Golf

19th hole

By BOB HARIG
Published October 26, 2006

Divots

Fighting skin cancer: Two-time PGA Tour winner Steve Flesch, who was diagnosed and treated for actinic keratoses - precancerous skin legions caused by sun exposure - is part of an awareness campaign called Tee Off Against AKs. He appeared Tuesday at the Dermik Sponsorship Tent, which is located behind the 18th green at the Chrysler Championship. As part of the awareness campaign, free cancer screenings are being offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day of the tournament. "Like most golfers, I was more focused on my swing than my skin," Flesch, 39, said. "Given the amount of time I spend outdoors, I was fortunate that my AKs were detected and treated before they led to skin cancer."

Nike golf days: Fans at the Chrysler on Friday and Saturday can take part in Nike's Tech Van Tour, located at the driving range across from Copperhead's 14th green. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., club-fitters will fit golfers with clubs to their specifications, with Nike's full line of clubs available for testing. There will be other product demonstrations and prizes. For more information, call (727) 224-0888.

Quotable

"The mind is a very scary beast at times. If you haven't won in a long time, you go from tunnel vision to spray vision. When you start thinking, 'Don't hit it here, don't hit it here,' that's when you get in trouble. I was trying to be cognizant of not thinking that way." - Joe Durant, who won the Funai Classic Sunday, his first victory in five years

Stat of the week

In four weeks, Troy Matteson has gone from 172nd to 42nd on the money list by finishing tied for eighth, tied for sixth, winning then tying for second Sunday at the Funai Classic. He enters the Chrysler Championship with 11 consecutive subpar rounds.

[Last modified October 26, 2006, 02:40:21]