Azinger feels sting of disqualification

By Michael Whitmer, Globe Staff  |  June 26, 2009

CROMWELL, Conn. - Paul Azinger, who captained the United States Ryder Cup team to victory last year and is a two-time winner of the Travelers Championship, could be playing in one of his last PGA Tour events. It ended in disqualification.

Azinger is playing on Tour this year on a major medical extension, and had five tournaments to earn $568,521. This was his fifth start of the year; in the first four, he missed three cuts and made only $10,800. Now that he’s played five without earning the required amount, Azinger will be left to request sponsor’s exemptions to get into more events, although as the winner of the 1993 PGA Championship, he’s exempt into the year’s final major.

What will he do? “Get a tan. Wait until I turn 50,’’ said Azinger, who would be eligible for the Champions Tour after turning 50, which comes in January.

Azinger shot a first-round 68, but was subsequently disqualified for playing a nonconforming golf ball. According to the PGA Tour, due to a label issue, a Callaway ball he used yesterday became nonconforming earlier this month. Azinger realized the mistake after he had signed his scorecard, and called the infraction on himself.

Ricky Barnes, runner-up at last week’s US Open, kept up his good play, shooting a bogey-free 65. “I hit a lot of quality shots,’’ he said. “Kind of reminiscent of last week. My misses were in the right spot.’’

Barnes is third on a six-tournament money list that will award two spots to the British Open, with this being the fifth event (next week’s AT&T National is the sixth). John Mallinger leads the list, but he’s not playing this week. Kevin Na (first-round 67) is second, with Barnes third, nearly $85,000 ahead of Bryce Molder, who is fourth. Barnes has played in one British Open, missing the cut in 2003.

David Toms was in a great mood even before going out and shooting a 5-under 65. A Louisiana State graduate, Toms watched his Tigers win the NCAA baseball title, staying up late on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. That gives him bragging rights on Texas alum Justin Leonard. “Justin walked in this morning and said, ‘I don’t want to hear it,’ ’’ Toms said. “I was like, ‘Hey, I wasn’t going to say a word.’ ’’

Sergio Garcia was glued to a different sporting event Wednesday, and this one didn’t go his way. Garcia watched the US upset Spain, 2-0, in the semifinals of soccer’s Confederations Cup, but was gracious in defeat. “The US team played well and deserved to win,’’ said Garcia. Paired with Anthony Kim, who beat him, 5 and 4, in singles in last year’s Ryder Cup, Garcia shot 67.

In recognition of the upcoming Tour de France, some Nike-sponsored players this week have yellow “LIVESTRONG’’ golf bags, which will be auctioned off following the tournament, with proceeds benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation . . . Brett Quigley, who competed with his uncle, Dana, in the CVS Caremark Charity Classic at Rhode Island Country Club earlier this week, withdrew before the first round, citing a knee injury. He was replaced by Frank Lickliter . . . Tag Ridings used a 9-iron to make a hole-in-one on the 153-yard 11th hole. Ridings shot 64 and is three off the lead . . . Connecticut native J.J. Henry started his round well, making an eagle on the par-4 first hole. Henry, who shot 66, holed a gap wedge from 114 yards . . . Dustin Johnson withdrew after the round because of a wrist injury.