News from Oaklands
Els is a winner without winning
ERNIE ELS has never won the US PGA . . . but the tournament has proven to be something of a cash cow for the South African
He has the most career earnings in the championship without winning.
And with four top-10s and eighth top-25s to his name, Els moved passed the $1.4 million (€940,000) mark after making it to another pay-day this year.
54-HOLE leaders to win the US PGA (since 2000) 2007 - Tiger Woods (Led by three over Stephen Ames, won by two over Woody Austin) 2006 - Tiger Woods (Tied with Luke Donald, won by five over Shaun Micheel) 2005 - Phil Mickelson (Tied with Davis Love, won by one over Steve Elkington, Thomas Bjorn) 2004 - Vijay Singh (Led by one over Justin Leonard, won in play-off over Leonard and Chris DiMarco) 2003 - Shaun Micheel (Tied with Chad Campbell, won by two over Campbell) 2001 - David Toms (Led by two over Phil Mickelson, won by one over Mickelson) 2000 - Tiger Woods (Led by one over Scott Dunlap, Bob May; won in play-off over May).
Harrington can sleep easy
PADRAIG HARRINGTON doesn't find it hard to sleep, apparently.
After completing his third round yesterday, the Dubliner headed back to his rental home some two miles from the golf course to grab a few hours sleep before returning for the final round.
It was far more comfortable than his place of rest during Saturday's rain delay and subsequent suspension of play, where the British Open champion grabbed forty winks on the floor of the player's locker-room.
What did he use as a pillow?
"Nothing, just lay on the floor . . . I've always been pretty good at sleeping," he remarked.
Down the line . . . Tickets for the 2009 US PGA Championship at Hazeltine in Minnesota next year - August 13th-16th - are available on www.pga2009.com with two different packages available, including the Wanamaker ticket packages ($425 each, €284) and season ticket packages ($300 each, €200). Both packages include access to all seven days (practice rounds and tournament) with individual transferable tickets for each day of the event, parking and a copy of the official programme.
Azinger knows exactly how fringe
US RYDER Cup captain Paul Azinger felt sympathy for players on the fringes of his team who attempted to seal their spots for Valhalla next month. "It's the hardest course I've ever played," said Azinger, a player competing in his 66th major and who has competed in five Ryder Cup matches and two President Cup encounters.
Azinger plans to announce his four wild-card picks for the Ryder Cup at a conference in New York on September 2nd, two days after the European team is confirmed. The US qualifying race - with the top eight in the list - finished with the US PGA. However, players who struggled at Oakland Hills haven't forsaken their chances of making the team, according to Azinger. "It doesn't mean anything. This isn't the Ryder Cup week. We have three weeks to go and I want a guy who is confident . . . and if the guy's confidence is shattered when he left here, join the club."
Azinger - the first US Ryder Cup captain since Tom Kite in 1997 to make the cut in a PGA the year of the match - plans on keeping tabs on players who missed out on an automatic spot by keeping "unofficial" rankings going through the first two of the FedEx Cup tournaments, the Barclays Classic and the Deutsche Bank championship.
The choice of venue for Azinger's picks is interesting. He has chosen the Martinique Hotel in Manhattan, where the PGA was founded in 1916. A commemorative plaque will be unveiled and enshrined on the outside walls of the hotel, after the announcement of his four players.
