Golf

19th hole

By BOB HARIG
Published October 5, 2006

Divots

Even the King must pay: Arnold Palmer recently made his first trip to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon, by many accounts one of the most remarkable U.S. settings for a course. But either the pro shop attendant had a brain lock or Bandon Dunes does not play favorites, because Arnie was asked how he would be taking care of payment for his round. "That's the first time I've paid to play golf since I was 17," Palmer quipped.

Bad bet: A $460,000-plus wager was made on a U.S. Ryder Cup win at the K Club, according to British bookmaker William Hill. Betting is legal in the United Kingdom. "The biggest (bet) we or anyone else have ever taken on a golf event, let alone the Ryder Cup," William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe told Reuters. Since the European team was a 5-to-6 favorite, the bet would have paid $558,000 had the U.S. team won.

Quotable

"Let's just try and get there. Let's talk about that day if it ever happens. That would be a nice thing to talk about."

- TIGER WOODS, after his victory Sunday at the American Express Championship, trying to downplay talk of matching Byron Nelson's record of 11 in a row. Woods has won six.

Stat of the week

Woods became the first in PGA Tour history to win eight or more times in three seasons:1999 (eight), 2000 (nine), 2006 (eight).

[Last modified October 5, 2006, 02:13:14]