Times staff, wires
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Nicklaus: Major faith in Tiger still
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Jack Nicklaus still doubts his lead in career Grand Slam titles will last. He figures it's a matter of time before Tiger Woods' slump ends. Woods hasn't won a tournament since his personal life imploded in November 2009, and he has stalled at 14 major titles, four shy of Nicklaus' record. "I still think he'll break my record," Nicklaus, 71, said Wednesday before playing a round in the Honda Classic pro-am. "I'm surprised that he has not bounced back by now. He's got such a great work ethic. He's so determined to what he wants to do." Nicklaus said he hasn't talked to Woods since June, and that conversation was brief. "He got maybe off the track, but I think he's really a principled kid," Nicklaus said. "Did he have some wayward … ? Yes. But are we all perfect? No." Woods isn't playing in the Honda Classic; he hasn't since 1993. Last week he was ousted in the first round of the WGC-Match Play Championship, and he has failed to crack the top 20 in his three tournaments this year.
Florida swing
The PGA Tour makes its march through Florida beginning this week with the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens. That will be followed by the World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship in Miami, the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor and the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando. Woods will start his Florida swing by playing in next week's WGC event. He is a six-time winner of the tournament. Expect Woods to skip the Transitions Championship on March 17-20 and play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 24-27.
Transitions adds
The Transitions Championship on March 17-20 at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor continues to fill out its field. Former Tampa resident Woody Austin is in on a sponsor's exemption. Past champions Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, Sean O'Hair, Mark Calcavecchia, K.J. Choi and Retief Goosen are returning. Also in on a sponsor's exemption is Oklahoma State junior Peter Uihlein, a former winner of St. Petersburg Country Club's New Year's Invitational.
A gift of life
Beth Allen, a relatively unknown American who plays in Europe, will be out of action for a few months after donating a kidney to her brother Dan. The surgery was Tuesday; both are recovering. Dan Allen, 38, has had daily dialysis for the past five years since a kidney he received in a transplant a dozen years ago began failing. The kidney from Beth, 29, could extend his life for a dozen years.
Members wanted
The annual membership event for the Tampa Bay chapter of the Executive Women's Golf Association is 6 p.m. March 22 at the Tampa Club in Tampa. The group is open to women interested in learning about golf events, leagues and social functions. Register at ewgatampabay.org; click on "Events." Deadline to register for the event is March 18.
This week on tour
PGA: Honda Classic, PGA National Resort and Spa, Palm Beach Gardens. TV: Today-Friday, 3 p.m., Golf Channel; Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m., Golf Channel, and 3 p.m., Ch. 8
Nationwide: Bogota Open, Bogota (Colombia) Country Club
Times staff, wires