Finding an Open door

No, the third-place finisher in the net division of your local club's Thursday twilight league isn't getting an exemption into the upcoming British Open. It only seems that way. For those keeping score at home, there are a whopping 29 categories into which a player can earn a berth, a situation that left very few ``open" spots into an event that proudly calls itself ``The Open Championship."

``I think it's fabulous. I'd like to see the US Open and Masters do it like that," Billy Andrade said.

Not surprisingly, Andrade found himself exempt through one of those 29 categories -- No. 15, in fact. Arbitrarily inventing a money list for just six tournaments (The Players Championship, Barclays, US Open, Booz Allen, Buick Championship, and the Western Open), British Open organizers give exemptions to the top two players that are not already exempt. When all the numbers had been crunched, J.J. Henry was sixth on that list, Andrade was 11th, and since everyone ahead of them had already earned a British Open spot, they were the lucky two to secure exemptions.

As pleased as he is to be returning to the British Open for the first time since 2002 and as supportive as he is of the variety of ways one can get into the world's oldest championship, Andrade concedes he was caught somewhat by surprise. ``To be honest with you, I thought they did away with [the mini money list] once they had the [International Final Qualifier]."

The ``IFQ" is also known as Category 29 and they are held in Africa, Australia, Asia, America, and Europe. Unfortunately, the American site was rained out, so instead of competing for 13 spots, players were simply handed them based on world rankings. This didn't sit well with some players, but Andrade -- who wasn't high enough in the world order to get a spot -- shrugged it off. ``I thought that was fine," he said. ``It was unfortunate, but what were they supposed to do? Put names in a hat and start playing bingo?"

Well, if they had, they couldn't have come up with a more stunning name than Hunter Mahan, but he, too, is headed to the British Open. He missed the cut in five of 17 starts and had a handful of forgettable tournaments, but that tie for second at the Buick Championship was his ticket to Royal Liverpool for the July 20-23 festivities.

You see, Category 16 awards a British Open spot to the highest top-10 finisher not otherwise exempt in three different tournaments: the Buick Championship, Western Open, and John Deere Classic. At first, the Buick spot went to Henry, who won the tournament. But when Henry earned his exemption via Category 15 (the mini-money list), the spot was inherited by Mahan, who'll be making just his third professional start in a major.

Confusing? Perhaps, and Andrade concedes that he's probably like most players -- not totally aware of all the various ways to get into the British Open. Like Category 21 (Canadian Open champ), or Category 24 (top-four finishers in the Mizuno Open), or Category 25 (top two on the money list for the Southern Africa Sunshine Tour). Now, you can try and keep up with all the avenues available, or you can do what Andrade does.

``My attitude has always been, `If you are playing well, you have a chance to get in,' " he said.

Those chances, of course, are running out. In fact, there's only one spot left that's up for grabs -- Category 16 and the low top-10 finisher who isn't already exempt at this week's John Deere Classic. (If you're thinking Michelle Wie, well, it's a possibility.)

For those who are on the outside looking in, well, there's still the alternate's list, and that's where Brad Faxon comes in. Washed out of his IFQ at Congressional CC, steadily denied by a series of poor tournaments, but still passionate about the British Open, Faxon currently is the seventh alternate and depending on how things shake out at the John Deere Classic and the Scottish Open, he could push to third or fourth alternate.

``I'll wait and see," said Faxon, who skipped the Western Open and is sitting out the John Deere, too. ``But if I'm third or second alternate by Monday, I will fly over."

Doyle gets even with this group

They are frequent practice-round companions, so it was hardly a surprise to find Dana Quigley, Allen Doyle, and Jim Thorpe together a few days before the US Senior Open at Prairie Dunes CC in Hutchinson, Kan. Nor was it a surprise that the barbs were going back and forth.

At the 14th tee, Quigley turned to Thorpe and asked, ``How many wins you have, Jim?"

``Eleven," Thorpe said.

``Gee, that's what I have. How many do you have, Allen?" replied Quigley.

``He knew I only had 10," Doyle said. ``So I told him, `We might just change that this week.' "

Consider it done, because the unflappable Doyle indeed notched Champions Tour win No. 11 -- and he did it in style, too. Closing with a 68, Doyle silenced a golf course filled with fans of Kansas-born Tom Watson and became the first player to win back-to-back US Senior Open titles. Down by two entering the final 18, Doyle caught, then passed Watson, who managed a 72 and finished second, two shots back.

``The crowd was huge, but they were all for Watson," said Doyle, who is a hockey player at heart and has a ton of fight in him. The key moment, he said, came at that same 14th hole.

``I hit a gap wedge in there to 8 feet and when I made the putt, it quieted down that crowd. It was as if I had showed them that I had heart, too," Doyle said. ``I'm not so sure that wasn't the shot that made the difference. I think [Watson] realized then that I wasn't going to back down."

It was Doyle's fourth major triumph on the Champions Tour and he gave some credit to his trip to Winged Foot and the US Open a few weeks ago. Though he shot 76-74, Doyle missed the cut by one and feels he got a great tuneup for the USGA setup at Prairie Dunes. ``The rough was actually tougher at Prairie Dunes," Doyle said, ``but it was a shorter golf course so I didn't feel like I had to nuke it off the tee like you had to at Winged Foot. So [playing in the US Open] was a big help."

Doyle will tee it up in this week's Ford Senior Players Championship, yet another major, then skip both the Senior British Open and 3M Championship, thus receiving a one-month rest because the next tournament isn't scheduled to start until Aug. 18.

Hanefeld catches a major break

Kirk Hanefeld started the week as an alternate for this week's Ford Senior Players Championship, but with a few withdrawals, he found himself in the field. That's the good news.

The bad? With $113,666 in five starts, he ranks 63d on the money list and figures he has this week, next week (the Senior British Open), and the following week (3M Championship in Minnesota) to make upward of $150,000 more to assure a spot in the reshuffle to get into the final eight tournaments of the year.

``It was very big, getting in this week," said Hanefeld, the longtime NEPGA standout and Director of Golf at The International in Bolton. He's a Champions Tour rookie, but since he didn't turn 50 until late May, he only gets half a season to prove himself and that's a tall order.

Making it even more difficult is the closed-shop mentality of Champions Tour officials. One of Hanefeld's chances, the Bank of America Championship at Nashawtuc CC, was canceled and he inquired about pushing the reshuffle back one tournament.

``I thought that was fair," Hanefeld said.

Champions Tour officials, to no one's surprise, thought otherwise. They are more in tune with protecting the playing privileges of guys who are long past competitive, folks like Chi Chi Rodriguez, who shamelessly has a spot in the Ford Senior Players Championship.

Rodriguez, 70, has played six competitive rounds this year and here are his scores: 88, 80, 89, 80, 83, 82. Terrific, if you're talking temperatures, but if you're talking golf scores, they are hardly something the Champions Tour should accept in good conscience.

It would be better for the competitive balance if officials would embrace guys like Hanefeld.

Etc.

It was an impressive march into the winner's circle for Brittany Lincicome at the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship last week. Not only did she dispatch Juli Inkster in the final, the 20-year-old upended Wie in the quarterfinals and Lorena Ochoa in the semifinals. ``Coming through all those players and beating all of them, it means I actually did deserve to win this tournament," said Lincicome, who received $500,000. Not that the payoff registered with her. ``I'm not going to spend any of this money," she said. ``[I'm going to] invest it or pay my car off or help my parents out or anything [like that], but I'm not buying myself anything. I'm saving. I spent enough last year. By losing in the quarterfinals, Wie was given credit for a share of fifth place, meaning she's finished no worse than T-5 in her five starts this season. Her $444,951 in earnings is unofficial since Wie is not an LPGA member, but if it did count, she'd be 15th on the money list.

When Allen Doyle won at Prairie Dunes, it continued a rather remarkable run of success in America's heartland for a couple of true New Englanders, Doyle and Dana Quigley. ``We've each got three out here and I don't have any explanation for it," said Doyle. The previous week, Quigley had won the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic for the third time, an event that has been played in Kansas City, Mo., and in Overland Park, Kan. Doyle has won that tournament twice -- once in Kansas City, Mo., once in Parkville, Mo. Now he's triumphed at Prairie Dunes.

Fairway news: The Golf Channel names Nick Faldo lead analyst for its PGA Tour broadcasts.

Clubhouse view: Of course, he didn't get the prime job there -- host of ``The Big Break, Part 57."

Fairway news: With En-Joie CC in Endicott, N.Y., damaged from recent flooding, the upcoming B.C. Open will be moved to Atunyote GC at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, N.Y.

Clubhouse view: There's a 120,000-square-foot casino on site, which makes you wonder if John Daly isn't considering the B.C. Open over the British Open.

Nancy Lopez has committed to play in the BJ's Charity Championship Aug. 4-6 at Granite Links GC in Quincy. The Hall of Famer made a pro-am appearance, but did not play in the main event in last year's debut. This year, she made sure to clear her schedule. ``I'm thrilled to have the opportunity," said Lopez, who'll be paired with Val Skinner. The tournament is part of The Legends Tour for women 45 and older and will feature a $500,000 purse.

There was a blast from the past at the US Senior Open thanks to one Phillip McClelland O'Grady , better known as ``Mac." The eccentric one shot 75-74 and missed the cut by two shots in his first start on the Champions Tour. Not surprisingly, he's philosophically against the Champions Tour as it's currently set up, feeling that 60 should be the minimum age. Being 55, O'Grady figures he might give it a try in five years . . . Toward the end of their recent US Women's Open playoff at Newport CC, Pat Hurst turned to Annika Sorenstam and asked for an autographed golf ball as they made their way up the 18th fairway. Sorenstam replied, ``You can ask for anything, anytime. You don't have to wait until the 18th hole of a US Open playoff." . . . In the days leading up to that US Women's Open, Sorenstam became a US citizen. Why? ``I like it here," said the Swede, who has spent the majority of her time in the United States for the past 16 years. ``This is where I'll spend my time, the way I look at it, and I'll probably be here the rest of my life. I thought it was the appropriate thing to do." Yes, she maintained her Swedish citizenship and will remain part of the European Solheim Cup team.

A closing nine of thoughts and observations as we ponder whether the USGA -- had it been running the World Cup -- would have brought back Italy and France for a five-goal shootout on Monday, rather than hold it at the conclusion of regulation.

With David Toms having withdrawn from the British Open with a sore back, it continued a rough stretch for him in the majors. Dating to the Masters of 2005, he has missed two cuts, withdrawn twice, and been disqualified once in seven major starts.

Daly made the cut at the Western Open to earn his first check since April. Still, at $173,636, he ranks 166th on the money list.

Speaking of money, Rocco Mediate made $6,668,045 in four seasons starting in 2000, but in 54 tournaments since 2004, he has totaled $1,033,187.

Yes, that was former phenom Ty Tryon finishing tied for 30th in the most recent Gateway Tour stop in Florida.

Americans once again were in short supply at Local Final Qualifying for the British Open with the only notable names being Kevin Stadler, Tim Petrovic, and Scott Dunlap. Stadler came closest, missing a playoff by one shot.

With seven tournaments left, there are five unproven rookies in the top 10 in the US Ryder Cup standings -- J.J. Henry, Zach Johnson, Brett Wetterich, Vaughn Taylor, and Lucas Glover.

That's why US captain Tom Lehman has asked for a clarification: Can Tiger Woods play a four-ball match by himself? And ditto Phil Mickelson.

The feel-good story of the US Open -- 15-year-old Tadd Fujikawa -- proved again he has game. He shot 75-71 and easily made it into match play of the US Amateur Public Links Championship.