Editor's Weekly Word

With just four tournaments left on the PGA Tour official schedule, it's all about the money - the PGA Tour Money List to be more precise. Two races are under way at opposite ends of the scale over the next three weeks. At the top, we have a race over the next three events to get into the top 30 as that is the qualification criteria for the prestigious TOUR Championship which brings the season to a close in the first week of November. Currently in 30th position is Kenny Perry with $1,714,643 but it is likely that players will need to pass, or at least be very close to, the $2million mark to qualify.

The field for the TOUR Championship could be extended to 31 players for the second consecutive year as Padraig Harrington looks certain to follow in the footsteps of Darren Clarke whose non-member earnings at PGA Tour events and his earnings at WGC events in 2003 totalled more than the official earnings of K.J. Choi who qualified in 30th place. Harrington already has PGA Tour and WGC earnings of $2,199,866 in 2004.

At the other end of the money list there is no interest in the TOUR Championship. The next three weeks are about survival, as we have a race to get into the top 125 and secure a card to play on the PGA Tour throughout 2005. Last year's 125th place was held by Esteban Toledo with earnings of $487,495 but that amount would currently rank 133rd on this year's list. With three tournaments remaining, Mark Calcavecchia holds 125th place with $545,959 so it is unlikely that many players who earn less than $600,000 will gain exempt status from their money list position. Who will find their form in time to save their card? We'll find out this week at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro and after that at the Funai Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort and the Chrysler Championship. With the last two events being held in Florida, let's hope that hurricane season is really over for this year!

Have a good week.

Regards

Andy Smith
Founder/Editor
www.golfing-weekly.com

Michelin Championship at Las Vegas - Tournament Report

PGA Tour rookie, Australia's Andre Stolz posted a five under par finishing round of 67 on Sunday to clinch the Michelin Championship title by one shot from Tag Ridings, Harrison Frazar and overnight leader, Tom Lehman. Stolz, who gained his first PGA Tour card by finishing 13th on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2003, had had a poor season up to last week but four rounds in the sixties in Las Vegas secured victory and his card for the next two years. Although this was his first win on the PGA Tour, 34 year old Stolz was able to call on his experiences of winning on the Nationwide Tour, Japan Tour and three times on the Australian Tour.

Tom Lehman, who started the day with a one stroke lead, was looking to end a four year title drought but was unable to get his putter going at TPC at Summerlin on Sunday, making four bogeys in a final round 69 to finish with a share of the runner up spot.

Alongside Lehman in second place was Tag Ridings who carded an eleven under par round of 61 to match the course record. Playing on Tour this year with a major medical exemption after a back and shoulder injury cut short his 2003 rookie season, Ridings is coming to form just in time to give himself a chance to retain his card for 2005. He finished tied 13th on his previous start at the 84 Lumber Classic and currently stands 136th on the money list with $482,437. If he puts in another performance like last week before the end of the season he will have no trouble getting into the top 125 earners for the year.

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Michelin Championship at Las Vegas - Results

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PGA Tour Money List

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Dunhill Links Championship - Tournament Report

Scotsman Stephen Gallacher, nephew of former European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher, won his first European Tour title at St. Andrews on Sunday. On the first hole of a sudden death playoff against Graeme McDowell, Gallacher pitched his second shot within three feet of the flag and sank the birdie putt for victory. McDowell, playing out of a divot, put his approach into the stream guarding the front of the green and ended up with a bogey.

England's young guns are still blazing. Ian Poulter and overnight leader, Luke Donald both missed the playoff by one shot and shared third place, two strokes ahead of their Ryder Cup team-mates, Lee Westwood and David Howell who tied for fifth.

The tournament also had a Pro-Am competition which was won by Fred Couples and New Zealand businessman, Craig Heatley with a combined total of 37 under par over the four days. Better known for his acting than his golf, Samuel L. Jackson, partnered by David Howell, finished seventh on minus 30.

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Dunhill Links Championship - Results

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Volvo Order Of Merit

Earnings on the European Tour are paid in Euros. The equivalent value in US$ is for information purposes only and was calculated at the rate which was current at time of publishing. Earnings from the majors are included in both the European & PGA Tour Money Lists.

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Asahi Ryokuken International Championship - Tournament Report

Sweden's Liselotte Neumann beat Grace Park by three shots to claim her 13th LPGA Tour victory and put an end to her winless streak dating back to 1998.

Cristie Kerr earned $23,672 for her tied eighth place finish which pushed her over the $1million mark for the season.

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Asahi Ryokuken International Championship - Results

Par 72 - 6,366 yards

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ADT Money List

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Champions Tour - Administaff Small Business Classic

Larry Nelson made up a seven shot deficit on the final day to earn a place in a playoff with Hale Irwin who he beat with a birdie at the first extra hole. This was Nelson's 19th victory on the Champions Tour and his second of the 2004 season, both of them coming in Texas.

With Craig Stadler (T28) failing to make the top ten, Irwin's second consecutive runner-up finish returned him to the top of the Charles Schwab Cup points race but he leads by just one point over Stadler, who still heads the Champions Tour money list. The pair are almost a thousand points clear of Tom Kite in third place. A $1million annuity is awarded to the winner. There are just two events left, this week's SBC Championship and the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship (triple points to top ten finishers) which is only open to the top 30 players on the Champions Tour money list.

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Administaff Small Business Classic - Results

Par 72 - 7,006 yards

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Champions Tour Money List

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"Off the Cart Path" - weekly cartoon strip by Roy Doty

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Official World Golf Rankings

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