Pga Tour

Ten-time PGA Tour champion Larry Nelson and CBS golf analyst Gary McCord have commited to play in the State Farm Senior Classic at Hobbit's Glen Golf Club July 3-9 in Columbia. Nelson, the winner of the three major championships on the PGA Tour, has made his presence known on the Senior Tour since he became a full-time member in 1998. He recorded six victories (including this year's Las Vegas Senior Classic) and is currently third on the money list with $781,300. McCord is best known for his dry wit and insightful analysis on CBS, though he has won twice and earned over $1.2 million in only 29 starts on the Senior Tour The pair join a competitive field, featuring Gary Player, defending champion Christy O'Connor, former Ryder Cup captain Dave Stockton and Vicente Fernandez.

A word not often associated with the Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club -- change -- is applicable once again.First, the club this summer altered four holes, adding 60 yards to the course and putting more of a demand on accuracy.Now, Augusta National has revised its stipulations for invitation to the season's first major. Three of the changes will be effective for the 1999 Masters; the rest begin with the 2000 tournament.Changes for the 1999 Masters:The top 50 players from the World Golf Rankings at the end of the calendar year will qualify, if they aren't in the field.

After three years in Columbia, the State Farm Senior Classic will move next summer to Hayfields Country Club in Hunt Valley. The $1.45 million PGA Senior Tour event is scheduled to be played July 27-29. The tournament will be held at Hayfields for at least the next three years, with an option through 2005, according to Brian Thompson, the president of the Fore Baltimore Foundation. "Hopefully, it will have a tremendous impact," Thompson said of the move, which had been anticipated for the past month.

John Daly announced yesterday that he was checking himself into a rehabilitation center for an alcohol-related problem, and he has withdrawn from the Pro Stakes Golf Championship at Dove Canyon Country Club near Rancho Santa Margarita on Saturday and Sunday.A replacement for Daly, the winner of the PGA Championship in 1991, is expected to be announced today, said Dave Williams, the president of SPO Productions, which is organizing the event. Peter Jacobsen, Fuzzy Zoeller and Craig Stadler are the other three scheduled to compete.

ESIC Realty gets $80 million in investment authority Columbia-based ESIC Realty Partners Inc. has been awarded $80 million in investment authority through the federal government's New Markets Tax Credit program, which it will use to provide capital for revitalization development projects. ESIC Realty, a subsidiary of the Enterprise Social Investment Corp., focuses its efforts on emerging and underserved markets. Since it was formed in 2002, it has received a total of $310 million in investment authority through the tax credit program, funding projects in cities ranging from Baltimore to Omaha, Neb. Baltimore Realtors to hold awards breakfast May 25 The Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors will hold its annual awards breakfast May 25. Realtor of the Year, Rookie Realtor of the Year, Affiliate of the Year, Distinguished Sales Associate and Community Service awards will be given.

Corporate and charity golf outings are big business, often relying on the charisma and marketability of PGA Tour and LPGA players to make events successful.Such was partially the case at Caves Valley Golf Club yesterday. Big business was represented and a dozen PGA Tour players were there -- but because they wanted to be, not because they had been paid to show.Although such pros as Fred Funk, Bernhard Langer, Larry Mize, Larry Nelson and Scott Simpson drew the attention of Caves Valley members and friends, it was another who drew the attention of the pros.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Bear is growling again, and although Jack Nicklaus may not be happy with his golf game, he can still beat the best on the Senior PGA Tour.Nicklaus turned back the challenge of tough Isao Aoki on the third playoff hole yesterday at Desert Mountain to win his third Tradition."I was tickled pink," Nicklaus said. "I hadn't won in two years, and this was tough. It just shows that hard work can pay off. I played better today, and winning makes it great."It's a great finish when all three in the final group shoot 67s. I'm very encouraged.

A golf tournament is a golf tournament. George Washburn says he has been boring that idea into his brain all week. The last "serious" tournament Washburn said he took part in was the Frederick City Championship last August. Yesterday, he played in the first round of the U.S. Senior Open at Caves Valley Golf Club. "That's quite a change, isn't it?" said Washburn, who resides in Frederick and was one of three players to make the Open - his first pro tournament - at the Mitchellville sectional qualifier.

ROCKVILLE -- Three recent collegiate standouts led the way, as U.S. Open sectional qualifying wrapped up a two-day stay at Woodmont Country Club. A heavy thunderstorm early Monday evening had forced a suspension of play. With two holes left, and needing to pick up one stroke to make a playoff, Lee Williams, a recent Auburn University graduate, avoided that by holing out a 111-yard shot on the 17th hole of the North Course for an eagle-2. The 2003 Walker Cup player parred the last hole for 67-67--134.

Billy Hurley III came into the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club having missed the cut in six of his previous seven PGA Tour events. A week playing before friends and family proved to be the perfect panacea for the former Navy standout. The 30-year-old tour rookie, who put off his professional career while finishing his five-year military commitment, had his best tournament since getting his playing card last fall. Hurley finished tied for fourth at 4-under par 280 after a 1-over par 72 Sunday.