US TOUR: Tom Pernice Jr has spoken out strongly on Tiger Woods' absence from the season-ending Tour Championship, describing his decision to snub the event as a "disgrace".
"I think it's a disgrace," journeyman Tom Pernice Jr told Golf World magazine. "It's a slap in the face to (presenting sponsor) Coca-Cola and the tour. He wouldn't make the money he makes if it wasn't for the PGA Tour.
"At some point, there is a credibility as to what's inside you as a person. There is a responsibility and an obligation to the people who helped make you who you are."
Woods decided to skip the event to "recharge" his batteries after an arduous recent schedule that included three consecutive weeks in Europe.
He heads to Asia next week for tournaments in China and Japan - contracts that were signed long ago, before he decided he needed a rest.
This was not the first time Pernice has taken a shot at Woods. At last year's Ford Championship at Doral, he requested that Woods' driver be tested to ascertain whether it was legal.
Pernice is also good friends with Vijay Singh, whose relationship with Woods is chilly, at best.
EUROPEAN TOUR: Philip Walton was the only Irish competitor to survive the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain at the weekend.
The man who clinched the Ryder Cup for Europe at Oak Hill in 1995 rediscovered some of that old magic at Emporda Golf Club in Spain with a dazzling last round 65 to keep alive his hopes of regaining his European Tour card in 2007.
The 44-year-old, a professional since 1983, hauled himself up into a share of 10th place behind Swede Magnus A Carlsson to claim one of the 20 places available at the venue.
Walton, in common with all the 79 qualifiers from the four Spanish venues, will contest the Final Stage at San Roque Club from next Friday.
Colm Moriarty was the best-placed of the 12 Irishmen going into Saturday's final round, but he crashed to 76 at Sherry Golf to miss out by three shots.
American Notah Begay, a winner on the US PGA Tour, survived after a play-off at Costa Ballena as seven players played off for four places.
