Golf: Five Things I Know

KENTUCKY KENNY A RYDER LOCK

Meet Kenny Perry, the second all-but-guaranteed member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, joining Phil Mickelson and not counting Tiger Woods, whose knee surgery makes him a candidate to serve as an assistant captain to Paul Azinger. Though Perry, who won his second Buick Open, will skip a second consecutive major (British Open) to play in Milwaukee, he is set for Valhalla, the Ryder Cup site less than an hour from his old Kentucky home.

MY PUTTER, MY ... FRIEND?

What a great TV shot at the Buick Open: Woody Austin, kissing his putter; not quite his Presidents Cup "Aquaman" shtick, but close. That was a double dose of irony: Before his lake-diving stunt, Austin was best known for bending a putter by slamming it against his head years ago at the Verizon Heritage. Maybe Woody gave it too much love too soon, though: He three-putted Sunday's last two holes for bogeys and lost by a shot.

AMAZING ANNIKA

Annika Sorenstam has not added to her total of 10 major titles in this, her final LPGA season, but she's leaving us a slew of memories. Sunday at the U.S. Women's Open, a dozen shots out of the lead, Annika electrified the 18th-hole gallery by dunking her 199-yard approach with a 6-iron for an eagle. Sorenstam's "I did what?" reaction was perfect, and the crowd’s roars cascaded over her as she walked to the green.

KOREANS ON A ROLL

Ten years ago, Se Ri Pak won the U.S. Women's Open, opening the floodgates for Koreans on the LPGA Tour. The latest champion, Inbee Park, watched that tournament as a 9-year-old in Seoul; Sunday, she became the latest of three Korean LPGA Tour winners the past four weeks. That matches the 2007 victory total for Koreans, and Park became the second 19-year-old to win a 2008 major, joining LPGA champ Yani Tseng.

LOVE THOSE GM EVENTS

At year's end, former Clemson All-Americans Lucas Glover and Charles Warren will think fondly of last week's Buick Open. Glover's tie for seventh (16-under par) was his best finish since April's Verizon Heritage (also a tie for seventh), and his $161,250 payday was his best of 2008. Columbia native Warren's tie for 17th (at 13-under), worth $63,250, was his top showing and biggest check since he tied for third at the FBR Open in February.