Jared Taylor of Bluefield, Va., is using the $1,000 scholarship he earned on the International Junior Golf Tour during the IJGT's 1998-1999 season to attend Bluefield College.

Graphite Design International shafts were most popular on the Japan PGA Tour for a whopping 65th consecutive week at least weekend's Sun-Chlorella Classic, as GDI won the top shaft brand and manufacturer titles in drivers and fairway woods, according to Darrell Survey.

Srixon Sports announces that Mike Cummings is its national salesman of the year for 2003-2004.

Newport National Golf Club in Middletown, R.I., is the latest golf course to receive its HoleView Environmental Yardage Book, signifying it as an Audubon International prestigious certified cooperative sanctuary course.

Chris Davenport joins the staff of SportsTravel magazine as the marketing manager responsible for the Eastern U.S.

It has been written that if the wind kicks up at this week's PGA Championship at Whistling

Straits, scores could be astronomical and this could be the mother of all majors. A cut line of double digits over par has not been completely dismissed.

Prior to this week, many players had gotten only a glimpse of this so-called monster, which measures in as the longest of any major course ever. As players have arrived this week in Kohler, Wisc., and taken their early-week practice licks, the early reviews are that Pete Dye's design is a fair test.

Said Tiger Woods on Tuesday: This is an absolutely fantastic facility. The golf course is going to be difficult this week if the wind blows. It's going to be an interesting test this week, especially if the wind stays up like this all week.

But where have we heard that before? Try two months ago in the days leading up to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

This is going to be a fantastic tournament with the golf course the way it is, the way it's set up, said Woods at the time. I mean, it's one of the best setups I've ever seen. It's fair, it's difficult. The winds are blowing this year, so it's going to be a great test. I'm sure it'll be one that all the players will certainly enjoy.

By week's end many players were cursing the golf Gods or maybe just the U.S. Golf Association for what they believed were unfair playing conditions.

At Shinnecock, the problem was not so much the weather as it was the conditions of the greens especially on Sunday and specifically on only a few holes. That still didn't keep Retief Goosen from totaling just 26 putts in the final round to secure a two-stroke win, somewhat negating the complaints.

This week, hardly a negative word has been spoken about Herb Kohler's creation. Sergio Garcia calls it the toughest course he's ever played, but mainly because of the potential for wind. But narrow fairways? Not really says Woods. Too long for the short hitter? Nope, it is more about position, says Mickelson.

This is all politically correct rhetoric, but with a hint of worry.

If the whistling winds actually do come gusting in off the lake, then Whistling Straits could easily become as lethal as Carnoustie '99 and Shinnecock '04 mixed together.

But part of dealing with Whistling Straits is about perspective. If a player thinks it's difficult, then chances are it will play difficult. Or they could take the Fred Funk approach.

"I think it's a course where you get a comfort level, because once you get comfortable with your lines of sight and the visuals, throw the fu-fu out and it's a normal golf course," Funk said.