Gillespie: Five things I know

CROUCHING TIGER II

Here’s an image to store away from the PGA Tour’s AT&T National: winner Anthony Kim on Sunday, accepting congratulations from injured tournament host Tiger Woods via his cell phone. The occasionally brash 23-year-old Californian is the leader in the clubhouse for the next generation’s Tiger. First he wins the Wachovia Championship, one of Woods’ favorite events, and now he wins Tiger’s own tournament. And to think, Woods once considered Kim’s trademark monster belt buckles tacky. Looking pretty good now.

ANOTHER MAC ATTACK

Conway’s Kristy McPherson came oh, so close to winning her first LPGA Tour title on Sunday at the P&G Beauty Northwest Arkansas Championship. How close? She made a double-bogey 7 at the par-5 14th hole (flying the green on a bunker shot) and finished two shots behind winner Seon Hwa Lee. Still, it was the former USC All-American’s best finish in two years since moving up from the Futures Tour. Also, her first-round 64 was a career best, topping a 66 on the same course a year ago. Arkansas is SEC country, after all.

SIGNS OF LIFE

Two weeks ago, after Columbia native Charles Warren’s eighth missed cut (and one withdrawal) in 10 PGA Tour events, you wondered if the former Clemson All-American was doomed to slide back to the Nationwide Tour, where he spent five seasons. But Warren posted his second consecutive top-30 finish, tying for 27th at the AT&T National, on top of a tie for 17th at the previous week’s Buick Open. The difference? In 26 rounds starting Feb. 2, the ex-Tiger had only two rounds in the 60s; the past two weeks, he’s been in the 60s six of eight rounds.

DON’T CRY, ARGENTINA

When Angel Cabrera won the 2007 U.S. Open, he became the second Argentine (after Roberto DeVicenzo) to win a major. Eduardo Romero, who won the 2006 Jeld-Wen Tradition (a Champions Tour major) and was Cabrera’s mentor for years, won his second U.S. title Sunday, capturing the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open. Cabrera has a surly edge, but Romero was the epitome of class when he lost in the final round of the 2007 Senior PGA at Kiawah’s Ocean Course. “This (win) is very important for Latin America, especially Argentina,” he said. Maybe; Romero’s example is more important.

MISSING THE ACTION

Woods watched “his” tournament on TV from his Florida home after doctors warned him that flying wasn’t a good idea for his still-healing (and swollen) left knee. But text-messaging is second nature for the world’s No. 1 player, and he said during an AT&T National teleconference that “everyone will probably get annoyed with me because I’m calling all the time.” In fact, most of his peers are glad to get Tiger’s calls; that means he’s not on the golf course taking money out of their pockets. Just so long as he doesn’t stay away too long; that REALLY would hurt their wallets.