Times wires
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Babe Zaharias turning 100
Tampa's Babe Zaharias Golf Course celebrates its 100th year on June 25 with a variety of events: four-person scrambles at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m; live entertainment; and a putting contest for kids. The tournaments require registration. Call (813) 631-4374 for details.
'Thanks, Tiger'
Michael Whitehead was still getting over the sting of failing to qualify for the U.S. Open (finishing third in a playoff in which the top two moved on) when his phone rang on Tuesday. The news took a little while to digest. Tiger Woods had withdrawn due to injury. Would he like to play? "It's kind of surreal," said Whitehead, 23, who just graduated from Rice. "I said, 'Um, yes.' So 'Thanks, Tiger.' I guess I'm glad he was listening to his doctors."
Looking south
The PGA Tour has been spending a lot of time in South America and not just because of golf's Olympic return in 2016 in Brazil. For the past 18 months, officials have been meeting with federations of several countries with hopes of starting a PGA Tour-branded circuit in South America, Latin America and the Caribbean. It would help develop talent and provide another avenue for a player to find his way to the big leagues. Think of it as a tour that would be one step below the Nationwide Tour. And while there remain significant details to work out — finding a sponsor, the number of tournaments, player eligibility — the plan is to begin as early as 2012. "If you look at the top 500 in the World Ranking, only 14 players are from South America, and eight of those come from Argentina," said Ty Votaw, executive vice president of international affairs who is spearheading the Olympic effort for the Tour. "It's a part of the world where the development of elite players is something that we see as being an opportunity."
This week on Tour
PGA: St. Jude Classic, TPC Southwind, Memphis. TV: Today-Friday: 3 p.m., Golf Channel; Saturday-Sunday: 3 p.m., Ch. 10
LPGA: State Farm Classic, Panther Creek Country Club, Springfield, Ill. TV: Today-Saturday: 6:30 p.m., Sunday: 7 p.m., Golf Channel
Champions: Greater Hickory Classic, Rock Barn Golf and Spa, Conover, N.C. TV: Friday: 12:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m., Golf Channel
PGA Europe: Italian Open, Royal Park, Turin, Italy. TV: Today-Friday: 9 a.m., Saturday-Sunday: 8:30 a.m., Golf Channel
Times wires