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Show Wednesday, December 3, 2003 D A I L Y HERALD PROFESSIONAL GOLF There's a safety net for those who fail at Q --school ' US. team captain Curtis Doug Ferguson Strange watches a Ryder Cup match in late September. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS . Curtis Strange can relate to the 171 players who will have sweaty palms, dry throats and churning stomachs before every shot during six grueling rounds of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament this week. "Enormous pressure, sleepless night . everything youVe heard, it's all true," Strange said Tuesday, recalling how his first trip through tyschool in 1976 ended ' in failure. ,. "You know that if you don't make it through this, you don't have a job he said. "Because back then, there was no Nationwide Tour. There was no anything Times have changed. Strange went six months without work before he got another crack at Dillard Pruitt, now a PGA Tour rules official, didn't make it through in 1984. So, he signed up for mini-toufrom Florida to California and tournaments that barely paid the winner enough to cover expenses. Before anyone starts feeling sorry for the guys who leave Monday without their PGA Tour cards, keep in mind they have a safety net. It's (Med the Nationwide Tour. The top 50 players who don't get their cards can play a full schedule on the tour's developmental circuit, and they no longer play for chump change. Zach Johnson won the Nationwide Tour money title this year with just under $500,000, and the top 15 players earned at least $200,000. The bottom feeders at get conditional status on the Nationwide, and they can expect a relatively full rs Strange can relate to the 171 players who witthave sweaty palms, dry throats and churning stomachs before every shot during six grueling rounds of the PGA Tour qualifying' tournament this week. DAVE MARTIN I Associated Press. schedule as long as they play wefl. Johnson started the year with conditional status and wound up setting an earnings record. Tripp Isenhour and Tommy Tolles were in the same position, and both finished in the top 20 on the money list to earn a trip back to the big leagues. For those who cant cut it on the Na-- v tionwide, there are plenty of other established places to play, from the Hooters Tour to the Golden Bear Tour to the DP Tour! Chad Campbell spent three years on the Hooters Tour and won 13 times during his slow rise through the ranks, which culminated last month with his victory in the Tour Championship. "It wasn't too bad," CfempbeU said, referring to neither the chicken wings nor the waitresses serving them. "I had a lot of success out there. It wasn't like I had no money and was playing on my last dollar." is no longer the end Clearly, of the road. ol The field at Orange County National outside Orlando, Fla., includes 15 past champions on the PGA Tour who can still get into at least a dozen PGA events. Some players, like Aaron Barber, already have conditional status on the PGA Tour and can expect to play 20 for the sole times. They're at purpose of improving their pecking order so they dont have to show up at tour events with an "alternate" tag next to their names. The pressure is still stifling for those trying to get their cards, although it's not quite the same as it was before the Nationwide Tour was created in 1990. Bill Calfee, chief of operations for the Nationwide Tour, played 20 years ago five times before and went to he finally got his.card in 1976. "There was a hell of a lot more pressure," Calfee said. "At least now with the Nationwide Tour, if you get to the f (of you have a viable place to play with good, solid purses where you can make some money. ol When I was trying to play, if you didnt get your card, you were out in no man's land It was easier to make a career change The difference between the top 30 who get their cards, and the next 50 who are relegated to the Nationwide Tour, is playing for an extra digit in the paycheck. The difference can be private jets or commercial flights, network television coverage or The Golf Channel Those exiled to the Nationwide Tour after this week wont get courtesy cars at every tournament. The total purse is equal to second-plac- e money at some PGA Tour events. . Still, the man who dreamed up the idea of a Nationwide Tour wonders if life is too good, if the penalty for failing at Qschool shouldn't be more severe. "I've got mixed feelings about as much money as there is on that tour," former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman said. "I've seen guys who were good enough to hang on, but never good enough to make it. I was looking for a level of prize money where one could make enough to sponsor himself, but harsh enough that the marginal guys were looking for a new job." The most pressure-packeevent in golf is no longer the third and final stage of It's the second stage, where those left behind are stuck with the mini-toujust like the old days when they have to be honest about their talent and decide how much they're willing to. Tiger criticizes game reserve THE ASSOCIATED PRESS . d rs sacrifice. There will be horror stories next week, as always. Someone will chunk a "wedge into the water or three-pu- tt from 10 feet. There will be anguish and tears. But it wont be the end of the world. ORLANDO, Fla. Tiger , Woods criticized the founder of a South African game reserve Tuesday for alerting newspapers to his engagement to Elin Nordegren and taking photos to promote the reserve's Web site. "It was such a great moment in our lives, and he cheapened the experience because he was Woods said in so the monthly newsletter he to fans. "The only positive out of the whole trip is that Elin didnt say no." Adrian Gardiner, founder of the Shamwari Game Reserve, was not there Tuesday and could not immediately be reached for comment. Woods said Gardiner promised to protect the golfer's stay privacy during a four-da- y the week after the Presidents Cup. Along with telling the media about his Nov. 25 engagement, Woods said Gardiner invited the mayor and local school children to the airport, then detained Woods and Nordegren so they could pose for pictures with the mayor. "Saying we were uncomfortable and totally .shocked is an understatement," Woods said. "I'm disgusted about the way he handled things. I had been planning to ask Elin to marry me for months and wanted to do it in a private, unique NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Fedorov returns to Decision on Penguins' goalie still pending Detroit as Mighty Duck Alan Robinson tuc n you or boo. I remember in Buffalo ... you sort of feel uncomfortable," Hasek said. "Anyway, he doesnt have a Red Wings jersey anymore, and we have to do our best to cover him and make sure he doesn't score any goals." Detroit goalie Curtis Joseph, who spent time with St. Louis, Edmonton and Toronto before coming to the Red Wings, said the return is an "anxious time." "It's really a hard thing to do," Joseph said. "He's going to want to play really welL He's going to want to have a hat trick. That's his mindset." Hasek said Fedorov has the best slapshot he's ever seen. "He played against me in the Czech Republic He was 18, and I was probably 22 or 23. He was a rookie on that team and he scored a couple goals, and I knew he was going to be a great player," Hasek said. Fedorov said Anaheim was eager to sign him. "They were the only strong contender that wants my services," he said. DDCCC Sergei Fedorov came to the Red Wings as a defector from Russia and left with three Stanley Cups and a Hart Trophy. center reThe turns to Detroit today for his first visit since signing a $40 million deal to join the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. "It probably will be overwhelming, so I'm probably go ing to have to calm myself down a bit before the game," Fedorov said. There will be certain pressures, but I'll try not to lose my head and get caught up in all that other stuff besides KaaiicA I'll tiaira tn nor. form on the ice." Red Wings goalie Dominik Hacalr Irnnuc FoHnrnv'c citiia- tion. After spending his entire career in Buffalo, he went to Detroit in July 2001. His first rii Harlr in a Uintfc U7QC a tough one. "It's emotional You dont know what to expect. You dont know if the crowd will cheer DETROIT ld Caps win two straight for first time this year 4- - . ROUNDUP ASSOCIATED PRESS THE Dainhis UNIONDALE, NY. Zubrus had a goal and an assist, and the Washington Capitals dominated the Islanders again night that sent New York to its sixth straight loss. Kip Miller, Jaromir Jagr and Joel Kwiatkowski also scored for the Capitals, who became the last team to win consecutive games this season. Olaf Kolzig turned aside 25 shots. Arron Asham had the only goal for the Islanders, in their last 29 meetings with the Capitals. Garth Snow made 21 saves. I Blue Jackets 2, Mighty Ducks 1: At Columbus, Ohio, Rick Nash scored his 16th goal and added an assist to lead Columbus past Anaheim in the debut of ac- claimed Russian forward Niko-lai Zherdev. David Vyborny also had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who had lost two straight. The Mighty Ducks had their 11 game point streak snapped. The last time they failed to earn a point was Nov. 2 at Chicago. I Canadiens 3, Lightning 2: At Montreal, Jan Bulis scored a power-pla- y goal with 1:17 left in the third period to lift Montreal over Tampa Bay. BuKsgot his fifth of the son at 18:43, moments after Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecava-lie- r tied it at 2. Lecavalier, held without a point in his five previous games, scored at 16:10. Tim Taylor also scored for the Lightning, which scored just -- ,i M? ' . he would be even Post-Gazet- willing THE ASSOCIATED PRESS to forgo the in bonuses. . 7" "I love it here," Fleury said. "At first, I wasnt sure if I week, Pittsburgh Penguins could make the team. Now I'm rookie goalie Marc-AndHeury could be a man with two playing, and I'm really happy teams. with all of this." One would love to have him. The Penguins no doubt apThe other isn't certain it can afpreciate his gesture, even conford him. though such an tract renegotiating is virtually The more the NHL's No. 1 draft pick plays, the more he unprecedented for a rookie. makes. Once he's played at Also, the NHL Players Associaleast one period in 25 games, $3 tion would likely oppose such a million in contract bonuses move because it could affect fukick in. That's a large price for ture negotiations with high draft choices. the cash-poPenguins to pay for what essentially amounts to So, amid all their other troua season's worth of on4he-jo-b bles, the Penguins must decide whether to pay Fleury or play training. him elsewhere. The team proThat's why the Penguins are weighing whether to allow jects losses of $5 million this season, not including Fleury's Fleury to join the Canadian ju5 nior team for the Dec. a possible bonuses. If they send him back to the world championships in Finland. The Penguins have until wearying road trips of junior ' Dec. 11 to make up their minds. hockey, the Penguins risk "We have to make tough dealienating the player they intend to build their franchise cisions along the way," team around. But Sawyer said president Ken Sawyer said. "I dont know if Fleury's going to Fleury will make a lot of monconey during his three-yespend the rest of the season tract even if he doesnt immedi- -' here or go back to juniors. We havent made that decision yet. ately collect on his incentives; his salary, even without any But, in part, it will be a financial issue." bonuses, is $1.24 million. GENE J. PUSKAR Associated Press "We know he's going to be a Fleury has been anything but a disappointment to the Fleury (29) watches a Pittsburgh rookie goalie great goattender for us for a deflected first period shot against the Atlanta on Monday, long, long time Sawyer said. despite a recent "I would expect he would unlosing streak. His statistics derstand what our situation is (.912 save percentage, 3.08 goals-againhere right now would have nearly a month to league where the talent-thi- n average) are excellent for a decide if he should rejoin them who Fleury does, but he's also Penguins are overmatched allabors behind an inexperienced or return to his junior team in most nightly. Fleury has faced grown to like playing in the and often leaky defense. His a league-higNHL, and he is uncertain how Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, for average of 32 four victories are as many as shots per game. the rest of the season. leaving the team would make him a better goattender But Fleury has strongly statStanley Cup MVP Playing in the same champiIf he goes back to Cape Breed a preference to stay in the onships he starred in last seaGiguere has for Anaheim. son would allow Fleury to play NHL and develop his game ton, he can return to the Pen- -' in a competitive environment, If they let Fleury go to the against most of the world's top guins this season only in an Canadian juniors, the Penguins away from the pressures of a emergency. players. He told the Pittsburgh By next PITTSBURGH re or "L 26-Ja- op ar Marc-And- Pen-gui- re six-ga- st h four times while going winless in five games. I Coyotes 3, Devils 1: At East Rutherford, NJ., defenseman David Tanabe had a goal and an assist in the third period to lead Phoenix past New Jersey. Tyson Nash and Chris Grat-to- n also scored for the Coyotes, and former Devils goalie Sean Burke made 27 saves, including 14 in the first period. Phoenix won for the second time in six games I Maple Leafs 5 Rangers 4: At Toronto, Owen Nolan scored the goal and Joe Nieuwendyk had a goal and two assists to lead Toronto to its sixth straight victory. Mats Sundin, Matt Stajan and Mikael Renberg also scored for the Maple Leaf s, who beat the Rangers in New York on Sunday night. Sundin made it 3 with 656 left but New York's Anson Carter scored 32 seconds later. I Blues 4, Kings 1: At St. Louis, power-pla- y goals by Keith Tkachuk and Dallas Drake in the first period powered St. Jean-Se-basti- li ltlffs ). go-ahe- ' 5-- f If Jtytf- . Louis. .:: The Blues killed off three penalties to win for the sixth time in seven home games. St. Louis is 8--2 at home. The Blues rank first in the NHL in penalty-killin- g at home, having allowed goals. just two power-plaTkachuk, who skated in his 800th NHL game, scored his 13th goal of the season and for the eighth time in nine games. Drake added an empty net goaL KkUg y -- .: $3 million Li ' S L- - Vito .m mm- - , - ML |
