Greg Stoda of the Palm Beach Post checks in with a gaggle of LPGA stars -- including Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome and Lexi Thompson -- who are excited about the tour’s expanded schedule in 2012. A modest Thompson told the Post that she's just one of many stars on the tour, not the main attraction.

And the game has an emerging star to show off in the 16-year-old Thompson, who won one LPGA event last year and plans to play 20-plus events this year. She said she doesn't worry about pressure to be a headliner for the tour.

"There are enough great golfers out here that it isn't any one person's job," she said. "I'm just looking forward to playing as often as I can, because it's what I love to do."

The players were in Boca Raton, Fla., for Pressel’s Morgan & Friends Fight Breast Cancer outing at St. Andrews Country Club.

Augusta’s ‘other course’ to get makeover

When it comes to golf in Augusta, Ga., if it’s not broke, you don’t fix it.

That’s something the new management of Augusta Municipal Golf Course, aka “the Patch,” understands. David Westin of the Augusta Chronicle reports that the new course managers of the beloved muni -- where a weekday round is $19 (walking) --  only want to improve the course conditioning, not make major changes.

If you’re afraid the new leasee [sic] of the Augusta Municipal Golf Course is going to make extensive changes to the layout and alter its charming character, you can rest easy. Brian Hendry has no such plans. …

Hendry’s The Patch in Augusta LLC won the contract to lease and operate the course. Its seven-year lease (with an option for an eighth) started Jan. 1.

Hendry, who the is the chairman of The Patch in Augusta LLC and his team – director of golf Ronnie McDonald, director of operations Gwynne Chase and golf course superintendent Larry Guy – have been embraced by Patch-loving golfers. 

Double-amputee golfer shares his inspiring story

Denny McPherson of the Marion (Ohio) Star writes about Hector Manley, who lost both his legs when he was a child in the 2001 El Salvador earthquake and learned to play golf well enough on prosthetics to become a 7-handicap and captain of his high school team.

Since losing his legs, Manley's adventures haven't been limited to golf. He also has taken on sky diving and scuba diving, and he has a new challenge awaiting him following his graduation this spring from the University of Tampa.

Manley will attempt to kayak the entire length of the Mississippi River in 100 days to benefit Wounded Warriors, which helps injured servicemen and servicewomen, and the Wheelchair Foundation, which supplies wheelchairs to those who need them in developing countries. Those organizations are also in partnership with Rotary.

"My inspiration to do the trip comes from all of the help I have been given over the years," Manley said.

Tweet of the Day

Yani Tseng was the main attraction heading into the Rolex Awards Reception where she picked up Player of the Year honors for the second straight year, as well as the Vare Trophy for low scoring average, but LPGA Rookie of the Year Hee Kyung Seo stole the show, according to the Golf Channel's Randall Mell.

“I’m here to issue a warning,” Seo said from the podium while turning to look at Tseng. “I’m ready to play golf at the highest level, and I want to be No. 1 in the future, so I issue this warning.”

Seo told Tseng she thought of her when looking at the caution message stamped to her car’s side-view mirror on the way to the awards reception.

“The sticker I think is meant for you,” Seo said. “It says `Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.’”

If 2011 was any indication, Seo’s analogy may very well be right on the mark—Yani may be closer to breaking Kathy Whitworth’s career victories record than it appears.

Tryon headed to Q-School finals

In 2001, Ty Tryon became one of the youngest players to earn a PGA Tour card at the age of 17. What followed included lucrative endorsement deals, raised expectations, and an overwhelming sense of pressure that Tyron couldn't live up to, reports Golfweek's Sean Martin.

Ty Tryon admits he was overwhelmed and unhappy when he earned his first PGA Tour card, at age 17. He felt like the fame that followed his record-setting achievement was forced upon him. He was no longer a kid playing a game. The prodigy had become a pitchman.

After posting a 1-under-par 71 during the second stage of Q-School, Tryon is optimistic that he can play well in the final stage and return to the PGA Tour.

“I feel lucky that I still ... have an opportunity to play on Tour and chase this game for a living,” said Tryon. “I feel really lucky, and I just want a little vindication."

“I feel like I’ve earned it. I feel like I’ve earned some of the lucky breaks just because I’ve kept on giving this a go."

This will be Tryon's second consecutive appearance in the Q-school finals -- he finished at the bottom of the leaderboard last year, missing an opportunity to regain PGA Tour status and instead walked away with conditional Nationwide Tour status. If the third time is a charm, this is certainly Tryon's best chance to redeem himself and rejoin the ranks he first took on as a teenager.

“It’s not the best story if you get out there early and you never get out there again. I’m really trying my best to turn that over into a new story. I have a chance now.”

Troubled soccer star finds success at golf tournament

Carlos Tevez may not be playing soccer right now, but the Argentinian striker is keeping himself busy out on the golf course, according to Soccernet. Tevez, who went AWOL on his Manchester City teammates and returned to Argentina without his club’s permission, won a Buenos Aires Grand Prix for professionals and amateurs, partnering with professional golfers Sebastian Fernandez and Andres Romero.

“He did not say anything about his problems with his club, but I was struck by the peace he had,” Fernandez said. “He plays golf very well.”

While his soccer career looks to be stalled until another club takes him off of Manchester City’s hands (a transfer to Milan has been rumored), at least Tevez has a solid backup plan.

Tweet of the Day

After becoming the youngest player to win an LPGA event, 16-year-old Lexi Thompson emerged as the great hope for an LPGA Tour in need of a star. And although the tour approved Thompson's petition to forgo Q-school, granting her membership for the 2012 season, commissioner Michael Whan doesn't believe Lexi needs to be the LPGA's knight in shining armor.  

"This is no offense to her, but we don't need Lexi to be the one any time soon," Whan says. "If she does become the one, great, we'll fan that flame. But when I see reporters say that, finally, Lexi is the great young American the LPGA needs, I find that hard to stomach. Do we just discount Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressel, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Angela Stanford and Brittany Lincicome? And there are so many others.

We have never been as stocked with talent as we are right now. The talent pool from all over the world is stunning. And the fact people are looking for the next one while Yani (Tseng) is currently rewriting the record books is strange to me. I think it's fantastic that Lexi may turn out to be one of those true unique superstars. But I don't have to wait to write that story.

Yani is already writing it."

Thompson shares Whan's sentiments. Sitting down with Steve DiMeglio of USA Today, Lexi revealed that she is more focused on playing her best and learning the ropes during her first professional season, not trying to play the role of hero.

"There are so many great players out on the tour. There are so many great players the fans want to watch. I'm just going to go out there and do what I love and try and do my best."

"It's all going to be a learning process for me — where to stay, where to eat, how to play practice rounds. I just want to learn. I think I'm pretty prepared for it, but I know I'll be learning as I go."

As for the crown that has been placed upon her head by the fans and media?

"I'm not the savior. I don't even think about being a savior."

Adam Scott reunites with Ana Ivanovic

After splitting in 2010, Adam Scott and Ana Ivanovic have rekindled the flame. Not only was Ivanovic in Sydney last week to lend her support during the Australian Open, but the tennis star stepped out with Scott at the Presidents Cup gala dinner. Prior to the event, Scott's teammate Geoff Ogilvy tweeted the following picture, dubbing the pairing as "the glamour couple.

Wozzilroy has yet to comment on another golf/tennis power couple stepping into the spotlight.

Tweet of the Day

Yani Tseng’s trip home to Taiwan resulted in her 10th worldwide victory of the year at the LPGA Taiwan Championship. But Yani’s work was far from over. After raking in $300,000 in prize money, the LPGA’s top golfer donated a third of her winnings to Taiwan’s junior golf program. Ryan Ballengee has the story:

Tseng gave $100,000 to Golf Association Republic of China, which helps to train and develop new golfers in the country.

“It is a long road to develop and groom a golfer,” said Tseng. “Young golfers need as much support as possible to help them compete with the best from the rest of the world, in addition to their own commitment and hard work. I hope I can set an example so more people will follow suit to help chip in and contribute to this cause in an attempt to bring out more young talents.”

Golf carts on parade

While Luke Donald laid claim to the 2011 PGA Tour money title at Disney this Sunday, the residents of El Paseo, Calif., were enjoying the 47th Annual Golf Cart Parade.

A record crowd turned to the streets to witness this year's carnival-themed event. Resident Olga Banks said that the parade has become an annual tradition for her and her family.

“We come straight from church every year.”

Local businessman Nate Otto believes that the Golf Cart Parade is not only a great way to advertise, but to interact with the community as well. 

"The kids are out here. The people are out here. The vibe is out here. It's just a fun way to spend a day. It doesn't feel like work."

Chief organizer Mike Hardin estimated that between 10,000 and 13,000 people lined the streets this year. Organizers also stated that a record number of musicians signed up for the parade and that there were more golf carts than last year.

Emmy-award winning comic Bob Einstein, known by most as Super Dave Osborne of “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour,” was the parade's Grand Marshal. Einstein likened the parade to El Paseo’s very own Rose Parade.

Stableford scoring at Reno

Next year's Reno-Tahoe Open will utilize a modified Stableford scoring system in an effort to encourage aggressive play. Dan Hinxman of the Reno-Gazette Journal has the full story:

The 14th annual PGA Tour event, Aug. 2-5 at Montreux Golf and Country Club, will be the only tournament on tour to use the system, which awards points for birdies and eagles and deducts points for bogeys and worse.

"The PGA Tour believes there is merit to this format for Reno," Andy Pazder, the tour's vice president and chief of operations, said in a release. "The modified Stableford system not only promotes aggressive play, which the tournament is already known for, but Montreux lends itself well to this exciting format with its series of challenging finishing holes."

Eight points will be awarded for a double eagle, five for an eagle, two for a birdie, zero for a par, minus-one for a bogey, and minus-three for a double-bogey or worse.

"This is an absolutely a momentous occasion in the history of this tournament," RTO executive director Jana Smoley said. "This is a change that truly sets us apart from other tournaments and is just one more reason why people will come out to see us next year at Montreux. We're very excited to see how this new scoring format plays out in 2012."

Tweet of the Day

It's official: Lexi Thompson is coming to the LPGA Tour. The 16-year-old phenom who two weeks ago won the Navistar LPGA Classic by five shots, had her petition for full-time membership approved Friday by LPGA commissioner Mike Whan. Here is the full statement:

LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan today approved Lexi Thompson’s petition for LPGA Tour membership beginning in 2012. “Lexi Thompson is a unique talent who continues to grow, develop and mature both on and off the golf course,” Whan said. “I recognized her unique talent when I gave her the opportunity to earn her way onto the LPGA via the 2011 Qualifying Tournament. In the process of earning her way onto the Tour, she beat an elite field at the Navistar LPGA Classic that featured 15 of the top 20 players on the Rolex Rankings and 45 of the top 50 on the LPGA Official Money List. Additionally, her ability to handle the success and disappointment inherent to this game testifies to a level of maturity that I believe makes her capable of handling the emotional rigors of professional golf at the highest level. Therefore, effective at the start of our 2012 season, Lexi will officially become a member of the LPGA Tour.”

Thompson’s win at the Navistar LPGA Classic was her first official LPGA victory and qualified her for the season-ending CME Group Titleholders at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 14-20, 2011. She also jumped 80 spots on the Rolex Rankings to 44th in the world with the victory.

“Clearly, there is great enthusiasm and excitement as Lexi begins her LPGA career,” Whan said. “I think her future is bright and I hope she makes the most of this opportunity.”

By rule, a player between the ages of 15 and 18 years of age must petition the Commissioner for special permission to apply for membership, which Thompson’s management group did on Thursday, Sept. 29.

Lexi Thompson, a 16-year-old golfing phenom, won the Navistar LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala., on Sunday to become the youngest winner in the history of the tour. And it wasn't even close.

Thompson shot a two-under 70 to finish 17 under for the tournament, five shots clear of second place Tiffany Joh.

The record was previously held by Paula Creamer, who won the Sybase Classic in 2005 when she was 18.

Golf.com will have more on Thompson's win soon, and you can see photos from today's round here.

Photo:Dave Martin/AP

After petitioning the LPGA to make an exception to their minimum age limit, 16-year-old phenom Lexi Thompson will be given the chance to become a full-fledged Tour player next season...if she passes qualifying school. Golfweek has the breakdown on how Thompson managed to become of the few players to successfully plead her case to the LPGA brass.

LPGA rules state that a player must be at least 18 years old to become a member. Players younger than 18 must get the tour’s approval for membership.

The LPGA has granted membership to 17-year-olds on a very limited basis. Jessica Korda, Morgan Pressel and Aree Song were granted membership at that age, but all turned 18 during their rookie seasons; petitions by eventual major winners Yani Tseng and Inbee Park were denied.

Thompson, 16, doesn’t turn 18 until 2013. She would be the first player to start her rookie year before age 17. Her 17th birthday is Feb. 10, 2012.

This is what exceptions were made for, exceptional golfers, and it sounds like the LPGA understands how important young talent (especially young, American talent) is to the future of women's golf. Hopefully Thompson can make the most of the opportunity and not push too hard, too early like some of her LPGA counterparts have done in the past.

Honorary Player

With the news that Gary Player will finally be taking his rightful place alongside Jack and Arnie at the opening of next year's Masters tournament, Scott Michaux at the Augusta Chronicle talks about the importance of the honorary starters at Augusta National and of reassembling golf's greatest "Big Three."

Player is fond of pointing out that exactly one of his 75 years on this Earth was spent playing in the Masters Tournament. His record 52 starts in Augusta is a testament to his personality and work ethic. His three green jackets are reward for his talent.

His invitation to join his Big Three mates Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus as an honorary starter on the first tee next April is a fitting tribute to his legacy as the game's most ardent international ambassador. It is exactly where he should be every April for as long as he's fit to swing a club (and the smart money is on that being a very, very long time).

"For me, Augusta is holy ground," Player said. "And I have so much respect for that place and the way it's run. It's a very special place."

Augusta National is special for more than just playing host to the season's first major championship every year. It is special because champions such as Player and Palmer and Nicklaus and others come back year after year to honor the game and their place in it. Augusta is a living history museum every April and is holy ground for more than just the golfers who play it.

When one of my colleagues interviewed Player earlier this year, I boldly (read: obnoxiously) pressed him to ask Player whether the brass at Augusta National had bothered to offer the three-time green jacket winner the chance to hit an opening drive. Player, refusing to take the bait, responded that the offer had not come in, but, if and when it did, he would be honored to take them up on it. Good on Augusta National for finally making it happen.

YouTube Clip of the Day

Check out this video of French Pro (and aspiring comedian) Richard Gillot doing his best Colin Montgomerie impression. Parts of it are spot on and it's pretty clever, but from the sound of the Francophonic guffaws in the background, you would think it was Jerry Lewis hamming it up out there.

Jack Nicklaus is being sued in federal court over a falied luxury golf course development in southern Utah, according to The Deseret News.

 E. Jeffrey Donner, a Fort Collins orthopedic surgeon, and his wife, Judee, claim the legendary golfer "solicited" them in 2007 to buy a $1.5 million membership and lot in the proposed Mount Holly Club, which was to include a Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf course.

But when the $3.5 billion project near Beaver went belly up, the Donners claim Nicklaus and his company, Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, took no responsibility for the debts and obligations incurred by the primary developer, Mount Holly Partners LLC. The suit contends Nicklaus knew Mount Holly faced serious financial and legal problems but failed to disclose them.

The Donners seek to recoup their investment as well as punitive damages.

"We believe the case has no merit," said Jacque Ramos, one of Nicklaus' Salt Lake attorneys. "The only involvement that Jack had was in the design of the golf course itself."

Michelle Wie’s Mickelson moment at LPGA Championship
Michelle Wie turned in an even-par round in the first round of the Wegman’s LPGA Championship in Rochester, N.Y., on Thursday, but not before playing 18 in a manner reminiscent of Phil Mickelson at the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, fortunately with a better result. Here are the details from The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

"I had a couple interesting shots the last couple (holes)," said the lanky 21-year-old who has four Top-10 finishes this year in eight tournaments and ranks 13th on the money list.

Wie pushed her tee shot so far right on the 18th hole that it bounced off a hospitality tent. She punched back out to the fairway and made an impressive up-and-down from beyond 125 yards to save par.

"Hopefully, I can hit more fairways tomorrow and get some shots close to the hole. Overall, it was a pretty scrambling round," she said.

Monty gets lederhosen as gift for 48th birthday
What do you get a guy who could afford to buy almost anything? Not lederhosen, apparently.

Colin Montgomerie celebrated his 48th birthday in Munich at the BMW International Open, but declined a gag gift from tournament organizers, according to The Scottish Daily Record.

After he posted a two-under 70 to trail Swede Henrik Stenson by six strokes Monty said: "I should be spending my birthdays on a beach in the Bahamas and not having to be drenched out here.

"It's nothing to do with Germany as it's a great place - it was just horrific out there."

Tournament director Marco Kaussler then handed Monty the lederhosen and insisted he should wear the leather shorts at tonight's Bavarian-themed players' party.

But the former Ryder Cup skipper said: "I think they might be a bit big for me."

He handed back the shorts and was presented with a super-size bottle of champagne to toast his birthday. 

Stray shots: Things we saw while trying to figure out where the action is on a Friday night in Hartford...

Happy 80th Birthday, Billy Casper! (Via PGA.com)

Sports Illustrated and Golf Magazine writer Joe Posnanski listed his 14 Most Dominant Performances in Sports and Tiger Woods got two spots: No. 5 for the 2000 Open at Pebble Beach and No. 2 for the 1997 Masters. The winner? Here's a hint, he leads this list by 31 lengths.

Tweet of the Day

From TOTD all-star Christina Kim:

The LPGA Tour's first domestic event of 2011 is this week in Phoenix, with the entire $1 million purse going to charity. Half of the purse will go to the LPGA Foundation, while the other $500,000 will go to the designated charities of players who finish in the top 10.

In light of the disaster in Japan, Yani Tseng has decided to make the UNICEF Tap Project her designated charity this week. The UNICEF Tap Project is raising funds to help children who have been impacted by the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11.

“I was touched when researching charities and I looked at the website of the UNICEF Tap Project,” Tseng says. “I have a soft spot in my heart for children, so I hope my play in Phoenix can help this great cause."

Paula Creamer also announced via Twitter that she will be donating any earnings to Japan relief.

On the PGA Tour, Stephanie Wei reports that Ryuji Imada will donate $1,000 for every birdie he makes, and he drafted a letter asking his fellow players to join him.

Foley Roundup
Sean Foley is starting to realize what it's like to coach the most scrutinized player in the history of the game, according to ESPN's Bob Harig.

"It's almost become a shot-by-shot referendum," said Foley, who began coaching Woods at last summer's PGA Championship and is working with Stephen Ames at this week's Transitions Championship.

Foley then touched on his recent spat with Hank Haney.

"Sometimes the high school cafeteria just carries on into the rest of life. It's gotten a little silly."

Then Foley added: "But I've read some of the things I've said in the past and I said after, 'You know what? I wouldn't want my son to read that I said that.' I realize that things unconsciously come out. It shows me I have a lot to learn about being grateful, about being compassionate, being empathetic and just focusing on myself."

Good idea. Stephanie Wei also talked with Foley about his constant use of a camera with Woods.

Tiger will say, ‘I’m going to take this one and get it more upright. Whoa, that felt really upright.’ So then I show him the video, ‘Here you go, Tiger, this is what it looks like when it feels really up.’ It’s not like we’re getting incremental. We’re not sitting there saying, you have to be 31 degrees across the axis at this point. It’s just more of a benchmark to know he can see how it feels. So then he can say, ‘Now I see what that feels like.’

Hello, Friends
It's only three weeks until the first round of the Masters, and, if you haven't done so already, head over to masters.com to check out the redesigned website.

Tweet of the Day

@tigerwoods: First win of the year, unfortunately it was against @jimmyfallon

Miller Time

Johnny Miller is never one to pull punches, so he was the perfect person to ask about the buzz that Tiger Woods is getting close to regaining his old form. Luckily for us, Tod Leonard at Sign On San Diego thought the same thing:

"In golf, 'close' is like the north and south rim of the Grand Canyon," the NBC/Golf Channel commentator and former player said Tuesday.

"I've been there...You do one little tweak and you're on the other rim of the big gulf. When you go off one rim, you’ve got to crawl up the other side. Not that many guys have done it."

"I used to say that Tiger could win with a rental set and one eye closed," Miller said. "But he's had a lot of things happen, and it's mostly self-inflicted. He’s having to pay the price. He’s facing these young guys who are saying, 'Move over pal, you've had your day in the sun.' I'm sure he'd like to make these young guys eat their words, but he’s got to get some confidence back, quick."

I agree with Miller in one respect: Tiger needs to win, and he needs to win soon. Woods is begging for a slump-buster, but, unlike most pros, a really good Sunday or a second place finish isn't going to do the trick. Only the sight of Tiger holding a trophy will put fear back into the hearts of the other competitors.

Thompson Beats the Boys

Lexi Thompson may not have official status on the LPGA Tour, but she's still determined to make her mark on golf as quickly as possible. As the Orlando Sentinel's Jeff Shane reports, the 16-year-old phenom became the first woman to win on the Minor League Golf minitour.

Alexis Thompson wasn’t the first contemporary women’s pro to fill her time between LPGA starts by teeing it up against a field of minitour guys. However, the South Florida teen is the first to take home a trophy. Thompson triumphed over Brett Bergeron in a two-hole playoff on her home course at TPC Eagle Trace, earning a footnote as the Minor League Golf Tour’s first female champion. Thompson, who turned 16 earlier this month, collected $1,100 for the victory. Her 4-under-par 68 was better than 75 other golfers, with only Bergeron holding a chance to finish in front.

Thompson may have had an advantage on her home course, but the win was certainly no fluke--she had already finished second twice with another top-3 finish in 13 MLGT events. We've learned enough not to over-hype these kids at such young ages, but we can at least give a nice golf clap to Thompson for this accomplishment.

Close Call in New Zealand

Among the stories emerging from the tragic earthquake in New Zealand, there's this note from NBC's Ryan Ballengee:

A good number of LPGA Tour players who did not make the field for the Honda LPGA Thailand jumped over to New Zealand for their national women’s open tournament. The hotel for the field was reduced to rubble by the earthquake.

Several LPGA Tour players expressed their concerns over Twitter on Tuesday. Among them was veteran Sophie Gustafson, who said, “The player host hotel for the New Zealand LET tournament last week was as good at flattened today in the earthquake. Very scary stuff!”

As for the players that stayed behind and experienced the earthquake, they were safe, reported Nicole Hage. She tweeted, “I’ve heard that all the girls that were still in NZ sight seeing and such are all safe and sound!”

So at least there's one good story coming out of a very scary situation. If you're interested in helping the relief efforts in New Zealand, you can donate to the New Zealand Red Cross here.