Mon Oct 29 15:09:46 2007

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This Week in Golf - November 1st through November 4th

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - PGA TOUR - CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK CLASSIC, Disney's Magnolia & Disney's Palm Course, Lake Buena Vista, Florida - For the final stop in its 2007 schedule, the PGA Tour is going to Disney World.

Formerly the FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney, the newly-named Children's Miracle Network Classic is the last of seven events that make up the tour's Fall Series, a time of year when the fields are normally light on stars and heavy with players trying to make enough money to keep their status for next season.

It is the last chance for players to earn exempt status for the 2008 FedEx Cup or improve their positions on the money list and in the world rankings to ensure positions in major championships, invitationals and World Golf Championships events next season.

The first two rounds will feature one professional and one amateur team each day. The amateurs will play with a different professional in the second round, but they will not play on the weekend.

Last year, Joe Durant carded three straight rounds of 65 or better to win by four shots over Frank Lickliter and Troy Matteson. It was his fourth PGA Tour win and first since 2001, and it helped him crack the top 15 on the 2006 money list.

Durant will be looking to become the sixth player to win this tournament more than once, a list that includes Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

The field will also get a jolt from 16-year-old Tadd Fujikawa, who was became the youngest player ever to qualify for the U.S. Open when he made the field at Winged Foot in 2006.

The Golf Channel will have coverage of all four rounds. The remaining PGA Tour schedule this year includes events like the World Cup, the LG Skins Game, Q- school, the Merrill Lynch Shootout and the Target World Challenge -- the so- called "Silly Season" by some.

EUROPEAN TOUR

VOLVO MASTERS, Club de Golf Valderrama, Sotogrande, Cadiz, Spain - The race for the 2007 European Tour Order of Merit crown ends this week with the last event of the season, the Volvo Masters.

Ernie Els is currently No. 1 on the money list, but there are four players with a chance to surpass the South African for the Harry Vardon Trophy: British Open winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who won it last season; England's Justin Rose; and Henrik Stenson and Niclas Fasth of Sweden.

Harrington, currently second behind Els, is the only one of the challengers who has claimed an Order of Merit title before. Rose (No. 3), Stenson (No. 4) and Fasth (No. 5) will all be looking for their first.

The top 60 players on the money list will be joined in the field by a host of past champions as the event celebrates its 20th year.

Last year, Jeev Milkha Singh shot a one-over 72 in the final round but still beat Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia and Harrington by a stroke for his second victory of the season. Harrington's tie for second place gave him enough money to surpass Paul Casey for his first Order of Merit title.

The Golf Channel will have coverage of all four rounds.

LPGA TOUR

MIZUNO CLASSIC, Kashikojima Country Club in Shima City, Mie, Japan - The LPGA Tour wraps up its three-week swing in Asia this week with the Mizuno Classic.

Last year, Karrie Webb carded three rounds in the 60s to beat Kaori Higo by four shots for her fifth victory of the season. It was also the last time Webb, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, has won.

Annika Sorenstam tied for third place last year, ending her bid to extend her own LPGA Tour record for consecutive victories in the same event. She had won the previous five Mizuno Classics.

Sorenstam will not be in the field this week, nor will No. 1 Lorena Ochoa or last week's winner in Thailand, Suzann Pettersen.

The LPGA Tour has two more events remaining on the 2007 schedule: the Tournament of Champions and the ADT Championship.

NATIONWIDE TOUR

NATIONWIDE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, Barona Creek Golf Club, Lakeside, California - Last year's Nationwide Tour Championship served as a microcosm of what the developmental circuit is all about.

Craig Kanada chipped in on the last two holes -- for par at the 17th and birdie at the 18th -- and beat Andrew Buckle and Matt Kuchar by two shots to claim his second title of the season and earn enough money to make the PGA Tour.

This year's event will be held at Barona Creek Golf Club, located in San Diego County. The PGA Tour announced last week that the event would be played as scheduled despite the recent wildfires that have devastated the area.

"We conducted a very thorough evaluation throughout this week of the situation in and around the Barona Creek area. After consulting with a variety of San Diego County civic and public health and safety officials, we have concluded that we are able to move ahead with the tournament as originally scheduled," said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee.

The Golf Channel will have coverage of all four rounds. Only the top 60 players on the money list make the field, with the top 25 at the end of the tournament earning PGA Tour cards for next season.