Golf

Tourney takes a break for hurricane concerns

By BOB HARIG
Published October 6, 2005

While the American Express Championship takes place this weekend in San Francisco, another PGA Tour event scheduled to begin today is on hold. And for good reason.

The Southern Farm Bureau Classic in Madison, Miss., will wait a month to give tournament officials and area fans and volunteers more time to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

In a bit of irony, the tournament's title sponsor has been quite busy tending to its policy holders.

"We felt like we had to buy some time," tournament director Robert Morgan said Wednesday. "I sure am glad I'm not playing this week. The course is ready, it's in good shape. It's just the whole mental attitude of people. We are just so inundated. Everybody is tired and overworked. I just don't think, psychologically, the people in this area are ready to support a golf tournament. And buying the extra 30 days is going to make all the difference in the world."

The tournament will be played Nov. 3-6, the same weekend as the Tour Championship, which is for the top 30 money winners. Instead of the Chrysler Championship being the final full-field event of the year, the Farm Bureau tournament will get that distinction.

The new date is not a problem, as the tournament used to occupy that spot. And while the thought of canceling crossed Morgan's mind in Katrina's aftermath, he said a lot of good can come from playing.

"To cancel would be worse PR than playing it," Morgan said. "I feel like we can do some substantial good as far as hurricane relief and recovery. Our goal is to contribute $500,000.

"We're a charity organization. We don't just duck and run when a crisis arises. We're supposed to help people. We're hard-headed and determined enough that we are going to make it work."

ADDING A SPOT: The 21st finisher on the Nationwide Tour money list will earn a 2006 PGA Tour card. The PGA Tour Policy Board decided to extend the number from 20 to 21 because of Jason Gore, who earned a promotion to the PGA Tour by winning three times, then earned a different PGA Tour exemption by winning the 84 Lumber Classic. That meant his spot via the Nationwide Tour was voided. Hence, the policy board approved an additional spot for this year. That's good news for Belleair's Greg Kraft, who currently occupies the 21st position.

GETTING HOT: There is always hope in golf and Jason Bohn is proof. Heading into the B.C. Open in July, Bohn was 145th on the PGA Tour money list. He then won the tournament. He added a second at the Deutsche Bank Championship and a tie for third last weekend at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro. He is now 23rd on the money list.

ALL-AROUND GOOD GOLF: Some of the statistics in golf can be misleading, but that apparently is not the case with the PGA Tour's "All-Around" category, which combines eight stats: driving distance, driving accuracy, greens in regulation, putting average, eagles (per hole), birdie average, scoring average and sand save percentage. Tiger Woods is No.1 in the all-around category and leads the money list. Vijay Singh is second and is second on the money list. David Toms is fourth and is fourth on the money list. Jim Furyk is five on both lists. Phil Mickelson is sixth in all-around and third on the money list.

CHRYSLER COMMITMENTS: The Oct. 27-30 PGA Tour event at Innisbrook has added Stuart Appleby, Fred Funk, Jeff Maggert and Singh to its list. Singh was expected all along as he is the tournament's defending champion. Former major championship winners Rich Beem, Mark Brooks, Ben Curtis, Furyk, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen, Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Shaun Micheel, Nick Price, Jeff Sluman and Bob Tway also committed. For ticket information, call 727 942-5566 or visit www.chryslerchampionship.com

LOCALLY: The Fifth Annual Hospitality Golf Classic, a four-person scramble, is today at Bardmoor Golf Club in Largo. Spots are $125 per person. The tournament benefits St. Petersburg College's Hospitality and Tourism students. For information, call (727) 392-1234. ... The Breast & Prostate Cancer Charity Golf Tournament will be Nov.7 at the Weston Innisbrook Resort's Island course. There will be an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Individual spots include a cocktail reception, breakfast, lunch and gift package for $225. For information, call (727) 939-3885.

[Last modified October 6, 2005, 01:14:18]