By BOB HARIG, Times Staff Writer
Published July 7, 2005
DIVOTS
COLLECTOR'S ITEM: To honor Jack Nicklaus in his final British Open appearance, the Royal Bank of Scotland will place the Golden Bear's image on a 5-pound note (about $9) to be distributed as legitimate currency throughout the United Kingdom. Nicklaus will become the first living person outside the Royal Family to be on a piece of British currency. The note will feature Nicklaus' image from his final Open victory in 1978 at St. Andrews. The notes will be issued next week, with more than 2-million put into circulation. "I was just very, very flattered," Nicklaus said. "It's a great honor."
BIG STAKES: The inaugural Big Stakes Match Play Golf tournament didn't attract the number of teams originally sought, but organizers were pleased enough with the initial offering that they will try again in 2006. The team competition will again offer a winner's check of $3-million. It will be played May 20-28 in Mesquite, Nev., with a $100,000 entry per team. A team must win two matches to recoup its investment. There is also a consolation bracket. Organizers are hoping for 128 teams. The event is open to all players of all levels, except tour pros who have had full privileges on any of the major tours in the past three years. For information, visit www.bigstakesgolf.com
QUOTABLE
"All the debate, all the words that are written - no one can really understand what it's like to do what Thomas has done and what I have done. You have to have been in that situation."
- JEAN VAN DE VELDE, Commenting on Thomas Bjorn hitting three balls in the water at the 17th hole on Sunday of the European Open, a week after Van de Velde lost the French Open after hitting a ball in the water at the 18th to lose in a playoff.
STAT OF THE WEEK
Ben Curtis (third) and Shaun Micheel (tied for seventh) both posted their best finishes at the Western Open since winning back-to-back major championships, the British Open and PGA Championship, in 2003.
