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Choi leads Skins Game
by Associated Press
Sunday November 30, 2008, 12:56 AM
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- K.J. Choi overcame the nerves of playing in his first LG Skins Game by using a precise short game and key putts to take the first-day lead in the 26th annual event on Saturday.
Choi rolled in a three-foot birdie putt worth $75,000 on the third hole, and earned $75,000.
That gave him the lead over Phil Mickelson, who earned $25,000 with a spectacular eagle-3 on the fourth hole. Two-time defending champion Stephen Ames and Rocco Mediate, playing in his first Skins Game, were shut out on the first nine holes.
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Post a comment | View commentsSorenstam selected for. . . . random drug test
by by Randall Mell, South Florida Sun Sentinel Saturday November 22, 2008, 6:29 PM
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Annika Sorenstam received an unexpected parting gift from the LPGA.
A urine sample cup.
Or whatever it is the LPGA uses to collect samples as part of its drug-testing program.
Shortly after walking off the 18th green and missing the cut in her farewell appearance as a full-time LPGA player Friday at the ADT Championship, Sorenstam was informed that she would be required to take a drug test. Sorenstam looked stunned and mystified that she would be tested in her exodus just two weeks after being tested.
Annika Sorenstam waved farewell to tournament golf Friday and was promptly handed a cup for a urine sample. (The LPGA had randomly selected her for a drug test.)"I don't really know what's going on," she said.
The timing of Sorenstam's test seemed odd given the fanfare surrounding her farewell appearance. She was escorted from the media tent to a trailer to be tested after her post-round interview, where she submitted to testing.
Jill Pilgrim, the LPGA general counsel and administrator of the drug-testing program, said Sorenstam's name was randomly selected. "We followed our protocol," Pilgrim said.
Pilgrim said exempting a player for special circumstances affects the integrity of the program and creates potential legal issues.
"We never take into consideration anything that is not within the four corners of our protocol," Pilgrim said. "Nobody is treated differently or special."
Pilgrim said it is not uncommon for players to be tested multiple times, or in back-to-back tournaments or even back-to-back days.
"At the end of the day, if the LPGA does not follow the protocol, and we are brought into litigation or arbitration, we will be liable for not following the protocol," she said.
By not agreeing to the test, Sorenstam would have faced possible suspension from future events should she decide to return to the tour, even for cameo appearances.
"It definitely does prove to everyone out here that it's strictly random," LPGA pro Christina Kim said. "It probably stinks that her tournament was cut a little short and then extended due to that."
GOLF NEWS
• Wie opens with a 69 on tougher qualifying course 12/3/2008, 4:28 p.m. ET
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Michelle Wie rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole Wednesday for a 3-under 69, giving her a solid start in the 90-hole qualifying tournament as she tries to earn an LPGA Tour card.
• Ballesteros has operation to drain brain fluid 12/2/2008, 1:13 p.m. ET
MADRID, Spain (AP) — Five-time major champion Seve Ballesteros underwent more surgery Tuesday, this time to drain fluid from his brain.
• Sorenstam, International team win Lexus Cup 11/30/2008, 10:00 a.m. ET
SINGAPORE (AP) — Annika Sorenstam celebrated two big victories in her second-to-last event before retiring.
• International team wins Lexus Cup 11/30/2008, 5:33 a.m. ET
SINGAPORE (AP) — Christina Kim gave Annika Sorenstam a big victory in her second-to-last event before retiring, birdieing the par-5 18th Sunday for a halve and the deciding half-point for the International team in the Lexus Cup.
• Swedes shoot 63 to win World Cup 11/30/2008, 4:10 a.m. ET
SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson gave Sweden its second World Cup title, shooting a 9-under 63 on Sunday in alternate-shot play to beat Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal by three strokes.
• Pampling wins Australian Masters in playoff 11/30/2008, 4:03 a.m. ET
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rod Pampling won the Australian Masters on Sunday, beating Australian countryman Marcus Fraser with a par on the third playoff hole.
• Choi has first-day lead at Skins Game 11/29/2008, 5:31 p.m. ET
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — K.J. Choi overcame the nerves of playing in his first LG Skins Game by using a precise short game and key putts to take the first-day lead in the 26th annual event on Saturday.
• Sorenstam helps International team forge tie 11/29/2008, 5:22 a.m. ET
SINGAPORE (AP) — Annika Sorenstam isn't quite finished.
• Ames looks for another Skins Game win 11/28/2008, 4:35 p.m. ET
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — For Stephen Ames, the Skins Game has become a lucrative holiday tradition.
• Sorenstam falls, Lexus Cup tied at 3 11/28/2008, 2:27 a.m. ET
SINGAPORE (AP) — Jeong Jang and Candie Kung beat Annika Sorenstam and Angela Stanford 3 and 2 on Friday to help Asia split the six opening alternate-shot matches in the Lexus Cup, Sorenstam's final LPGA Tour-sanctioned event before she retires.
• 2 share lead at storm-hit Masters 11/27/2008, 8:12 p.m. ET
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — South Africa's Tim Clark waited out a three-hour suspension because of a severe thunderstorm to shoot a 5-under 67 for a share of the first-round lead in the Australian Masters.
• Daly wants focus on golf 11/25/2008, 11:32 p.m. ET
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — All the focus in the lead up to John Daly's first tournament in Australia in six years has surrounded his controversial departure in his last trip Down Under and his slide down the rankings amid personal turmoil.
• Tour tries another fix for FedEx Cup 11/25/2008, 6:25 p.m. ET
(AP) — The PGA Tour revamped its FedEx Cup race Tuesday for the third straight year of its existence, this one geared toward making sure the winner of the $10 million prize is decided at the Tour Championship.
• GM ends 9-year endorsement deal with Tiger Woods 11/24/2008, 3:34 p.m. ET
DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Corp. said Monday it is ending its nine-year endorsement deal with golf superstar Tiger Woods as the automaker continues to cut expenses and hoard cash while trying to survive the worst sales downturn in a quarter-century.
