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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 17, 2002
HIGH RANKING: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater came off looking pretty good in Golf Digest's ranking of the best metropolitan areas in the country for golf. Having ranked 314 metropolitan statistical areas based on population, average cost, places to play, rankings and access, plus adding a weather modifier, the magazine put the Tampa Bay area 77th. Then, acknowledging that it's tough to compete against the little guys, Golf Digest went further. It pitted cities of 2-million plus against each other. In that rating, Tampa Bay was third, behind Phoenix-Mesa and Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif. Topping the overall list in the November issue of the magazine is Jamestown, N.Y. Coming in last at 314? Jersey City, N.J.
SPONSOR WOES: Could this be the last golf tournament at Disney World? The tournament that begins today at the Walt Disney World Resort has been here as long as Mickey and Minnie. Now in its 32nd year, the tournament kicked off the same year the resort opened in 1971. But it has had trouble finding a title sponsor to replace National Car Rental, which last year filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and failed to deliver its sponsorship fees. So the tournament is in the second year of going alone, although it is said to be talking to several suitors. The tournament is scheduled to be played a week before next year's Chrysler Championship at Innisbrook.
DRIVE FOR SHOW?: Players seem to hit the ball farther, but it doesn't necessarily translate to victories. Of the top 50 players this year on the PGA Tour in driving distance, just seven have won tournaments. And only three in the top 10 have won tournaments: Tiger Woods, Chris Riley and Charles Howell. Meanwhile, 17 of the top 50 in the tour's scrambling statistic, which tracks getting up and down for par, have won tournaments, while 15 in the top 50 in putting statistics have won tournaments.