On the tee
LPGA Tour
Samsung World Championship
Site: Palm Desert, Calif.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course (6,644 yards, par 72).
Purse: $1 million. Winner's share: $250,000.
TV: Golf Channel (Thursday, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Friday, 12:30-2:30 a.m., 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30-4:30 a.m.) and NBC (Saturday, 12:30-2:30 p.m.; Sunday, 3-5 p.m.).
Last year: Lorena Ochoa closed with a 7-under 65 to turn a 3-shot deficit into a 2-shot victory over Annika Sorenstam. The victory was Ochoa's second straight and the fifth of her six 2006 titles.
Last week: Norway's Suzann Pettersen won the Longs Drugs Challenge for her third victory of the year, beating Ochoa with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff.
Notes: Sorenstam turned down an invitation Friday, saying she didn't want to cause hardship with any players who felt she might be taking their spot in the 20-player field. In an effort to upgrade the event, organizers last week eliminated a criteria that hadn't been used in nine years -- the option to exempt the U.S. Women's Amateur champion -- and replaced it with an exemption for an active Hall of Fame member. That spot went to Sorenstam, a five-time winner in the event. When Sorenstam declined the invitation, Sarah Lee made the field off the money list. … Michelle Wie received a special exemption.
On the Web: www.lpga.com
PGA Tour
Frys.com Open
Site: Las Vegas.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Courses: TPC Summerlin (7,243 yards, par 72) and TPC The Canyons (7,063 yards, par 71).
Purse: $4 million. Winner's share: $720,000.
TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m., 8:30-11:30 p.m.).
Last year: Rookie Troy Matteson won his first PGA Tour title, edging Ben Crane and Daniel Chopra by a stroke.
Last week: Justin Leonard won the Texas Open for the third time, beating Jesper Parnevik with a 10-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff. The Texan also won the 2000 and 2001 tournaments.
Notes: The tournament is the fourth of seven Fall Series events. … Mark Calcavecchia is making his first start since tying for second in the Tour Championship. He won the PODS Championship in March for his 13th tour title and is 13th on the money list with $2,925,332. … Presidents Cup players Scott Verplank and Mike Weir also are in the field. … Tadd Fujikawa received a sponsor exemption. The 16-year-old from Hawaii missed the cut in the Reno-Tahoe Open in his pro debut and also failed to qualify for weekend play in the European Masters and the Nationwide Tour's Boise Open.
On the Web: www.pgatour.com
European Tour
World Match Play Championship
Site: Virginia Water, England.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Wentworth Club, West Course (7,308 yards, par 72).
Purse: $4.97 million. Winner's share: $2,035,200.
TV: Golf Channel (Thursday, 9 a.m.-noon; Friday, 8-11 a.m.; Saturday, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; Sunday, 8-11 a.m.
Draw (from top; seedings in parentheses): Paul Casey (1) vs. Jerry Kelly (16); Retief Goosen (8) vs. Angel Cabrera (9); Justin Rose (5) vs. Hunter Mahan (12); Rory Sabbatini (4) vs. Soren Hansen (13); Padraig Harrington (3) vs. Anders Hansen (14); Henrik Stenson (6) vs. Woody Austin (11); Niclas Fasth (7) vs. Andres Romero (10); Ernie Els (2) vs. Colin Montgomerie (15).
Last year: Casey beat American Shaun Micheel 10 and 8, the largest margin in the final match in tournament history. Casey played only 126 holes, a record for fewest holes over four 36-hole matches. He also beat Goosen (6 and 4), Mike Weir (5 and 3) and Montgomerie (6 and 5). Micheel beat Tiger Woods in the first round.
Last week: England's Nick Dougherty won the Dunhill Links Championship, closing with a 1-under 71 at St. Andrews for a 2-stroke victory over Rose.
Note: All matches are 36 holes.
On the Web: www.hsbcgolf.com www.europeantour.com
Madrid Open
Site: Madrid, Spain.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola Club de Campo (7,146 yards, par 72).
Purse: $1.26 million. Winner's share: $210,675.
TV: Golf Channel (Thursday, noon-3 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, noon-3 p.m.).
Last year: England's Ian Poulter won at La Moraleja II, finishing with a 22-under 266 total for a 5-stroke victory.
On the Web: www.europeantour.com
Champions Tour
Administaff Small Business Classic
Site: Spring, Texas.
Schedule: Friday-Sunday.
Course: Augusta Pines Golf Club (7,033 yards, par 70).
Purse: $1.7 million. Winner's share: $255,000.
TV: Golf Channel (Friday, 1-3 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 12:30-2:30 a.m., 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Monday, 12:30-2:30 a.m.).
Last year: Jay Haas won the last of his four 2006 titles when rain forced the cancellation of the final round. He opened with rounds of 65 and 63 to take a 5-stroke lead over Bruce Lietzke and Tom Purtzer.
Last week: Loren Roberts won the Senior Players Championship for his third major victory on the Champions Tour, beating Tom Watson by 6 strokes.
Note: John Cook is making his Champions Tour debut. The 11-time PGA Tour winner turned 50 on Oct. 2.
On the Web: www.pgatour.com