Chopra Wins On Fourth Extra Hole; Rory's Shin Splints Apparently Better But He Won't Say

Mark Lamport-Stokes reports on Chopra's exciting win that gets him in the Masters.

Meanwhile, AP's Doug Ferguson tried to talk to Rory Sabbatini to find out if he would be returning his Target World Challenge last place check after his suspicious WD.

"I'm done talking to you guys," he said.

Well, you really aren't since you said something.

Approached a few minutes later at his locker, Sabbatini said, "I have nothing to say."

Not even about his change in golf equipment?

"I'll let my clubs do the talking," he said.

Good get by the Adams people! 

"To relive this historic season..."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2007
NBC Sports Special PGA TOUR 2007: A New Era in Golf Highlights Successful Debut of FedExCup and Playoffs

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL– It was perceived as a particularly bold concept for such a tradition-steeped sport, and not necessarily one that was universally embraced when it was first introduced.

Oh but now...

But by the time the PGA TOUR’s season-long FedExCup competition had finished its inaugural run, and Tiger Woods had emerged as champion following a compelling run through the TOUR’s first-ever Playoffs, it was widely deemed a significant success.

And now, we get to relive all of the points permutations?

The introduction of the FedExCup with a restructured schedule, and the ensuing drama that unfolded throughout the season, is documented in PGA TOUR 2007: A New Era in Golf, an NBC Sports special that airs on Sunday, December 30, at 3 p.m. ET.

"The tournaments on our Tours have vividly demonstrated that giving back is the heart of the PGA TOUR"

Tim Finchem announced $123 million in in contributions, up from $114 mill. Maybe we could spend a little on getting him a better press release quote maker-upper? Then again, he is giving nearly all of the credit to the people who do the hard work, which is admirable.

“Once again this year, the tournaments on our Tours have vividly demonstrated that giving back is the heart of the PGA TOUR,” Finchem said. “This tremendous accomplishment underscores the vital roles that our tournaments play in their communities.  Our players, sponsors, tournament organizations, and volunteers and fans can all take pride in their role in ensuring that ours is a sport that leaves each of our communities better off for the presence of one of our events.

“The important thing about this effort is that it helps people,” Finchem said.  “We also take note of the total impact, and when we surpassed the $1 billion mark in all-time charitable giving in 2005, we noted that that it had taken 67 years to reach that total and that we could reasonably expect to achieve the second billion in only 10 years. It’s extremely gratifying to find out that we are well ahead of that pace, and now expect to achieve it within only seven or eight years.”

These tallies are most impressive:

Among other significant developments was the new record established by The Presidents Cup, which reached a high mark of $4.2 million in donations from the biennial event.

On the Nationwide Tour, both the Albertsons Boise Open presented by First Health and the BMW Charity Pro-Am generated more than $2 million. Numerous Champions Tour events exceeded previous high levels of charitable giving, led by contributions of approximately $1.3 million from both the Toshiba Classic and the 3M Championship. In total, both the Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour achieved charitable giving records.

Stricker Needs To Win Grand Slam To Have Any Hope Of Claiming Third Straight Comeback Player Award

In a numbing, at times painful embarrassing session with the pen pushers in Sherwood's drafty cart barn, Steve Stricker kindly addressed some truly dreadful conference call questions while trying to explain his mysterious ability to win back-to-back comeback player of the year awards:

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah, thanks. It is an honor, and to win this for the second straight year, I don't know how I did it, but it is an honor to be voted by your peers. Like Joe and I were talking about, we don't know if the award has the correct name or not. I mean, I won this last year, and I don't know what I did to deserve it again this year. But it is, it's a nice award, and I am honored.

Q. Do you think you can win this a third year in a row?

STEVE STRICKER: I don't know, I was thinking about what I would have to do to win this three years in a row, and usually you have to have a better year than last year. I don't know if I'd be out of this ballot and maybe be on the Player of the Year ballot, which would be nice.

18 Hole Year In Review

Doug Ferguson puts a new twist on the year-in-review story, taking us through 18 key holes.

Ames Win Ensures Another Year Of Calls To Put Skins Game Out Of Its Misery

I almost feel sorry for the folks running the Skins. Almost. But this is clearly punishment for exempting the Players Championship The PLAYERS winner two years ago.

Couples Rakes In $75K On Skins Day One; Equals Interest Earned This Week On His PGA Tour Retirement Account

I believe the coverage was pre-empted by fire coverage here in Southern California, but I'm not entirely sure because I forgot to turn it on. However, Freddie picked up some nice tip money.

More Boo From China

After round 2 of the World Cup, more from Boo Weekley...

Q. You've been to a couple tournaments outside of the U.S. this year already, this is your third event outside the U.S., and now the season is over on the U.S. Tour. Would you like to come out more, especially after this experience in China, maybe this part of the world? Would you like to come out this way and play more events this year or maybe in the future?

BOO WEEKLEY: Yes, I like to travel. It's just a long ways from home. But you know, I'd like to come over and play different golf courses. I'd like to see a little more of what the actual culture of how they built the courses -- I know they all ain't like this out here. It would be interesting to go see something more of a links style or something that they had them over here.

Q. What about outside the golf course, would you like to see more?

BOO WEEKLEY: Oh, yeah. I'd like to go see where like The Great Wall, just look and see what all this place has to offer. You know, just kind of like you live in the south where we live at, you know, it's a bunch of rednecks. And then you go north, you got the Yankees. So it's different. I know it's different over here, too.

Johnson Arrives At Skins Game; No One Mistakes Him For Club Company Rep...Yet

The excitement appears fully contained for the 25th Skins. I'd list the TV times, but do you really care?

"The players are open to something that's new and exciting and fun."

In Golf World's year-end "newsmakers" issue, I pitch an alternate scenario the PGA Tour should consider for the conclusion to the FedEx Cup. Granted, I'm simply advocating that they adopt an ADT Championship-like format for the finale.

Based on some of the post ADT comments here and here, I think some of you would agree. But, I'd still love to hear what you all think even though we've probably covered the FedEx Cup enough!

Oh and on the ADT front, Craig Dolch reports that no major changes are in order. And why should they be?

Fresh Off Comeback Player Award, Stricker On Ballot Again!?

I guess if you can reclaim your amateur status twice, why not have a comeback award worthy year after a comeback award worthy year?

Doug Ferguson says Stricker is on the player ballot again.

"But while equipment advances are nominal at the pro level, there are still gains to be had by the rest of us choppers."

E. Michael Johnson belts out another howler of a Golf World equipment column with his jubilation at the news of driving distance going down. It's fascinating how his normally even-keeled weekly roundout of what guys have in the bag becomes so emotional on the subject of distance.

After listing the driving distance number, he reports this vital news:

Scoring also is stable.

Whew! That's a relief. Especially since the number is jigged around with more than...oh I better not say.

Though the scoring average of 70.83 marks the first time it has dipped below 71, over the last five years the average on the PGA Tour has been 71.03, and over the past 10 years 71.10. From 1988 to 1997 it was 71.17. So the last 10 years have seen an improvement of a quarter-stroke per four rounds over the previous 10. Hardly cause for concern.

Because after all it's such an unadjusted number!

I know, I know. Courses are longer, pins are in insane positions, etc., etc. So? Pro golf is not a game. It is a sport. As such, it should be difficult, and the achievements of those playing it for a living are far superior to those of us who don't. The only courses that need to be lengthened are the 55 used for PGA Tour events. Any other venue doing so is just wasting open space.

Oh that'll really happen. Can those PGA Tour courses bill the manufacturers for the expense incurred?

I didn't think so.

Hey, and now a word from our sponsors...

But while equipment advances are nominal at the pro level, there are still gains to be had by the rest of us choppers. How much? Find a launch monitor that not only spits out launch conditions, but also reveals the optimum given your current swing speed. Odds are there's more than 20 yards you're not getting. Isn't that the only statistic you should be interested in?

Shop 'til ya drop!