Scott Verplank

Scott Verplank, who last year became the first amateur golfer to win a PGA Tour event in 31 years, said he will turn professional at the U.S. Open.

Scott Verplank shot his second straight eight-under-par 64 Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., the final official PGA Tour event of the year. Steve Marino (66) and Troy Matteson (68) were tied for second. Friday was cut day in the event that ends the race for spots in the top 125 on the money list, the cutoff for a full 2009 PGA Tour exemption.

Scott Verplank took a big step Thursday on the long road back from career-threatening elbow surgery with a superb putting exhibition that gave him a share of the first-round lead in the Doral-Ryder Open. "It's simple: I made it from everywhere," Verplank said after using only 22 putts in an eight-birdie round of 65 on Doral's Blue Monster course. Verplank made putts of 20, 40 and 35 feet on three of the first four holes and one-putted eight times on that side, to go out in 31.

Scott Verplank, who as a teenager growing up in Dallas got to know and play several rounds with Byron Nelson, used three consecutive birdies and an incredible par save from a bunker at the 17th hole to win the first EDS Byron Nelson Championship played without its namesake. After the victory Sunday at Irving, Texas, Verplank dropped into a squatting position and looked skyward, almost in disbelief -- and to say thanks to the golfer he revered.

Scott Verplank has been where Phil Mickelson has been. He has been the guy with the "a-" next to his name who turned up on top of a PGA tournament field as the sun set on a Sunday evening. He has experienced the ballyhoo. No, it does not go unnoticed when an amateur, no matter how good an amateur, wins a professional golf tournament. It takes golf out of the small type in every newspaper on the continent, and maybe elsewhere.

Ray Stewart followed an opening-day 63 with a two-under-par 70 on Friday for a one-stroke lead halfway through the Greater Milwaukee Open. Stewart, who was tied for the lead with Jim Thorpe after one round, had two bogeys and four birdies Friday, giving him a 36-hole total of 133--11 under par and one stroke ahead of Ken Green. Scott Verplank had seven consecutive birdies and shot a 62, one stroke off the course record set by Green when he won the tournament in 1988.

Scott Verplank, who knew success as an amateur but has had little of it as a pro, matched his first-round 66 Friday to take a two-stroke lead in the second round of the $700,000 Buick Open golf tournament at Grand Blanc, Mich. Verplank, who has struggled since winning the 1985 Western Open while still an amateur, was at 12-under-par 132. Howard Twitty was next at 134 after shooting a 65, the best round of the tournament. "I had the same amount of fun today as yesterday," Verplank said.

Scott Verplank, trying to live up to the promise he showed by winning a PGA Tour tournament three years ago while still an amateur golfer, shot a 6-under-par 66 Thursday to earn a share of the first-round lead in the $700,000 Buick Open at Grand Blanc, Mich. Fred Couples, Scott Hoch, George Archer, Tim Simpson and Greg Ladehoff were tied with Verplank. "I don't care what I shoot," said Verplank, who won the 1985 Western Open a year before turning pro. "I'm sick of trying to control my score.

Scott Verplank, the first amateur in six years to lead a PGA tournament, shot a four-under-par 68 for a one-stroke advantage Thursday after the first round of the $500,000 Western Open in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook. Verplank, the current national amateur champion, became the first amateur to lead a tour event since Bobby Clampett shared the first-round lead in this tournament in 1979.

*--* 1. Tiger Woods 7 $2,255,857 2. Joe Durant 9 1,778,672 3. Vijay Singh 8 1,758,495 4. Phil Mickelson 9 1,511,702 5. Davis Love III 8 1,468,050 6. Mark Calcavecchia 7 1,266,633 7. Brad Faxon 9 1,235,310 8. Mike Weir 8 1,214,940 9. Steve Stricker 7 1,175,070 10. Jim Furyk 7 957,050 11. Scott McCarron 9 910,819 12. Tom Lehman 9 904,973 13. Robert Allenby 9 833,976 14. Ernie Els 8 826,275 15. Jesper Parnevik 10 797,516 16. Jeff Sluman 9 792,014 17. Frank Lickliter II 9 727,433 18.

Scott Verplank and Justin Rose are the co-leaders, after 36 holes, at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. With two rounds down and three to go, however, it's not much to get worked up over. Yet. "I don't even know how many holes it is, 90 is it?" Rose joked. Ninety it is, and they haven't even reached the halfway point. Verplank and Rose emerged from the four-course scrum of amateur, celebrity and professional golfers to share the lead at 12-under-par 132.

Scott Verplank is 42, he hasn't won a tournament in five years, he has had bad feet, shoulders and elbows, and if the U.S. upsets Europe in the Ryder Cup, he'll probably be one of the reasons. Verplank is playing on the Ryder Cup team for the second time as a captain's pick, this time because Tom Lehman chose him, even though he was 20th in the points list. Lehman said he had his reasons, and they are clear-cut, even if they are intangible.

Scott Verplank, never known for distance off the tee, had no problem with the newly lengthened course at the FBR Open. Verplank solved the TPC of Scottsdale with an eight-under-par 63 Thursday and leads the tournament formerly known as the Phoenix Open by one stroke over Phil Mickelson. Mickelson, four days removed from his victory in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, had six of his eight birdies after the turn and shot a 64.

Scott Verplank enjoys his annual trip to New Orleans regardless of how he plays, because it gives him a chance to reminisce about a dear, departed friend. After shooting a nine-under-par 63 Friday in the second round of the HP Classic, this year's visit has a chance to be extra special for Verplank. His 16-under 128 gave him a three-stroke lead and a 36-hole tournament record as the par-72, 7,116-yard course continued to yield low scores.

Tiger Woods was plenty sore Friday, but not because of his back. A three-putt bogey on the final hole spoiled an otherwise solid round in the Tour Championship at Houston and left Woods five strokes behind the 36-hole leader, Scott Verplank, who knows something about injuries himself. Verplank, who went through three elbow injuries that nearly ended his career, had six birdies and a momentum-saving par save from the bunker on No.

First came the comeback bid from Tiger Woods, then a gutsy challenge by hometown favorite Scott Verplank. Robert Damron withstood it all Sunday to win the Byron Nelson Classic at Irving, Texas, on the fourth playoff hole for his first PGA Tour victory. Damron, after leaving two potential winning putts on the lip, rolled an 18-footer into the heart of the cup on the par-three 17th and thrust his fist into the air. Verplank's birdie putt from 15 feet never had a chance.

Scott Verplank and Justin Rose are the co-leaders, after 36 holes, at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. With two rounds down and three to go, however, it's not much to get worked up over. Yet. "I don't even know how many holes it is, 90 is it?" Rose joked. Ninety it is, and they haven't even reached the halfway point. Verplank and Rose emerged from the four-course scrum of amateur, celebrity and professional golfers to share the lead at 12-under-par 132.

* Where: Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades. * When: Final round today. * Schedule: Play begins at 8 a.m., weather permitting. * Prize money: $3.4 million. Winner's share: $612,000. * Defending champion: Kirk Triplett. * Television: Noon-3 p.m., Channel 2. * Parking: Shuttle service to and from the Longworth entrance of Riviera from the Veterans Administration Hospital parking lot. * Tickets: $20, with a discount book of 12 for $180. Ticketmaster, (877) 614-6245. * On the Net: http://www.

*--* 1. Tiger Woods 7 $2,255,857 2. Joe Durant 9 1,778,672 3. Vijay Singh 8 1,758,495 4. Phil Mickelson 9 1,511,702 5. Davis Love III 8 1,468,050 6. Mark Calcavecchia 7 1,266,633 7. Brad Faxon 9 1,235,310 8. Mike Weir 8 1,214,940 9. Steve Stricker 7 1,175,070 10. Jim Furyk 7 957,050 11. Scott McCarron 9 910,819 12. Tom Lehman 9 904,973 13. Robert Allenby 9 833,976 14. Ernie Els 8 826,275 15. Jesper Parnevik 10 797,516 16. Jeff Sluman 9 792,014 17. Frank Lickliter II 9 727,433 18.