Golf

The 19th hole

By BOB HARIG
Published August 18, 2005

DIVOTS

Looking for karma: Before hitting his second shot to the par-5 18th hole at Baltusrol Monday, Phil Mickelson walked several yards ahead and tapped his 3-wood on a plaque in the fairway for good luck. The plaque, approximately 240 yards from the green, commemorates Jack Nicklaus' 1-iron from that spot during the final round of the 1967 U.S. Open. Nicklaus played his third shot from there - he had driven into the rough and chipped out - then sank the birdie putt to break Ben Hogan's U.S. Open scoring record, finishing at 275. Nicklaus would lower the record to 272 at Baltusrol in 1980.

Too many clubs: Tom Cotter admits to buying about 20 sets of new irons a year. He said he spent more than $42,000 on golf equipment in 2004 alone. "I get bored and playing with a new set keeps it exciting," Cotter, 60, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "I told myself this had to stop, I had to quit doing this, but I can't help myself." At one time the recreational golfer's home in Plantation housed 16 sets of irons, 30 drivers, 30 fairway woods, 50 putters, 100 wedges and 10 staff bags. Cotter said he sells a good deal of the used equipment to recoup some of his original investment.

"There's no moral victory for coming in second in this major. If anyone can tell me who was runnerup in any major, I'll give you a hundred dollars. Nobody remembers you but family and friends."

- Steve Elkington, after finishing second at the PGA Championship.

With his victory at the PGA Championship, Phil Mickelson joined Tiger Woods as the only players to win major championships in consecutive years since Nick Faldo in 1989-90. Woods won majors in each year from 1999-2002.

[Last modified August 18, 2005, 01:05:19]