A Look Back: Aug. 15    1948: Babe Zaharias' third professional victory is the U.S. Women's Open, winning by eight strokes over Betty Hicks with an even-par 300. Zaharias would win three Open titles.    1965: Texan Dave Marr wins the PGA Championship at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa. Two shots back in second are Billy Casper and Jack Nicklaus.    1982: Virtual unknown Tim Norris shoots a sizzling 25-under-par 259 -- two strokes off the then-PGA Tour record for 72 holes -- to win the Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open.    1992: Three years after her first U.S. Women's Amateur title, Vicki Goetze, 19, defeats Annika Sorenstam 1 up at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Long Grove, Ill.    1993: Paul Azinger triumphs over Greg Norman in a two-hole playoff to win the PGA Championship at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.

Real Estate
National Golf Properties, Inc., reports funds from operations of $16.1 million for the quarter ending June 30, 2001, up from $13.4 million in the same period last year. The diluted share price was $0.78 for the quarter compared to $0.64 per diluted share in the prior year.
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People
Spalding Sports Worldwide announces the promotion of Scott White to Category Director of Golf Balls and David Lowe to Category Director of Golf Clubs. White and Lowe will be responsible for the development and execution of brand strategies, new products, and advertising and promotions within their respective categories.
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Book4golf.com, a North American Internet tee time reservation network, announces that Presdeint and COO Kim Robinson has resigned, but will remain as a member of its Board of Directors.
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Apparel
Tommy Bahama, a men's golf apparel and accessories company, selects CHAMP ScorpionSpikes for its new collection of men's golf shoes.
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Hartmarx Corporation, which makes the Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus lines of golf apparel, confirms it has received a proposal from investor group The Lincoln Company to acquire all of Hartmarx Corporation's outstanding common stock at $4.50 per share.
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Publications
Published, "333 Best Websites for Golfers," a new book written and published by Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D, whose staff scoured over 25,000 golf URLs over the past three years to find the top 333.
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Associations
Professional Caddies Association will launch the PCA Eagle Guide Caddie program.
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Commentary
U.S. Ryder Cup race is PGA subplot

  There is a common perception by people who just do not know better that the PGA Championship is the weakest link of the four majors. Sure, the year's final major has lacked the aura of Augusta and regal tradition of both the U.S. and British Opens over the years.

  But give the PGA of America a little credit for attempting to elevate this event's status -- it's the 21st century, after all. The PGA Championship draws the strongest of the four fields and is seeking old-school venues -- Valhalla not included -- to contest its championship. Plus, Tiger Woods has won the last two titles, so how bad can it be?

  If for no other reason, the PGA Championship is compelling every odd-numbered year because it marks the end of the U.S. Ryder Cup race. The top 10 Americans in the point standings at the conclusion of the PGA Championship will automatically earn spots on the team. At present, only four players have clinched spots on the team, but most likely only two, possibly three, automatic spots could be determined by what transpires at the Atlantic Athletic Club. Monday, U.S. captain Curtis Strange will announce his two wild card picks.

  Mathematically, a player as low as Franklin Langham at No. 34 on the points standings has a chance of securing a place among the top 10 -- albeit about the liklihood of a No. 16 seed winning the NCAA Championship.

  For Chris DiMarco and Joe Durant, who sit at Nos. 11 and 12 on the points list, these are anxious times. Both are within spitting distance of the top 10, Durant having been inside the safe confines most of the season until Jim Furyk's tie for second at the Buick Open last week bumped him off the bubble.

  But neither has played in a Ryder Cup -- or a Presidents Cup, for that matter -- and the possibility of Strange using both picks on DiMarco and Durant is not likely. Especially considering Brad Faxon and Paul Azinger are in positions 13 and 19 on the list and have combined for five Ryder Cup appearances -- and, in their 40s, are drooling for one more trip.

  So if the PGA Championship fails to give us a classic finish like Woods and Bob May gave the world last year, at least there is the Ryder Cup points finish. And that may have the world talking right up until the Americans tee it up at The Belfry next month.

 

POS.	PLAYER	POINTS
1	Tiger Woods	2,447.500
2	Phil Mickelson	1,530.625
3	David Duval	1,010.000
4	Davis Love III	749.500
5	Mark Calcavecchia	635.375
6	Hal Sutton	613.000
7	Scott Hoch	597.000
8	Jim Furyk	587.875
9	Stewart Cink	586.625
10	Tom Lehman	543.750
11	Chris DiMarco	534.000
12	Joe Durant	505.000
13	Brad Faxon	496.500
14	David Toms	455.000
15	Frank Lickliter	452.410
16	Rocco Mediate	450.000
17	Scott Verplank	448.500
18	Jeff Sluman	394.500
19	Paul Azinger	389.667
20	Kirk Triplett	385.952