged defenseman, to Hartford during the 1987-88 season, he switched from the No. 5 he wore in Calgary to No. 0 for his 26 games with the Whalers. Sheehy went back to a more conventional No. 15 when he was dealt to Washington during the offseason.

2 -- Doug Harvey
Few defensemen have been as good at controlling the tempo of a game as Harvey, who won the Norris Trophy seven times (six with Montreal, once with the Rangers) in an eight-year span. His offensive numbers soon paled before the totals piled up during the expansion era, but he was the quarterback of the great Canadiens teams that won five consecutive Stanley Cups from 1956-60.
Runner-up: Brian Leetch
Also in the mix: Al MacInnis, Mark Howe, Jacques Laperriere, Eddie Shore

6 -- Phil Housley
Housley is the highest-scoring U.S.-born defenseman in NHL history, putting up as many as 31 goals and 97 points during a single season on the way to 1,232 points in 1,495 games -- all but one played while wearing No. 6 (he wore No. 96 in his lone game with Toronto, the last of his 21-year career). Only one team (Toronto) has retired No. 6.
Runner-up: Ace Bailey
Also in the mix: Ken Morrow, Ron Ellis, Ted Green, Ralph Backstrom

9-- Gordie Howe
Mr. Hockey outlasted a class of immortals as the best No. 9 (arguably the most talented number in NHL history). Perhaps the most remarkable stat about Howe's career: He finished in the top five in scoring for 20 consecutive seasons, a mark that's as unbreakable as any in sports. He has brought talent, class and dignity to everyone associated with the NHL for more than 60 years.
Runner-up: Maurice Richard
Also in the mix: Bobby Hull, Andy Bathgate, Johnny Bucyk, Lanny McDonald, Clark Gillies

10 -- Ron Francis
Quick -- who's the fourth-highest scorer in NHL history? That would be Francis, who finished his career with 1,798 points -- including 1,249 assists, the most by anyone not named Gretzky. Though he won both of his Cups in Pittsburgh, Francis earned his nickname of "Ronny Franchise" with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, for whom he's now an assistant coach.
Runner-up: Guy Lafleur
Also in the mix: Alex Delvecchio, Tom Johnson, George Armstrong, Syl Apps

14 -- Brendan Shanahan
Shanahan already was a star when he arrived in Detroit in 1997, but he moved his game up to another level when he became a Wing -- becoming a big part of Detroit's three Cup-winning teams from 1997-2002. He had the last of his six 40-goal seasons at age 37 and finished his career with 656 goals and 1,354 points.
Runner-up: Dave Keon
Also in the mix: Woody Dumart, Fern Flaman, Theo Fleury

16 -- Brett Hull
It's not easy to outscore your father when dad was a 600-goal man, but Brett Hull did just that, finishing his career with 741 goals, the third-highest total in NHL history. That includes 226 goals in a three-year span with St. Louis and 86 in 1990-91, the most by anyone not named Wayne Gretzky. Brett didn't have his father's booming slapper, but he had a knack for finding the open spot on the ice and getting his shot off in the blink of an eye.
Runner-up: Marcel Dionne
Also in the mix: Pat LaFontaine, Bobby Clarke, Henri Richard, Michel Goulet

19 -- Steve Yzerman
Rare is the player who's willing to sacrifice offensively to become a more complete player after years of dominating. But that's exactly what Yzerman did -- and the result was three Stanley Cups for the Detroit Red Wings in a six-year span, after a 42-year drought. With 1,715 points in 22 seasons and the longest run as a team captain in NHL history, Yzerman is the greatest Red Wing not named Gordie Howe.
Runner-up: Joe Sakic
Also in the mix: Bryan Trottier, Larry Robinson, Jean Ratelle

Let the debating begin.

Danbury native Ken Green got some of his best news yet since having to have the lower part of his right leg amputated after a horrific RV accident 15 months ago that claimed the life of his brother, girlfriend and dog.

Green, who has played in only two Champions Tour events and a few other tournaments since the accident, was temporarily pain-free after a recent special treatment. The pain soon returned, but Green is hopeful his doctor can stop it on a more extended basis so sponsors don't continue to deny him exemptions. It was bad enough that thePGA Tour didn't give Ken a medical exemption, but now sponsors are turning their backs on him. You'd think every sponsor would want someone who is a golfing profile in courage. Instead, a sad tale has unnecessarily turned even sadder.

Here's Ken's latest blog from his website, www.kengreenscomeback.com:

Hope,

Well, it's been a few days since I've opened the trap of doom. I have been afraid to give myself the greenhexodoom.

As you know, things have been down right ugly in my leg world, so I went in for another block, hock, and I don't know what he called it. When I woke up from my sleep of love, the very first thing I said was "I don't feel a damn thing." For the first time in 15 months, I had no electric feeling zapping me. I was stunned. He said if this worked, it would only last 12 hours but that we could do it again where it would last maybe six months or so.

For the next 29 hours, I felt like a human being. It was just incredible. I had forgotten what it felt like to just be somewhat normal and no constant juice running through the body. It has returned, and we will hopefully rectify the problem next week when I return from CT. Even though it has returned, I have not had the "shoot me" voltage, so that is good in itself.

I'm going up to play in the member-guest tournament at Richter Park in Danbury. It has been my course for a whopping 35 years now. It is just a beautiful place, and if you have not played it, you need to get your butts up there and do so. I feel for my lifetime friend Mr. Greg "Bags" Begler, he needs to play well.

Now, on to more exciting news: I have been rejected from five events in the sponsor world. It has not been since high school that I've been rejected so often. Truth be told, I was never once rejected in high school, never asked anyone either. The tour decision infuriates me even more, but I have to work that much harder when we stop this leg pain and just play myself back onto this tour. I so look forward to the time when I can just look into their faces and smile.

It won't be right if I went a blog without mentioning something about our political issues. I'm amazed that no one has run with the Joe Biden theory of splitting the country in three. The dopey name-calling Democrats can have Montana, North & South Dakota, and let's throw in Alaska's Anwar so they can hunt for food. The pot-calling Republicans can have Louisiana, Mississippi, 'I never had sex with that women' Arkansas and Hawaii, so they can keep stabbing at the fish. The rest of the normal Americans can just have the rest, where they can politely figure out our issues. (I mean no disrespect to anyone in those states; they are just points).

I can't wait to have this procedure done again and desperately prey that Dr. Regenbaum has found gold. I so want to be human again and not a miserable old fart.

Be good my friends,

Ken

It might not have appeared possible for three rounds, but Charley Hoffman seemed ordained to win the Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, Mass., about 45 minutes from Boston.

The Boston Charley Hoffman Fan Club was out in force over this Labor Day weekend, and their hero responded to their wishes with a torrid start and finish Monday at TPC Boston that led to a five-stroke victory in the second leg of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup.

The long-haired Hoffman started four strokes behind third-round leader Jason Day, birdied the second through fifth holes and then got several fortuitous bounces down the stretch in shooting a career-best, 9-under-par 62 for a 22-under 262 total, tying Vijay Singh's tournament record when he won in 2008.

"The Boston fan club is actually my high school golf coach's best friend, Mickey Hurley," Hoffman said after outdistancing European Ryder Cup member Luke Donald of England (69) and Aussies Geoff Oglivy (bogey-free 66) and Day, who missed a 6-foot par putt at No. 18 to shoot 71 and lose solo second. "He's come out every year since I've been here, supported me since the years I've missed the cut and the years I've played well.

"It's always nice to come to a week when people are cheering for you. Sometimes out here, there's not that many people rooting for you. They don't know who you are. They're just out here drinking a few beers. But it's always nice to have a group of guys following you and supporting you."

Mickey & Co. had plenty to roar about Monday, as the California kid with blond locks flowing from under his cap made an astonishing 11 birdies in carding the best finish by a winner since the tournament began in 2003. Hoffman two-putted the par-5 second hole for his first birdie, then hit it close at Nos. 3 and 4 before making a 12-foot birdie putt at the fifth. He sandwiched a birdie at No. 7 with bogeys at Nos. 6 and 8, then broke away with a record-tying 6-under 29 on the back, starting with birdies at the 10^th and 11^th, where he felt fortunate that his tee shot on the par-3 hit the flagstick and stopped inches away.

"It was actually probably the turning point of the tournament," Hoffman said. "I hit a pretty average 4-iron, didn't think it was going to carry the bunker (in front of the green), landed just in the rough and trickled up there and almost went in the hole. So I turned a 4 into 2."

Two holes later, Hoffman holed a 48-foot bunker shot for birdie from an awkwar stance, then hit what he called "the crucial shot of the tournament" at No. 14.

"I blocked it way right off the tee, and I think I got a fortunate bounce to stay somewhat in play," Hoffman said. "I hit the (second) shot off the cart path into the front bunker and hit a pretty good bunker shot to four feet and made that for par to keep everything going."

Hoffman made a 15-foot birdie putt at No. 15, pulled a 7-iron on the par-3 16^th to 6 feet and two-putted the par-5 18^th for his 11^th birdie of the day.

"That's what you try to do in the playoffs," Hoffman said. "I wasn't even close to anything for most part starting the week or the playoffs, in the mid-70s and just trying to advance into next week. I played decent last week (tie for 27^th in The Barclays) and just got it going this week."

The 22-year-old Day, who won the Byron Nelson Championship in May, had mixed feelings after finishing second or third for the third time after leading through 54 holes.

"It was obviously a tough day. There weren't too many low scores out there," said Day, who had his third straight top-10 finish and fifth in 22 starts this year. "I was just thinking that if I could possibly shoot 4‑, 3‑under, that might have it, and I didn't expect Charley to come and shoot 9 under. That's an unbelievable score. He obviously won the tournament.

"I'm a little disappointed I didn't make it a little bit closer, but congratulations to Charley," added Day, who tied for fifth in The Barclays last week. "That's a tremendous effort on a Sunday, especially the second playoff event. It means so, so much to us to do well in the playoffs. Overall I'm disappointed with how I played, but I tied for second so I can't be too angry. I'm just looking forward to next week, and hopefully I can do a little bit better (in the BMW Championship in suburban Chicago)."

Early this week, Hoffman worked on his short game with James Sieckmann, referred to him by Tom Pernice Jr., and then resumed practicing with his instructor, Sean Callahan, on Friday. Hoffman began working with Sieckmann, who had coached several other tour pros, to try to improve his sand-save percentage that he called "borderline horrendous" at 130th.

But Hoffman worked at such a furous pace in the sand with Sieckmann that he injured his left wrist and was forced to the sidelines for five weeks. But he eventually healed and has improved 60 spots to 70th in sand saves.

"We worked pretty hard the last few days to get the swing so it felt good under pressure," Hoffman said. "I don't know if I could have done it without both those guys not out here this week. They were a great help."

After learning he had escaped a logjam of challengers, Hoffman said he "just tried to keep the pedal to the floor" on the way to his "best ever" victory.

"It's a no-brainer," he said. "To go out and shoot 62 on a pretty tough golf course on Sunday - on Monday, sorry, Labor Day - it's fun."

It's also miles from laboring mightily while missing 16 straight cuts on the Nationwide Tour after succeeding on his first try out of college.

"It was the most I've ever learned about golf," Hoffman said of the 16 MCs. "Actually, Zach Johnson and I reminisce every once in a while. We were traveling together. I think he missed his first 10 (cuts), I missed my first 16, and we pretty much weren't very good. But we learned how to travel.

"There's a lot more to golf than just playing golf -- traveling, dealing with Monday qualifiers, time, how much you need to practice, how much you don't need to practice.  I definitely learned a lot that first year on the Nationwide Tour, and I wouldn't give it up for anything."

The win was worth $1,350,000 and 2,500 FedEx Cup points, moving him from 59^th to second in the standings, and Hoffman will be exempt into the four majors in 2011, including the Masters at Augusta National for the first time.

"I've said since I turned pro that I would never step foot on that ground unless I won and earned my way there, and finally I have," Hoffman said. "Unfortunately the year (2007) I won the (Bob) Hope (Classic) was a year they sort of had a different rule, and I wasn't able to go to Augusta. But I can't wait, there's no question."

Hoffman considers a Masters debut the best possible perk only if he's not one of U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin's four picks to be announced Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in New York City. But he wasn't going to stay up late waiting for a phone call.

"Obviously, I wasn't in contention, but I hope I am now," said Hoffman, who finished 57^th in the Ryder Cup standings but has four top-10s in his last six starts, capped by tying a tournament record set by Hall of Famer Singh. "It would be an honor to play, and I think I can play well.

"I don't think I really have a pulse, but, ironically, I was sitting with (assistant captain) Paul Goydos early this week, and I said something like, 'Hey, Paul, do you have any influence on the captain's pick?' I was just joking with Paul, being myself, and he goes, 'Well, yeah.' I go, 'Well, put a good word in for me.' He goes, 'Well, you go out and win, you're going to be on the short list.'

"So guess what, Paul, I went out and won, and hopefully I'm on the real short list of the guys that play. Would I be honored to play on the Ryder Cup team? There's no question. I'd love to play. I think I'd help that team. If I don't get picked, there's not a bad pick. All these players who are going to play for the U.S. team are great players, and they're going to show up (Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Wales) and they're going to be a great team if I'm on it or off it. But, obviously, I'd love to be on it."

How would Hoffman feel if he wasn't picked?

"I would not be disappointed," he said. "You're not going to take this one away from me and try to disappoint me by not being on the Ryder Cup team. This is a very special day for me to win Deutsche Bank, and if Mr. Pavin thinks I'm a good enough pick, I'd love to join the team."

If not the Ryder Cup, then maybe the $10 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup of more T-shirt sales on his website.

"Winning the FedEx Cup wasn't definitely anything I was thinking about until this afternoon," Hoffman said. "I wasn't really in the race. I guess that's why this format is pretty unique and special. You can come out of nowhere sort of like Heath (Slocum) did last year and myself this year and hopefully have a chance there (the Tour Championship) in Atlanta.

"And I sure hope this helps the T-shirt sales. The 'don't hassle the Hoff' shirts hopefully catch a little fire."

Just like Charley did Monday on a Labor Day that he won't ever forget.

Sunday proved a successful daily double -- and likely trifecta -- for Tiger Woods.

With a second victory in the Deutsche Bank Championship virtually impossible, Woods, with help from Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker, retained his No. 1 ranking, advanced to the third round of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup and clinched a spot on the Ryder Cup team unless captain Corey Pavin loses his mind.

Woods shot a closing 3-under-par 68 at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., to finish 72 holes tied for 11th at 10-under 274, 12 strokes behind winner Charley Hoffman, who shot a personal-best 62. That moved Woods from 65th to 51st in the FedEx Cup points standings, well within the top 70 for the BMW Championship, where he will begin his title defense Thursday at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in suburban Chicago.

Woods extended his current streak at No. 1 to 274 consecutive weeks, as Mickelson and Stricker each failed to earn the top ranking for the first time. Mickelson was 1 under for the day and 13 under for the tournament with nine holes to go before shooting a 6-over 41 on the back nine that included a triple bogey at No. 10, double bogey at No. 17, two bogeys and a lone birdie. That bad finish dropped Mickelson from 10th to 14th on the FedEx Cup list.

"It was a frustrating back nine," Mickelson told reporters after he failed to get to No. 1 on his 11th try. "I got off to a poor start, tripling 10. But I enjoyed the tournament. I enjoyed the chance I had heading into today, and it was a fun go there.

"I had some opportunities the front nine that could have got the round lower. I shot 1 under and was going to try to make a move on the back, but it wouldn't have mattered. Charley played some great golf. I had some good positives come out of this week that I'll probably carry over into next. I started to drive the ball a lot better, I started to feel much better on the greens with the putter, and the game is slowly coming around."

When asked about his search for No. 1, Mickelson said, "I'm just trying to get my game right now, and today I took some positives, not from the day but from the week."

Stricker, attempting to become the first repeat winner in the Deutsche Bank Championship's eight-year history, shot 71 for 271 to finish ninth and drop from second to third in the FedEx Cup race.

Meanwhile, Woods continued to show he is regaining his form after a five-month hiatus from golf following revelations of serial marriage infidelity that cost him sponsors, his game and his marriage. But working with new swing coach Sean Foley has helped immensely, especially in being able to make mid-round adjustments.

"I feel good about what I've been working on," Woods said. "More than anything, it's how I've been able to fix it on the golf course. That's the biggest thing.

"You're not going to hit every shot perfect. To be able to go out there and understand what my fixes are going to have to be and then be able to rectify it out there is pretty good."

Woods also rectified his efforts on the green, one-putting the last seven greens, rolling in two putts from about 18 feet.

"That was good," Woods said. "It's the first time I putted well all week. I hit a lot of good putts early but nothing went in because my speed wasn't right. But I stayed committed to it, got comfortable and dialed in and finally started rolling it and got some to fall in."

Though he'll retain his No. 1 ranking, Woods realizes he has to end his winless streak on the PGA Tour since last year's BMW Championship.

"I've just got to keep playing well," Woods said. "Winning takes care of everything, the World Rankings, Player of the Year awards, all the trophies and things that come with it. 

"That only happens when you win. Most of my career I've been able to do that, and I just haven't done it this year."

But Woods likely would be a winner Monday night, when Pavin was expected to call Woods and tell No. 1 that he was among his four picks for the U.S. Ryder Cup team that will play Europe on Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Wales. Pavin will announce his selections Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at a news conference in New York City.

"Hopefully, I played well enough to get a mention," said a smiling Woods, who planned to speak with Pavin after his round. "I missed the last one (2008) because I was hurt (knee), and it would be nice to be on the team. I enjoy playing in the Ryder Cup and going out there against those guys with my teammates and see if we can get it done."

Others expected to receive a much-desired call are two-time Travelers Championship winner Stewart Cink, who has played on four Ryder Cup and four Presidents Cup teams, and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson. The top contenders for the fourth spot now appear to be flamboyant rookie Rickie Fowler and long-hitting J.B. Holmes, a standout in the U.S.'s victory in 2008 in his home state of Kentucky.

Another possibility, 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, shot 75 Monday to finish in a tie for 65th at 285 and fall from 57th to 73rd on the FedEx Cup points list and out of the BMW Championship. Anthony Kim, another U.S. standout in 2008, was a shoo-in for the team until he missed three months after thumb surgery and then missed four straight cuts after returning for the PGA Championship. He finished ninth on the Ryder Cup points list.

If Cink is selected, he'll be the fourth Travelers Championship winner on the team, joining Mickelson (2001-02), Hunter Mahan (2007) and Bubba Watson (2010). That threesome finished 1-2-3 in the Ryder Cup points standings.

Two players with Connecticut ties, Tim Petrovic and Steve Marino, experienced the thrill of victory and agony of defeat Monday at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass.

Petrovic, a University of Hartford grad, birdied three of the last four holes, including the 17th and 18th, to salvage a 1-over-par 72 and a spot in this week's third round of the PGA Tour playoffs for the FedEx Cup.

Petrovic had a 72-hole total of 2-under 282 for a tie for 45th in the Deutsche Bank Championship. The late birdies enabled Petrovic to finish 66th on the FedEx Cup points list after starting the week at 58th. The low 70 advanced to the BMW Championship, which begins Thursday at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in suburban Chicago.

Meanwhile, Marino, whose father Steve grew up in Glastonbury, shot himself out of the playoffs in the last four holes. Marino started the week 78th in the points standings but had moved well inside the top 70 before he made a double-bogey 6 at No. 15, where he left his third shot in the bunker, bogeys at 16 and 17 and missed a 5-foot birdie putt at the 18th.

The late demise gave Marino a 5-over 76 for 281 and a tie for 41st. If his birdie putt at No. 18 had dropped, he would have advanced after finishing in a tie for 37th with Travelers Championship winner Bubba Watson (69), U.S. Ryder Cup teammate Jim Furyk (70), Fredrik Jacobson (70) and European Ryder Cup member Rory McIlroy (71). That foursome all qualified for the BMW Championship.

Fairfield native and 2006 Buick (now Travelers) Championship winner J.J. Henry was eliminated from the playoffs Saturday when he missed the cut by a shot. He started the playoffs 62nd, then finished 72nd and last in The Barclays to fall to 82nd and missed the Deutsche Bank Championship cut to drop to 86th.

Those who moved into the top 70 Monday were Tom Gillis (65-268, T5, 92nd to 48th), 2008 FedEx Cup champion Vijay Singh (71-274, T11, 86th to 63rd), Jason Dufner (68-275, T65, 81st to 65th) and Andreas Romero (72-274, T11, 100th to 68th).

They replaced Padraig Harrington (missed cut, 57th to 73rd), 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover (75-285, T65, 63rd to 74th), Charles Howell III (71-286, T67, 62nd to 75th) and Chris Couch (missed cut, 67th to 79th).

Because there is no cut this week, all 70 players will earn FedEx Cup points, with the top 30 on Sunday advancing to the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Talk about a turnaround. After finishing with three of his seven bogeys for an incoming, 5-over-par 41 and 5-over 76 total in the third round of the Nationwide Tour's Mylan Classic presented by CONSOL Energy on Saturday, Ellington native Jeff Curl obviously had a serious talk with himself.

Curl, the 2007 Connecticut Open champion, started the final round Sunday with four of his 10 birdies in a career-low, 8-under-par 63 for a 72-hole total of 5-under 279 and a tie for 14th at Southpointe Golf Club in Canonburg, Pa.

The low round of the day by two shots earned Curl his third-best finish on the PGA Tour's development league and $10,200. His best showing is a tie for seventh in the 2009 Melwood Prince George's County Open.

Curl, the son of former PGA and Champions Tour player Rod Curl who has made three of seven cuts this year, finished eight strokes behind winner Kevin Kisner of Aiken, S.C. Kisner closed with 67 to overtake third-round leader Geoff Sisk of Marshfield, Mass. Sisk birdied No. 16 to regain the lead but made double-bogey 6 at the 17th to shoot 71 and lose by one.

Tiffany Joh of San Diego, winner of the ING New England Golf Classic at Wintonbury Hills Golf Course in Bloomfield, is one of 10 Duramed Futures Tour players to earn LPGA cards for 2011.

Joh finished eighth on the Futures Tour money list as players earned LPGA exemptions for the 12th time in the tour's 30-year history and eighth that at least LPGA memberships were awarded. Three cards were offered from 1999 to 2002, and this season was the third time that 10 memberships were awarded.

The tour graduates in order of finish: 1. Cindy LaCrosse of Tampa, Fla.; 2. Jennifer Song of Ann Arbor, Mich.; 3. Christine Song of Fullerton, Calif.; 4. Jenny Shin of Torrance, Calif.; 5. Gerina Mendoza of Roswell, N.M.; 6. Angela Oh of Maple Shade, N.J.; 7. Ryann O'Toole of San Clemente, Calif.; 8. Joh; 9. Hannah Jun of San Diego; and 10. Pornanong Phatlum of Chaiyaphum, Thailand.

The 23-year-old LaCrosse, a former Louisville star, earned the top spot when she parred the first playoff hole to beat Song in the season-ending Price Chopper Tour Championship in Albany, N.Y. She won $16,800 to finish the season with $94,578.

The next 10 players on the money list, excluding LPGA members, earned automatic entry into the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament on Dec. 8-12 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. Those players, in order of finish, are: Jan Rah of Torrance, Calif.; Esther Choe of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Mo Martin of Altadena, Calif.; Dori Carter of Valdosta, Ga.; Nontaya Srisawang of Chiang Mai, Thailand; Chelsea Curtis of New Seabury, Mass.; Jennie Lee of Henderson, Nev.; Amelia Lewis of Jacksonville, Fla.; Jenny Gleason of Clearwater, Fla., and Jodi Ewart of North Yorkshire, England.

NORTON, Mass. _ Double congratulations to Andy Mai of Suffield.

Mai was one of four Connecticut players on the winning New England team that edged Team USA 40.5-39.5 in the John D. Mineck Deutsche Bank Championship Junior Cup at Boston Golf Club in Hingham.

Mai and Megan Khang won their match 3-1 against Bryce Schroeder and Joe Winslow, then Mai and Damon Salo lost to Jack Whalen and Ryan Simpson, 31/2-1/2.

The Mineck Junior Cup capped a summer in which Mai's victories included the Connecticut PGA Junior Championship, Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship, Stan Trojanowski Northern Junior Championship that qualified him for the national PGA Junior Championship and Jack Kelley PGA Junior Tournament of Champions, the Connecticut Section PGA's Junior Golf Tour Championship.

More importantly, Mai received the John D. Mineck Award for golfing ability, sportsmanship and academic achievement. The 17-year-old Mai, a senior at Suffield High School, received a $20,000 scholarship.

Other Connecticut members of the New England team were John Jackopsic (West Hartford), Andrew Gai (Westport) and Danny Guise (Greenwich). Gai scored 4-0 sweeps with Jackopsic and Chelso Barrett, while Jackopsic lost 31/2-1/2 in his other match. Guise won one of eight points.

Monte Mullen (Farmington) was on Team USA and earned four of eight points.

Team New England also included Clancy Waugh, son of Seth Waugh, the CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas that hosts the Deutsche Bank Championship. Clancy won six points.

"We celebrated with a hug," dad said with a smile.

NORTON, Mass. _ In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, it was deja vu all over again for Phil Mickelson Sunday at TPC Boston.

A year ago, Mickelson stood about 135 yards out in the 15th fairway and struck a crisp wedge shot that caromed off the flagstick and spun back into the fringe. He chipped and putted for a par 4.

"I wasn't thrilled," Phil The Thrill said.

Fast forward to Sunday. Mickelson is in the 15th fairway 134 yards from the hole, reminds caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay of what transpired a year earlier and says, "I'm going to try to miss the pin, joking obviously."

Sorry, Phil. The joke is on you. But darn if he doesn't hit the exact same shot with the exact same club, a pitching wedge, and watch it hit the flag and roll back into the same runoff area.

Mickelson immediately got an incredulous look on his face, walked to the green and made another declaration to Bones.

"As I was standing over the (46-foot) chip, I kind of turned to him and said, 'Screw it. I'm going to make this, ' " Mickelson said.

It was kind of reminiscent of what Tom Watson said to caddie and Wethersfield native Bruce Edwards as he stood over a chip from the rough on the 71st hole of the 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. This wasn't as major a moment but had a similar result. Just as Watson did to make his first of successive closing birdies to beat Jack Nicklaus, Mickelson holed his chip and then triple-fist pumped the air.

"Stuff happens, and I'll be darned if the ball didn't go in," Mickelson said. "I was able to turn it around, so that was a fun little moment because that stuff happens. You get bad breaks, and sometimes you have to look at it a little bit differently, and I was able to just kind of change my mindset from, 'You know, that's too bad and what a back break' to 'Let's knock this one in, then it won't matter.' "

Mickelson then made his lone bogey at the par-3 16th but hit a 45-foot chip to 3 feet and made the putt for birdie at No. 18 for a 4-under-par 67 and a tie for sixth at 201, five strokes behind leader Jason Day. Mickelson now has three consecutive rounds in the 60s for the first time since the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February.

"It was a fun day, and it was more difficult early on with the wind blowing," said Mickelson, who birdied No. 2 and then drove the green on the 295-yard fourth and narrowly missed a 17-foot putt for eagle 2. "It was much more difficult the first nine or 10 holes, but as the evening came, the wind died down and the finish was a little bit easier."

Mickelson's play is the antithesis of last week, when he shot 72-74 to miss the cut by four strokes in the first round of the PGA Tour playoffs for the FedEx Cup. He returned home and spent a few days with coach Butch Harmon at the Callaway test center in California "to make sure things are on track."

"I had spent three days before at the test center making sure my driver and equipment was dialed in," Mickelson said. "I wanted to make sure my golf game was dialed in and just try to turn it around. I had a poor week last week, and I wanted to finish strong this year and just wasn't playing the way I had hoped.

"So I feel like it was getting back on track, but the first day I didn't shoot the number that I felt I needed to (69), and these last couple of days have been better, and tomorrow should be a fun day, too."

It could be so much fun that Mickelson becomes No. 1 in the world rankings for the first time in his 11th attempt. Tiger Woods has held that perch for 273 consecutive weeks, but the second-ranked Mickelson and No. 4 Steve Stricker, the defending champion, could claim the perch in several different ways.

So what would it mean to be No. 1?

"Well, it would be cool for anybody," Mickelson said. "That's what we're all ultimately striving for. But before that can happen, I've got to get my game back, and it feels like it's starting to come back.

"But after missing the cut last week, that was the last thing on my mind, so I haven't paid attention to what needs to happen. But I'm looking forward to getting in the hunt tomorrow and seeing if I can get off to a good start and make some birdies and move up that leaderboard."

Joining Vijay Singh as the tournament's only two-time winners would make it all that more special.

"Yeah, play like this, play like you deserve it," Mickelson said. "That's the goal."

Stricker, who hasn't made a bogey in 72 holes, said he's also looking forward to the challenge of trying to complete a tournament with nothing worse than a par and become the event's first back-to-back winner on a course he says "sets up well for me and fits my eye."

So, too, does most of the FedEx Cup playoffs in which Stricker has had as much success as anyone.

"I don't know if my mental approach is any different," said Stricker, who shot 67 for 200 and a tie for fourth with Charley Hoffman (69). "I know the end of the season is near, and that excites me, get to spend more time at home. But we've got a lot of important golf left. Maybe I concentrate a little bit harder or whatever, but it's always a good time of year to play well."

Especially with the final two FedEx Cup events and the Ryder Cup in the next four weeks.

NORTON, Mass. _ Tiger Woods' recovery in his life could take years, but his golf game, save for some shaky putting, continued to show positive signs Sunday at TPC Boston.

For only the second time since revelations of a series of martial infidelities led to the loss of sponsors, his game and his marriage, Woods put together back-to-back scores in the 60s in the second and third rounds of the Deutsche Bank Championship.

"I do," Woods said when asked if he thought he was making progress with his game. "Today was a little bit of a struggle. I think I played better than my score (2-under-par 69) indicated. I had a lot of putts that I didn't make. I made a couple of nice par putts, but, boy, I missed a lot of birdie putts. I just had a hard time seeing the line.

"I kept getting double-breaking putts, and I brought (caddie) Stevie (Williams) in on quite a few reads, trying to figure it out. But I (also) got off to kind of a poor start, just didn't make any putts. It was nice to finish on that last hole with birdie."

And Woods did it in classic Tigeresque style. After hitting his second shot on the par-5 18th over the green into the rough, Woods pulled off one of his patented flop shots, opening a wedge and hitting a 70-foot pitch that stopped 9 inches from the cup.

"I didn't have a very good lie," Woods said after tapping in for birdie a 54-hole total of 7-under 206 and a tie for 23rd. "It was kind of nice to spin it into the grain (of the green). The good news is that kind of offsets being the grain, and it hopped up there."

When playing partner Ernie Els putted out for birdie, 70-207 and a tie for 31st, he gave Woods a hearty handshake and impish smile as if to say, "I don't believe you just did that."

But that wasn't the only shot that Els liked.

"It seems like he's not far away," said Els, ranked fifth in the FedExCup after holding the lead for 22 weeks. "I think the things he's working on are right.  He's got the speed back in his swing, and I think it's just a matter of time."

Woods continues to progress with swing changes he made with new coach Sean Foley. He said he can even now diagnose his swing in midstream and make necessary adjustments.

"I've obviously learned the principles, but it is new," said Woods, who eight of 14 fairways and 12 greens in regulation. "It's interesting with the wind blowing. I almost revert back to my old self when the wind blows. It was a little bit of a challenge trying to focus and think about what I was doing, and I thought I did a pretty good job of that in the middle part of the round.

"I had to commit to what I was doing out there today, and I did for the most part."

But despite the continued improvement, Woods might not be ranked No. 1 when he is likely to be one of captain Corey Pavin's four picks for the Ryder Cup team on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in New York City.

No. 2 Phil Mickelson and No. 4 Steve Stricker each could become No. 1 for the first time and are in good position -- with an ironic twist.

Woods was No. 1 for 264 consecutive weeks when Vijay Singh shot a closing 69 to beat Woods, win the 2008 Deutsche Bank Championship and become top ranked for the first time.

Despite five months off because of the personal problems and then poor play, Woods has managed to hold on to No. 1 for 273 straight weeks.

But that can end Monday if:

-- Stricker becomes the first repeat winner in the Deutsche Bank Championship's eight-year history and Woods finishes out of the top nine and Mickelson out of the top three.

-- Mickelson wins, finishes second with Woods out of the top three, finishes third with Woods out of the top nine or finishes fourth with Woods out of the top 24 and Stricker not winning.

There will be a quiz at 11.

Sunday, Stricker shot 67 for a tie for fourth with Charley Hoffman (69) at 200, four behind leader Jason Day (66). Mickelson shot 67 for 201 and a tie for sixth with Adam Scott (65), Geoff Ogilvy (65) and Charlie Wi (67).

Steve Marino, whose father Steve is a Glastonbury native, said he has no doubt who's No. 1 after rallying for 71-205 and a tie for 18th.

"I know what the rankings say, but we all know Tiger isn't playing his best right now and hasn't been playing well all year," Marino said. "He's gone through a bunch of stuff, and obviously it's pretty much impossible to play good golf when he's had to deal with what he's had to deal with.

"He'll be back, but Phil is the No. 1 player in the world right now. He's the best player that I've played with this year."

Determining a winner and deciding No. 1, who advances to next week's BMW Championship and who has the best chance to be Pavin's four picks will make for plenty of very interesting Labor Day viewing.

NORTON, Mass. _ Vijay Singh has had quite the track record at TPC Boston, winning the Deutsche Bank Championhip twice, including in 2008 when he wrestled the No. 1 ranking from Tiger Woods.

Singh, the 2008 FedEx Cup champion, was a collective 72 under after a 5-under-par 66 on Friday and then made the biggest single-hole jump in the tournament's eight-year history early in the third round Sunday.

After a 338-yard drive on the 567-yard second hole, Singh hit a 5-iron shot from 229 yards that hit the front of the green, rolled about 40 feet, hit the flagstick and dropped for a double-eagle 2.

"I hit it just like I wanted to and was just hoping it was going to get up on the green somewhere, and it kind of just went in the hole," Singh said. "It's the first double eagle I've had, and I saw it go in, which was pretty good."

One fan lucky to be sitting in a chair near the green when the rare albatross landed knew Singh had been more than a bit fortuitous.

"If it hadn't hit the pin, it would have gone 20 feet past," he said.

The roar when the shot disappeared could be heard all around TPC Boston. It was the fifth double eagle on the PGA Tour in 2010 and came a year after John Senden holed his second shot on the second hole in the second round. It's the first time two double eagles were recorded on the same hole since 2004 Buick (now Travelers) Championship winner Woody Austin and Scott Dunlap did it on the sixth hole at TPC Avenel in 1999.

Was it more thrilling than a hole-in-one?

"I guess," Singh said. "You can get a hole-in-one, but a double eagle is kind of one in a million. But I'll take it."

But Singh promptly made bogey 4 on the third hole and had to scramble for par on the short par-4 fourth. He negated a birdie at No. 7 with a bogey at the eighth, then did likewise at 15 and 16, finishing with a 2-under-par 69 for a 54-hole total of 203 and a tie for 13th.

"Unbelievable, what a start, and then I just couldn't get it going," Singh said. "I played the par-3s really badly (one par, three bogeys), and they weren't difficult either. I bogeyed the 16th, which was probably the easiest hole on the course if you get the right club to hit it.

"But it's another day tomorrow. I'm hitting the ball pretty good off the tee (32 of 42 fairways) but not putting well enough. I'm giving myself a lot of chances but just not converting them. I just need to make some putts and hit it closer."

Like at No. 2 on Sunday.

NORTON, Mass. _ Reigning Travelers Championship winner Bubba Watson, 2007 champion Hunter Mahan and Jim Furyk had the distinction of being the only All-Ryder Cup threesome in the first two rounds of the Deutsche Bank Championship.

"It was pretty neat to play with two guys who I'm going to be with on the same plane flying over there and then playing with," Watson said of possible four-ball and foursomes pairings on Oct. 1 and 2, the first two days the United States plays Europe at Celtic Manor in Wales, with singles matches on Oct. 3

"We heard a couple of USA chants out there," Watson's wife, Angie, said.

When asked if he heard the chants, Watson smiled and said, "No, I was so focused."

Anyone who knows Bubba knew that was a classic and facetious one-liner from the always effusive Watson, who shot 4-under-par 138 to Mahan's 134 and Furyk's 139 for 36 holes.

On Sunday, Watson was paired with 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, who, barring a victory Monday, appears to be a longshot to be one of captain Corey Pavin's four picks to be announced Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in New York City. Watson birdied the 18th hole but lost 1 down to Glover (71-72) and has a 54-hole total of 211 for a tie for 49th. Glover is tied for 41st at 210.

Leading contenders for Pavin's selections are Tiger Woods, the world's No. 1 who seems to have righted his game after a season of turmoil after the revelation of a series of martial infidelity and made a patented flop-shot birdie at No. 18 for 69-206 and a tie for 23rd; two-time Travelers Championship winner Stewart Cink, who has played on four Ryder Cup and four Presidents Cup teams but struggled a bit Sunday in 72 for 206; and Zach Johnson, who played on the 2006 Ryder Cup and the last two President Cup teams and had 71 for 205 and a tie for 18th.

After that, it's a guessing game, with flamboyant rookie Rickie Fowler (74-211, T49) and Ben Crane (missed cut) being two other contenders. Anthony Kim, a standout in the U.S.'s victory in 2008, was a shoo-in for the team until thumb surgery sidelined him for three months. He finished ninth in the standings and missed his fourth consecutive cut Saturday since returning for the PGA Championship.

A playoff loss to Martin Kaymer in the PGA clinched Watson's first Ryder Cup berth, which was more important to the free-spirited, long-hitting lefthander than a major championship title. That might seem blasphemous to some, but Watson gushed about being on the 12-man U.S. team when he wasn't fighting back tears talking about his 64-year-old father, Gerry, who is battling lung cancer. It was reminiscent of Watson burying his head onto Angie's shoulder after his 3-foot par putt on the second playoff hole beat Pavin and Scott Verplank for his first PGA Tour title in the Travelers Championship in June.

"We're trying to keep (Gerry Watson) as comfortable as possible," said Angie, who had a cancer stare in November that fortunately had been misdiagnosed.

When asked how his dad was doing, Watson said, "He has cancer. What do you think?"

On Aug. 18, three days after his PGA Championship runner-up finish, Watson returned to his home area of Baghdad, Fla., and gave a free clinic in partnership with the PGA Tour's "Birdies for the Brave" program with the U.S. Armed Forces. It was founded in 2005 by two-time Travelers Championship winner Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy, as a way to raise money and awareness for injured combat soldiers and families. Gerry Watson was a lieutenant in the Green Berets' Special Forces during the Vietnam War.

It was an emotional time for Bubba and his dad, who received an award from "Birdies for the Brave" and hopefully can share in his son's emotional time at the Ryder Cup.

Watson said he had talked several times to Pavin on the phone but not in person, even this week when the captain was at TPC Boston.

"He just told me to keep practicing, keep playing, doing what I'm doing and I'll be fine for the Ryder Cup," said Watson, whose only other team competition has been two appearances in the Canon Cup for the American Junior Golf Association's top players. "He said the nerves are going to be a little different, but that's all we talked about."

But even the emotions of golf's most electric stage likely won't affect Watson, who says winning the Travelers Championship or possibly a major championship like the PGA is all the same to him.

"Every tournament I play is a major," Watson said. "If I play good here, it's a major. If I play good at the Masters, it's a major. The Travelers Championship is a major deal for me. Anytime you can play good is a major deal. Just because you put titles on them doesn't mean it's any different. It's still golf.

"For me, winning was a major deal for my family, so that's a major. Making the Ryder Cup is another major deal. So it's all majors to me. It's a big deal. If they're going to give you a check for a million dollars, that's a big deal, no matter what tournament it is. And that's the fairest way to say it. I know the media wants to say majors and this and that, but if I win the John Deere (Classic), it's a major. If I win this week, it's a major, so I don't put any more pressure on myself. The golf courses are obviously tougher at majors, but that's the only difference. And the media hypes it up a little bit more."

Watson then offered a postscript to his "major" dissertation.

"The Ryder Cup is the biggest deal that has ever happened to me, so hopefully I'm healthy at that point," Watson said. "That's the biggest honor because it means you've played good enough for a few years to make the top eight. It's going to be a big deal to wear my flag on my sleeve and wear the red, white and blue and play for our country, win or loss. I want to win more than anybody, but at the same time, making it there and playing for your country ... Hopefully I represent them in the best way."

You already have, Bubba, and I'm sure your Green Beret dad is mighty proud to hear such patriotic thoughts.

NORTON, Mass. _ No one likes to miss the cut in any golf tournament, especially a PGA Tour playoff event.

But a dejected, mono-toned J.J. Henry also sounded a bit relieved that he was headed home to Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday after having missed the cut in the Deutsche Bank Championship, ending his FedEx Cup playoff run for this year.

A missed 6-foot birdie try on his 17^th hole (the par-3 eighth at TPC Boston) on Saturday ultimately did in the Fairfield native and 2006 Buick (now Travelers) Championship winner. But bogeys on the easy first and fourth holes and a par on the par-5 second in swirling, gusting winds helped lead to a 4-over-par 75 and 36-hole total of even-par 144, one over what was needed to play Sunday and Monday.

"I don't really know what I'm going to do, but I might be done for the year," Henry said. "There's only five events in the Fall Series anyway, so I'm just going to spend some time with my family (wife Lee and sons Carson and Connor), work out a little bit to get into better shape and get ready for next year. I've done what I have to do."

What Henry did four weeks ago Sunday was shoot a closing 63 that tied the course record at Atunyote Golf Club to finish second in the Turning Stone Resort Championship, one stroke behind first-time tour winner Bill Lunde. That vaulted Henry to 61^st in the FedEx Cup standings, clinching spots in first two FedEx Cup playoff events, The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship.

After Turning Stone, Henry didn't play in the PGA Championship because he hadn't qualified, tied for for 34^th in the Wyndham Championship and finished 72^nd and last in The Barclays to drop to 82^nd in the FedEx standings. Missing his eighth cut in 27 starts this year assured Henry wouldn't be among the 70 to qualify for the BMW Championship, which begins Thursday at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in suburban Chicago.

Henry hasn't committed to any more tournaments - "I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow, let alone five weeks from now," he said, smiling - and is focused now on his annual charity tournament Sept. 19-20 for his Henry House Foundation in conjunction with the Ben Hogan Foundation. Six two-man teams of Texas-based PGA Tour players will compete, inclduing 2007 Travelers Championship winner and U.S. Ryder Cup member Hunter Mahan and Chad Campbell, who was disqualified from the Deutsche Bank Championship on Saturday for having failed to register for the tournament.

"There's a chance I might play the Viking Classic (Sept. 30-Oct. 3 in Jackson, Miss.) and one other (Fall Series event), but I really don't know for sure," said Henry, whose $1,035,688 this year has increased his career earnings to $10,620,735. "I might have had it for the year and just stay home with the family. But I'm not sure."

Did all the uncertainty stem from the frustration of missing a playoff event cut by a shot? Perhaps. But life is grand, especially in these bad recessional times, when your major concerns are family and helping others. Enjoy your time off, J.J., and see you in Mississippi in a few weeks - if you want.

NORTON, Mass. _ If you think two-time Travelers Championship winner Stewart Cink is worried about making his fifth consecutive Ryder Cup team, think again.

"I see the Ryder Cup as a reward," Cink said Saturday at TPC Boston.

Cink has enjoyed and endured plenty of the highs and lows of the spirited biennial competition against Europe, which will be contested again Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Wales.

Cink finished 14th in the Ryder Cup standings, six spots out of one of the eight automatic spots on captain Corey Pavin's team that will try to make it two in a row in four weeks.

But Cink, who also has qualified for four Presidents Cup teams, is considered a leading candidate to be one of Pavin's four picks to be announced Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in New York City.

Cink enhanced his chances again Saturday, shooting a 5-under-par 66 for a 36-hole total of 8-under 134 that vaulted him into a tie for eighth midway through the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second leg of the PGA Tour's playoffs for the FedEx Cup.

It was the 10th consecutive cut made for Cink, who began the week 42nd on the FedEx Cup points list and assured of a spot in next week's BMW Championship at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in suburban Chicago. And another strong finish could move Cink into the top 30 for the final playoff event, the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

The Ryder Cup is a week later, but Cink isn't looking anywhere near that far ahead.

"I run the risk of acting like I don't care because I'm going to sit here and say I'm not thinking about the Ryder Cup much," Cink said. "I'm more into what's going on with the FedEx Cup at the moment. I see the Ryder Cup as a reward. If I play really well and get Corey's attention, then he'll pick me, and that would be great.

"But that's why I consider it a reward. I can't control that. All I can control is what I do with my tee balls, my irons, my short game and my putts."

But has being one of the "bubble boys" been in the back of Cink's mind at all?

"I would love to be on the team, but, again, I don't play golf to try to get rewards," Cink said. "That's like saying I'm going to tee it up on Thursday to try to win the tournament. All you're going to do is set yourself up for failure.

"I've been on the bubble a lot of times for the Ryder Cup, the Presidents Cup and the Tour Championship. The bubble is no fun to be on. But I learned a long time ago -- in fact I learned about the first time I was on it when I failed -- that you're much better off just to focus on the task at hand that you can control and not on the goal thing."

Cink has only one top-10 finish in his current cuts made run (a tie for eighth in the Memorial), but a tie for 15th in The Barclays last week helped assure that he would be in at least two more playoff events.

Cink's 66 Saturday in gusting, swirling winds put him four behind co-leaders Jason Day (67) and Brandt Snedeker (64) and only enhanced his chances of being among Pavin's picks. Other leading contenders are Tiger Woods, whose 65 was his low round of the year and moved him into a tie for 29th at 137 and Zach Johnson (71-134, T8), with rookie Ricky Fowler (70-137, T29) and Lucas Glover (68-138, T36) considered longshots.

Anthony Kim, a standout in the U.S.'s victory two years, was a shoo-in for the team, but thumb surgery sidelined him for three months, and he finished ninth in the standings. Saturday, Kim missed his fourth consecutive cut (76-144) since returning for the PGA Championship.

If Cink is picked, the Travelers Championship would have four former winners, including the top three on the points list -- Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson, who won his first tour title in June. The other automatics, in order of finish, were Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar, whose grandparents live in Madison. They were followed by Kim, Glover, Johnson, Woods, Bo Van Pelt, Cink and Ben Crane.

But Cink insisted he felt no pressure to play well this week.

"I felt like I had to play well well to qualify for the team for a long time, and I didn't do it," Cink said. "I didn't qualify for the team, so I'll have to rely on hopefully a pick. I put myself in that position, and now I'm busy just trying to claw my way out of the hole I've dug myself to try and get back into the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup and get the world back in the proper position."

NORTON, Mass. _ Fairfield native J.J. Henry and Paul Goydos went it alone in the final group off the 10th tee Saturday in the second round of the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Henry and Goydos were suppose to play again with Chad Campbell, but Henry's buddy from Texas didn't make it to the tee.

In fact, Campbell shouldn't even have teed it Friday at TPC Boston.

Why? He should have been disqualifiered for failing to register for the second round of the PGA Tour playoffs for the FedEx Cup.

Campbell didn't learn of his disqualification until he arrived at the course Saturday morning after shooting a 1-over-par 72 in the first round.

"I just can't believe you can make a mistake like that," Campbell said. "I'm obviously disappointed that I'm not getting to play today, but that's the rules. That's the way it goes."

Campbell would have had improve on his 72 to make the cut, but not getting a chance was especially painful because he started the week 83rd on the FedEx Cup points list. The low 70 after the final round Monday advance to the third round of the playoffs, the BMW Championship at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in suburban Chicago.

"It would have been nice to go out there and play good and finish up the week prettty good and hopefully get into next week," Campbell said. "But that's the way it goes."

Campbell said he arrived in town Tuesday night but registering "just kind of slipped my mind."

But this wasn't the first time visiting registration slipped his mind.

"(The first time) was a little bit worse," Campbell said. "I went to Hawaii and didn't commit. It's starting to be a trend."

Henry said he didn't know what happened.

"I didn't see Chad and then heard he had been disqualified," said Henry, who shot 75 for 142 and missed the cut by a stroke, ending his FedEx Cup season.

Mark Russell, the tour's vice president of rules and competitions, wasn't happy that tour official Gary Young had to tell Campbell that he was out of the tournament.

"It's a sad thing," Russell said. "I'm not at all pleased with it. ... (But) it's an insurance thing (for liability). You've got to come in there and sign the application. The players sign it every week. It's a formality. You have to register. It's one of the things you have to do."

Russell said Campbell wasn't DQ'd before the first round because the error wasn't discovered until Friday night, when officials were going through the entry forms.

As it turned out, if Campbell had only played a practice round or lied, he could have continued to play in the tournament. Russell said it was "not cool" not to register before a practice round, but once a player has teed off in the competition, he can't play in the tournament.

"We have (a checkoff), and he should have (been checked off) if he had registered, but I don't know what happened," Russell said. "Once again, they didn't find his registration form, and we went and asked him if he registered. I was hoping he'd say, 'Absolutely, I registered.' Then we'd just have him sign another one.

"If he would have told a lie, we would have gone with him. ... I'm just kidding. He's an honest guy, and we went to him and asked him, and I was thinking the whole time that he did register, that they just misplaced (the form). But once he thought about it, he said, "You know, I did not do