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Joy and Heartbreak at PGA Finale

Stephen AmesLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A sure sign something outside the norm was in the works Sunday afternoon at the Children's Miracle Network Classic came when Nicholas Thompson rolled in a nine-foot bogey putt on the final hole that would leave him five shots out of a playoff eventually won by Stephen Ames and broke into a fist-pumping, arm-slinging celebration.

"It could have been a double," Thompson said. "And I knew if I missed that, I didn't have a chance and I'm going to qualifying school. I knew making it at least gave me a chance."

Sunday's big prize at Walt Disney World was not as much the tournament championship as it was a secure future. Ames shot a final-round 64 and won his fourth career title, outlasting George McNeill and Justin Leonard in two playoff holes, but on this day you didn't have to get a trophy to feel like a winner.
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Players Going Low at Frys.com Open

I've played both courses at the wonderful Greyhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., sitting in the shadows of Pinnacle Peak, a few miles north of the more well known TPC Scottsdale and it's raucous FBR Open. I'll tell you this -- that course isn't as easy as the PGA Tour players are making it look after the first round of the Frys.com Open.

Nick O'Hern is leading the par slaughterfest after his 7-under 63 skipped past Bob Heintz and Heath Slocum's 64s, four others at 65 and 15 players at 66. The problem is, after the Presidents Cup, is anyone besides us golf enthusiasts (Read: driver nerds) paying a lot of attention?

See, after the FedEx Cup, the PGA Tour kicks off what is called the Fall Series, that includes the last two weeks, the Frys.com, and two more tournaments that end in mid-November. Basically, the Fall Series is a fancy name for the more definitive name, "Race to Gain More Money and Earn your 2010 PGA Tour Card." Okay, lengthier, but more truthful. Players that struggled all season have a chance to go out in these tournaments and earn more money, hoping to find themselves in that coveted top-125 which keeps them with a good paying job for another season.

Five to Watch at TPC


(Getty Images)

This week marks what some consider the fifth major of the year, The Players Championship. Just like the Masters, the Players is held at the same wonderful venue each year, and the drama at TPC Sawgrass is something you can't miss (their Amen Corner is the last three holes). With so many big names in the field, it's hard to break down the five you should watch, but we tried our hardest.

Who Is Best Golfer With No Major?

Before Phil Mickelson broke through at the 2004 Masters, Lefty held the ultimate "kissing your sister" title. Phil was the "best player to never have won a major championship." Sure, Phil had made waves in majors, nearly taking the title at the 1999 U.S. Open and the 2001 PGA Championship, but he couldn't break through. Once the infamous birdie leap occurred at Augusta National in '04, Mickelson passed that title off to someone. The thing is, nobody has really grabbed it as feverishly as Phil did. He was the major-less face. Now, according to Forbes, it isn't Sergio Garcia.

FanHouse U.S. Open Media Guide

The U.S. Open starts today, and because it's a major championship and none of the scribes here at FanHouse made the field, we are presenting a full report on every player in the field. From Michael Allen to Tiger Woods, and every potential Angel Cabrera that will have his name called Thursday morning, here is what we offer. This list gives you the player, their best finish in a U.S. Open and something interesting about them, anything from the way they play major championship golf to them throwing the deuces in their Facebook page. You know, hard hitting journalism. We will present them alphabetically, 10 excited golfers at a time.

For the complete list of players, check out the other pages:
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Here it is, your FanHouse Media Guide.


  • Michael Allen -- t-12 -- The definitive golf journeyman, Allen has had success a total of once at the U.S. Open, coming in 2001. He's never won on the PGA Tour, so I'm heading out on a limb and not taking him as my early favorite. Also, he'd be only the second "Michael" to ever win this tournament (Campbell) and the first with the last name Allen.

  • Robert Allenby -- T-7 -- The 36-year-old has never finished in the top-five of a major and hasn't won on the PGA Tour since 2001, so maybe not the safest bet, but if the U.S. Open is ever hosted in, say Australia, look out (12 pro victories in his home country).

  • Stuart Appleby (above) -- t-10 -- You couldn't name this major as one of his favorites. Since his t-10 in 1998, the Australian has only made two cuts.

  • Stephen Ames -- t-9 -- Maybe not somebody that would come up in early "potential winner" conversation, but two top-10s in the last four years show he can play in the toughest conditions. Also, he's from Trinidad and Tobago, which, for some reason, makes me like him more.

  • Phillip Archer -- t-48 -- Archer is from England. He almost shot a 59 in the Celtic Manor Wales Open but missed the birdie putt on 18. That's about all Al Gore has provided us about Archer on the world wide web.

  • Woody Austin -- t-23 -- They say majors expose your weaknesses, and with a spotty short game, it's done just that. Interesting fact -- Austin was Rookie of the Year on tour the year before Tiger, even though he's 12 years older.

  • Eric Axley -- CUT -- This is the fifth straight U.S. Open Axley has qualified for, but he hasn't made the cut in a single one. USGA – 4, Axley – 0.

  • Aaron Baddeley -- t-13 -- The good news? Badds has been in contention at an Open, leading at Oakmont in 2007 after the first three rounds. The bad news? He shot 80 in the last round to finish in a tie for 13th

  • Craig Barlow -- t-26 -- I'll allow the articulate genius of Wikipedia to take over this one for me. "In 2006, he was partnered with golfing legend Jeff Sluman for the final round of the U.S. Open. On the par-4 18th hole, as Barlow was about to tee off, a cart rode by on a path running parallel to the hole. Sluman motioned to the cart driver to halt driving as a courtesy to Barlow, who might have been distracted had the cart continued." Wow, now that is deep stuff. Sucks for the author of that paragraph because I now have the premise for my Oscar winning sports screenplay.
  • Rich Beem -- CUT -- Yikes, Beemer is 0-6 in making the cut at the U.S. Open. That will never stop him from getting really excited around his birthday.


Mickelson and Colonial Almost Rhyme


If you don't know a lot about golf, a tournament like Colonial might pass as a buffer tournament, similar to a peppermint bowl at a nice steak restaurant.

Phil Mickelson has a chance to become relevant again today, regaining his golfer street cred by winning an elite golf tournament on an elite golf course weeks before the U.S. Open that now has name written all over it.

Lefty is a shot ahead of guys like Rod Pampling and Stephen Ames, golfers that have shown promise but are Top Flites to the Mickelson Pro-V.

Phil needs this. Hell, golf needs this. If Mickelson can take the victory today at Fort Worth the conversation about him winning a U.S. Open will sure erupt and that couldn't do anything but help the PGA Tour that banks on guys competing against Tiger Woods. Honestly, what is better news - Tiger loses the U.S. Open because his knee hurts or because Mickelson toppled him like a landslide? Phil needs a hand-wash after the '06 Winged Foot Experience.

Golfer not in the top 5 that could win - Lucas Glover

Tiger Wins PGA Championship, 13th Major; Jack's Lead Cut to Five


Stephen Ames (loved him in Zapped!, by the way) didn't provide Tiger Woods much competition during the final round of the PGA Championship, but 43-year-old Woody Austin and three-time major winner Ernie Els certainly did.

Both players went on birdie binges during the middle of the round, Austin pulled to within a stroke of Woods -- Els got as close as two -- but that's as close as it got. Els bogeyed No. 16, and Austin couldn't convert some late birdie opportunities.

Interestingly, Tiger's 13th major seemed a formality after a birdie on the 8th. But Eldrick looked like he tweaked his left knee after an uncharacteristic fist pump (see the action shots after the jump) -- he hasn't really executed a full fist pump in some time, and instead, usually goes with the half-hearted wave to the gallery as he retrieves his ball out of the cup (or an awkward high-five with caddy Stevie Williams).

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