This Week in Golf

PGA Tour - This week's Turning Stone Resort Championship marks the beginning of what is called the "Fall Series" on the PGA Tour. Basically, it gives the less known players a chance to earn some money and possibly a 2010 Tour exemption by winning an event. Since the PGA Tour Playoffs were put into place, very few of the top 50 Tour players enter any of the Fall Series events. This week is no exception. Turning Stone is a resort in upstate New York with a nice and difficult golf course. This tournament is only a few years old, and honestly, I have never seen one hole of it. However, I will make my prediction of Australian Robert Allenby as the champion come Sunday. Allenby has been a consistent player for a number of years now, and he is one of the more talented golfers in the field this week. My sleeper this week will be veteran Davis Love III. I am not sure why he chose to play here, but I am always glad to see popular names supporting smaller-market events. The Golf Channel will cover all four rounds.

Champions Tour - The seniors will be at Baltimore Country Club for the fifth major championship of their season, the Senior Players. My boy, Tom Lehman, is not in the field for some unknown reason. Therefore, my pick to win will be another sharp ball-striker, Nick Price. However, I will be pulling for my favorite Illinois State alum, D.A. Weibring, to defend his sole major title.

The King - The 80-year-old Arnold Palmer will be only the second golfer to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. The White House announced that the most popular golfer of the twentieth century would receive its highest civilian award. Lord Byron Nelson and George Washington were also a recipients. Personally, Palmer is a deserving recipient. I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with the legend at his course design in Bloomington, and he is quite the gentleman.