... and Open Thread ...

PGA Tour
Phil Mickelson reached the final hole at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial tied with Rod Pampling and Tim Clark. Then he hit a wayward drive, way left. But this time, he recovered, playing a fantastic shot from amidst thick trees, slicing the ball around and over and to about 12 feet from the cup. Then he made the birdie putt for the victory.

Story | Scores

European Tour
Miguel Angel Jimenez became the first golfer to win the so-called "BMW treble" when he defeated Oliver Wilson the second playoff hole at the BMW PGA Championship. Jimenez had previous won the BMW Asian Open and the BMW International Open. Jimenez's final-round 68 included an ace on the fifth hole. Luke Donald and Robert Karlsson tied for third.

Story | Scores

Champions Tour
Jay Haas made five bogeys and only one birdie on Sunday - but that was good enough on a very tough Oak Hill Country Club to win the Senior PGA Championship. Haas shot 74 and finished at 7-over, one stroke better than Bernhard Langer. Greg Norman, making a rare Champions Tour appearance, finished tied for sixth.

Story | Scores

Nationwide Tour
Another birdie on the final hole for the win, this time by Jeff Klauk at the Melwood Prince George's County Open. Klauk's final-hole heroics kept him out of a playoff against Jeff Brehaut.

Scores

LPGA Tour
In the 295th start of her LPGA career, Leta Lindley is finally a winner. Lindley posted a final-round 67 to tie third-round leader Jeong Jang (who shot 68), then beat Jang with a birdie putt on the first playoff hole.

Story | Scores

Ladies European Tour
Suzann Pettersen was awarded the crown at the Ladies Swiss Open when tournament officials decided the course was too water-logged after heavy rains to play the fourth round. Pettersen would most likely have won anyway, since her 54-hole lead was six strokes over Amy Yang.

Story | Scores

Did you know there's a major championship taking place this week? A Champions Tour major - the Senior PGA Championship. I'd bet that many golf fans aren't aware this is a major week, and that many of those who are aware don't care.

But, then, apparently, quite a few Champions Tour players don't care either:

It began almost two weeks ago when the first big name in the field, Ben Crenshaw, informed the PGA of America that he was going to have to withdraw from the Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.

A few days later Fred Funk pulled out because of an injury, and then Lanny Wadkins and Gary Player cited personal reasons for not coming to play.

Sunday, shortly after winning the Regent Charity Classic in Alabama, Andy Bean pulled out as well.

Crenshaw withdrew because of a "scheduling conflict." Fulton Allem withdrew to play in the Colonial, where he is a past champion and has zero chance (not that anyone cares whether - or where - Fulton Allem is playing).

Curtis Strange and Mark McCumber withdrew. So did Bob Charles, Larry Nelson and Dave Stockton. Four of the Top 30 players on the money list have withdrawn. So far, 26 players total have withdrawn.

And Andy Bean - what's up with that? The guy won last week, he should be racing to Oak Hill for this tournament.

Hey, if the Champions Tour players themselves don't care about this tournament, why should I?