FanHouse Matt Lauer

A year ago, Tony Romo joined Justin Timberlake and Matt Lauer in a round of celebrity golf at Torrey Pines the week before the U.S. Open. He fired an 84, which, to hear him tell it, was disappointing.

In general, a 2-handicap isn't all that jazzed about a 14-over round, but I'm guessing Romo doesn't regularly play on courses that feature 4-inch rough, 20-yard-wide fairways, and greens rolling 14 on the stimpmeter. But, hey, the guy sets high standards for himself.

Last month, between organized team activities at his day job, Romo tried and failed to qualify for the Byron Nelson Championship. And next week he will play with Tiger Woods in the AT&T National pro-am.

To be completely honest, I didn't even know Justin Timberlake played golf until late last year when a buddy called to tell me he was the group behind him on a Las Vegas golf course. After that, the flood gates opened when Timberlake appeared with Matt Lauer and Tony Romo at the U.S. Open contest earlier this year and is now set to host a PGA Tour event starting tomorrow in, you guessed it, Las Vegas.

The proclaimed six-handicapping is the host of the, deep breath, Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open which starts tomorrow at TPC Summerlin with such notables as Woody Austin, Paul Azinger, Davis Love III and John Daly. Surprised by the last one? Well, it turns out Daly and Timberlake are good buddies, even playing in the pro-am on Monday together.

Both hail from Tennessee and became friends about 10 years ago, when Timberlake first picked up the sport. Even when he was still a high handicapper, Timberlake told Daly he was going to become a good golfer.

"And he has. Now his handicap is around a six, I think, and he knows the rules, he knows the game," Daly added. "He's a great guy. We like to hang out, and it's just great to have his name on this tournament."

After Dara Torres qualified for the U.S. Olympic swimming team at age 41, some questioned whether such an accomplishment was evidence that she is cheating. On the Today Show this morning, Matt Lauer put the question directly to Torres:

"Have you in the past or are you currently taking or using anything that is banned by your sport?" Lauer asked.

"Absolutely not," Torres said. "In fact, I've taken a proactive approach. I went to [the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency] and I met with the CEO there, and said, 'Hey, people are talking about me, they can't believe I'm doing this. I'm an open book. DNA test me, blood test me, urine test me, do whatever you want.' I want to show people I'm clean."

If Torres is a liar, she's as good a liar as she is a swimmer.