Mark Calcavecchia

Mark Calcavecchia shot an eight-under-par 64 on Friday at Del Monte to take a two-stroke lead over Tom Pernice Jr. in the Champions Tour's First Tee Open. Pernice played his round at Pebble Beach, the other course being used in the event on the 50-and-over tour. Calcavecchia, in his first season on the Champions Tour after winning 13 times on the PGA Tour, capped his bogey-free first round with a birdie on the par-five ninth hole to equal his career low on the senior circuit.

Russ Cochran won the Senior British Open by two shots Sunday, holding off fellow Americans Mark Calcavecchia and the fast-finishing Tom Watson to capture his first major title at Walton on the Hill, England. The 52-year-old Cochran claimed the winner's check of $310,000 after making six birdies in a nerveless five-under-par 67 in his final round at Walton Heath, closing at 12 under. It was Cochran's third victory on the Champions Tour but his first this season.

Mark Calcavecchia might flinch when recalling his disappointing finish in the Greater Hartford Open, but he is delighted to discuss his victory in the British Open 51 weeks ago. "What did winning it do for me?" he said. "Made me money." As in Brink's armored car loads. Before winning the title he will defend starting Thursday at St. Andrews Golf Club in Scotland, Calcavecchia said he felt fortunate to receive a $20,000 guarantee to play in the 1989 Swiss Open.

Bo Van Pelt birdied four of his last five holes, including the final two, to finish with five-under-par 65 on Saturday and a one-stroke lead after three rounds at the RBC Canadian Open at Vancouver. Canadian Adam Hadwin, playing on a sponsor's exemption, missed a 12-foot birdie putt on 18 to finish with a 68, and alone in second at four-under 206. Andres Romero (67) and first-round leader Kris Blanks (69) are tied for third, two shots back, after another tough day in the thick rough at Shaugnessy Golf and Country Club.

Mark Calcavecchia birdied five of the first six holes and eagled the ninth en route to a course-record seven-under 66 and the first-round lead in the $750,000 tournament at Kapalua, Hawaii.

"That was bad for him to say, because $1 million to him is like $10 to everyone else." Mark Calcavecchia, on Tiger Woods saying he would rather win $1 million at the American Express Championship than win the Ryder Cup.

Mark Calcavecchia shot a final-round 71 Sunday for a one-stroke victory over Dave Barr and Bill Glasson in the Spalding Invitational Pro-Am mixed-field golf tournament. Calcavecchia's four-day total was a 10-under-par 276. Colleen Walker finished the best among five LPGA players in the mixed field, shooting a 71 for a 283.

Worst finishes by defending champion at British Open (1970-1998): 1. Mark Calcavecchia tied 101st in 1990 2. Mark O'Meara tied 99th in 1999 3. Seve Ballesteros 76th in 1989 4. Tom Watson 67th in 1976 5. John Daly tied 66th in 1996 6. Justin Leonard 55th in 1998 Source: World Features Syndicate

British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia will not be allowed to use his Ping Eye 2 irons to defend his title this summer at St. Andrews because they do not conform to regulations. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which sets golf rules outside the United States, said that it will allow amateurs to use the clubs through 1996 but that pros will be barred from using them.

Though Tiger Woods might be among the walking wounded, his name now is on the roster for the Players Championship next week in Ponte Vedra Beach. Woods officially entered the PGA Tour's flagship event at midday Friday, ending speculation about his availability after taking himself out of this week's Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina with knee and Achilles' tendon problems. "Looking forward to the competition next week," Woods told his Twitter followers in announcing his entry.

Mark Calcavecchia shot an eight-under-par 64 on Friday at Del Monte to take a two-stroke lead over Tom Pernice Jr. in the Champions Tour's First Tee Open. Pernice played his round at Pebble Beach, the other course being used in the event on the 50-and-over tour. Calcavecchia, in his first season on the Champions Tour after winning 13 times on the PGA Tour, capped his bogey-free first round with a birdie on the par-five ninth hole to equal his career low on the senior circuit.

Mark Calcavecchia, ready to leave after opening with a 75, survived some wild swings Sunday to win the PODS Championship when Heath Slocum missed a four-foot par putt on the final hole in Palm Harbor, Fla. Calcavecchia closed with a one-under 70 and never lost the lead, but it wasn't easy. He had a two-shot lead and stood over a four-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole that he missed.

One round into the PODS Championship at Palm Harbor, Fla., and Mark Calcavecchia already had his bags packed to go home. He wasn't quitting. He was just being honest. Calcavecchia had been in a major slump with his putter, so bad that he went through five clubs in five rounds. And when he took 36 putts in the opening round on his way to a 75, he figured this would be a short week. "All I had sitting out was a pair of shorts and a T-shirt," he said. "I was ready for the fast exit."

"That was bad for him to say, because $1 million to him is like $10 to everyone else." Mark Calcavecchia, on Tiger Woods saying he would rather win $1 million at the American Express Championship than win the Ryder Cup.

A good short game and some luck can save a golf score. Mark Calcavecchia proved that Thursday. Calcavecchia made three miraculous pars in the middle of his round, then needed only 11 putts over his last 11 holes to shoot a seven-under-par 65 for the first-day lead in the PGA's Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic in North Carolina. Calcavecchia's bogey-free round at Forest Oaks Country Club was good enough for a one-shot lead over Paul Stankowski.

In answering the question, "Whatever happened to Mark O'Meara?" the answer was provided by Mark O'Meara, who tied the PGA Championship record Friday with a second-round 63. O'Meara, who hasn't had a top-10 finish this year, turns 45 in January and hasn't been heard from in the majors since 1998, when he had the year of his career. He won the Masters and the British Open at Royal Birkdale and was fourth at the PGA at Sahalee.