A Look Back: Oct. 17 1913: Johnny McDermott wins the Western Open, defeating Mike Brady by seven strokes at Memphis Country Club. 1969: Ernie Els, a two-time U.S. Open champion, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. 1976: Butch Baird defeats Miller Barber in a playoff to win the Texas Open. 1993: Jay Haas defeats Bob Lohr in a playoff to win the Texas Open. 1999: Jim Furyk edges Jonathan Kaye by one stroke to win the Las Vegas Invitational for the third time. Furyk also won in 1995 and 1998.

People
The Golf Channel co-founder, president and CEO, Joseph Gibbs, announces his resignation from the network effective Dec. 31 in order to devote time to his own venture capital firm called Gibbs Investments. David Manougian, current COO, will take his place.
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Events
Companies which signed up for hospitality packages at the postponed 2001 Ryder Cup can transfer those arrangements to the 2002 matches or receive a 70 percent refund, Ryder Cup Ltd. announces.
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The Kiawah Children's Hospital Classic, to be held Oct. 18-21 in South Carolina, features a two-day pro-am with Celebrity Players Tour golfers and the Delta Celebrity Challenge on Oct. 22 where celebs are paired with PGA Tour pros. Proceeds benefit Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Children's Hospital and tickets are still available.
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An Oct. 23 Shell's Wonderful World of Golf match to air on ESPN will now feature competition between LPGA Tour stars Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam. The battle, originally scheduled to show Oct. 30, has been switched with a Shigeki Maruyama vs. Craig Stadler match.
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Courses
Mexican golf resort community Cabo del Sol suffers only minor damage from Hurricane Juliette and its famed The Ocean Course is open for play. The opening of the new Tom Weiskopf-designed The Desert Course, set for Nov. 9, has been delayed until around Christmas time.
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Technology
Doral Golf Resort and Spa's five golf courses join the GolfSwitch Network and license GolfSwitch technology that will allow the courses to display and book tee times on the Web.
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Travel
Three different mileage incentive programs on American Airlines, Delta Airlines and America West Airlines where golfers can earn up to 500 miles on individual green fees at participating Troon Golf-managed courses. Troon Golf manages and markets upscale golf facilities around the world.
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Commentary
USGA Changes Tradition

Sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong.

On Monday the USGA announced decisions that will change how they conduct some of their championships in the future. Some of the changes were needed.

In the past the USGA only used an 18-hole qualifier to determine its field for the U.S. Women's Open. With an event that is arguably the most important event in women's golf, a mere 18 holes for qualifying did not seem appropriate, the USGA agreed. The change to 36 holes will be a fairer test and eliminate those players who may have just one good round in them.

The USGA also has decided to expand the finals of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links from 18 holes to 36 holes. The men's counterpart has been 36 holes since 1975.

These two decisions effectively bring the USGA into the 21st century and the association should be applauded for treating women equally to men in its championships. These were not bold steps, but necessary steps and changes that allow for better championships. Now if they would create equal purses in the men's and women's Opens we would be on absolutely equal footing -- but that's for another discussion.

The one change that is a disappointment is the move to two tees in the first two rounds of the U.S. Open.

Going off two tees Thursday and Friday shouldn't be a big deal. It will allow for more daylight to work with if inclement weather strikes during those two days, which is completely understandable.

So what's the problem?

With golf changing on a daily basis, balls that go 50 yards further than two years ago and clubs that know only straight and shafts that allow anyone to hit any shot that is required, it was nice to have one thing that you could count on -- history.

The USGA is the guardian of the game. Its protection -- which to some may be misguided -- has always been what it believed was in the best interest of the game. We have no doubt USGA officials believe this decision is also in the best interest, but it is a change that alters the championship from a historical perspective. Call us sappy.

This is the U.S. Open, it is not the Buick Classic. It has certain qualities that belong to the U.S. Open and one of them is one-tee starts.

We fear they are gone forever, like mashie-niblicks, stymies and 500-yard par-fives.