sept19 Opens asked to use FedEx Cup

The PGA Tour earned a small victory when the Masters agreed to offer invitations to the top 30 in the final FedEx Cup standings, along with the top 30 from the final money list.

Whether the U.S. Open and British Open follow suit remains to be seen.

The U.S. Open exempts the top 30 from the money list, while the British Open exempts the top 20. The tour recently sent letters to both organisations asking the money list and FedEx Cup standings be used, believing that it would strengthen both fields.

“Discussions are ongoing,” said Andy Pazder, the tour’s vice president of competition.

The FedEx Cup standings were frozen after the Tour Championship, but the money list resumes this week at the Turning Stone Resort Championship and will not be final until the Disney Classic ends Nov. 4. Someone who is 90th on the money list could win Turning Stone this week and move into the top 30.

USGA executive director David Fay said he expects a decision at the October meeting of the championship committee. When contacted Tuesday morning, he happened to be studying the FedEx Cup standings and money list in the newspaper.

“One thing that drives us perhaps more than the other events is the number of entries we have,” Fay said. “We expect 9,000 to 10,000 for the next few years. How we philosophically look at the Open is we like to have 50 percent come to the field by qualifying.”

At Oakmont, 54 percent of the U.S. Open field came through qualifying, while 20 players qualified exclusively by their finish on the 2007 money list.

“One can assume we’re not looking to add exempt players,” Fay said.

Royal & Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson was in a meeting Tuesday afternoon and could not be reached for comment. The R&A previously has shown support of the PGA Tour by offering a three-year exemption for The Players Championship winner. The U.S. Open and PGA Championship has offered only a one-year exemption.

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DRUG POLICY: The PGA Tour will make it official this week that it will have a drug policy in 2008.

Golf has been under increasing pressure to come up with a policy against performance-enhancing drugs, and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said earlier this year that while there is no evidence of steroids, drug testing in sports has become a reality and it was prudent for all golf organisations to deal with them collectively.

“I think we’re at a point where to maintain confidence in the public and the fans, we have to take this step, even though there’s great speculation about the extent to which substances can help you in this game,” Finchem said two weeks ago in Boston.

A conference call to discuss the policy was planned as early as Thursday, although it was not clear what Finchem would announce. He has said any policy would start with an education plan and a list of banned substances, although testing might not begin until at least the second half of next year.

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TIGER AWARDS: Tiger Woods won’t play for money until the Target World Challenge in December, and even that doesn’t count as official. But he already has wrapped up a couple of awards.

He officially won the Arnold Palmer Award for leading the PGA Tour money list when Phil Mickelson did not enter the Turning Stone Resort Championship. Even though Lefty only plans to play once in the Fall Series, even if he were to play the last five and win them all, he still would be more than $1 million short of Woods.

This is the third straight year Woods has won the award, and eighth time in his career.

Woods also mathematically clinched the points-based PGA Player of the Year award presented by the PGA of America. It also is the eighth time he has won that award.

The Jack Nicklaus Trophy as PGA Tour player of the year is voted on by the players.

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STANFORD PLAYER: Michelle Wie already has played her first round at Stanford – but not for Stanford.

According to Golf Digest’s web site, the 18-year-old played nine holes Monday at Stanford University Golf Course, accompanied by her parents. Freshman were to check in Tuesday, with classes starting next week.

Golf Digest also reported that while Wie is required to live in a dormitory on campus – a rule for all freshmen – her parents have rented a house nearby. Wie cannot play for the Cardinal because she turned pro two years ago, although she will be allowed to use the course and the practice facilities.

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PARTING WAYS: Sean O’Hair has found remarkable support from Steve Lucas as a father-in-law and as a caddie since joining the PGA Tour two years ago. And while they took a break last year, this time it’s for good.

“I am now retired,” Lucas said after the BMW Championship, teeth clenching a customary cigar.

O’Hair is 25 and will be starting his fourth year on tour next year, and both feel it is time for him to find a full-time caddie. O’Hair has signed up Paul Tesori, who formerly worked for Vijay Singh.

“We’re both ready this time,” O’Hair said after his FedEx Cup season ended at Cog Hill. “He’s always going to support me, and he’ll always be there for me.”

They certainly are going out in style.

O’Hair plans to play next month in the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, and he’s bringing his father-in-law along as his amateur partner. The tournament is Europe’s version of the AT&T Pebble Beach, played on St. Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie. Lucas will use a local caddie, while O’Hair’s wife will caddie for him.

Jackie O’Hair last caddied for her husband right before he earned his PGA Tour card at Q-school, and a few months before she gave birth to their first child.

As for Lucas, his last time on the bag will be the World Cup in China, which O’Hair called a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

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DIVOTS: Fresh off a victorious Walker Cup, Chris Kirk has decided to turn pro and will make his debut next week at the Viking Classic in Mississippi. … Vijay Singh was over par in five consecutive tournaments until he finished at 10-under 270 at the Tour Championship. … The Ginn sur Mer Classic has offered exemptions to twins Derek and Daryl Fathauer. It will be the first time identical twins have played in the same PGA Tour event since Curtis and Allen Strange in the 1981 Texas Open.

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STAT OF THE WEEK: Tiger Woods earned just over $3 million in three playoff events. Only 10 other players have earned more than that all season.

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FINAL WORD: “We’ve got bigger things to do yet.” – Steve Stricker to caddie Tom Mitchell after finishing his year second in the FedEx Cup.