League Notes
In L.A., Peter Yoon reported the PGA Tour's Player Advisory Council (PAC) has recommended that the Tour's "current cut policy be scrapped and a new one, which includes a second cut after 54 holes, be implemented." The PAC met this week at Riviera Country Club and recommended the Tour "revert to a 36-hole cut of top 70 and ties, as it had been on the tour since 1969, but to make an additional cut to top 70 after three rounds when the number of players making the first cut exceeds 78." The current cut rule calls for no more than 78 players advancing to the third round. If more than this number make the cut, "some are sent home with last-place money to keep the field size down." Yoon noted many players "have voiced opposition" to the new cut rule, as it "prevents players from being able to improve their positions -- and money -- if they are sent home." The new policy must be adopted by the Policy Board, which will meet February 25 at the Honda Classic, and if approved "could be in play as soon as March 6" at the PODS Championship (L.A. TIMES, 2/16).
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George Says Merger Talks With
Champ Car Are Progressing |
WHEEL DEAL: ESPN.com's John Oreovicz reported "high-level sources" from both the IRL and the Champ Car World Series "confirmed to ESPN.com that negotiations continue" about a possible merger of the leagues beginning this year. Time is "becoming a critical factor," however, with the IRL Series opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway March 29. Champ Car co-Owner Kevin Kalkhoven: "We continue to see advantages in a merger with the IRL. Equally, we are quite happy to go it alone. At the moment, we're going Champ Car racing." IRL Founder Tony George: "Things are progressing, but (the process is) delicate and complicated" (ESPN.com, 2/18).
NOTES: In San Diego, Nick Canepa wrote the NFL's decision to play one game per season overseas beginning with Saints-Chargers in October '08 "isn't going to work." Canepa: "The NFL isn't meant to be anywhere else, for the simple reason that it doesn't play enough games." He added, "Losing a home game in the NFL is huge. Losing a home game in New Orleans is worse" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/18).... The AFL will allow fans to name a charitable arm of the league, in an effort to expand its charitable functions in '08. Voting will be conducted on www.arenafootball.com from February 18-22 (AFL).
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