The PGA Tour heads to San Antonio this week for the Valero Texas Open. This event has been a PGA event since 1922, but how much do you really know about it? Here are a few facts: * The Texas Open has been sponsored by San Antonio-based Valero Energy since 2002. * The event is played at the Westin La Cantera Resort golf course. * The winner earns $1,098,000 out of a total purse of $6.1 million. * Past winners include Justin Leonard (three times) and Arnold Palmer (three times). * The tournament record (254) was set by Tommy Armour III in 2003. * La Cantera is a par 70, 6896-yard course. * Zach Johnson (pictured above) is the defending champion. * This year’s field includes Johnson, Justin Leonard, Daniel Chopra, Alex Cejka, and... [Read more]

Cristie Kerr sailed easily to a two stroke victory at the Michelob Ultra Open, carding a -16 for the tournament and winning her second title at the Michelob Ultra Open. Kerr, 31, joined the LPGA in 1997 and won the Michelob Ultra Open in 2005. She has 15 professional wins, including 12 on the LPGA Tour. In-Kyung Kim of South Korea finished second with -14. Fellow Korean, Song-Hee Kim tied with Lindsey Wright for third place. The Michelob Open is played in May each year at Williamsburg’s Kingsmill Resort and Spa. The winner’s share of the $2.2 million purse is $330,000. Kerr is known outside of golfing circles for her appearance during the third season of Donald Trump’s reality television show, “The Apprentice.”... [Read more]

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson prevails today at Florida’s TPC Sawgrass course to win the Player’s Championship. The 33-year-old PGA veteran earns $1,710,000 for his effort. Stenson started the day in a four-way tie for second place with Tiger Woods, Ian Poulter, and Ben Crane. Alex Cejka led the field going into the final round. However, Stenson’s 66 today was good enough to give him sole possession of first place, and he finished at -12 for the tournament, four strokes better than Poulter. Crane finished tied for fifth place and Woods finished eighth. Cejka ended the tournament tied for ninth place. This is Stenson’s 11th professional win and his second PGA Tour victory. He won the WGC-Accenture Match Play tournament... [Read more]

Edwin “Bud” Shrake, the co-author of the classic golf book, “Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book,” died Friday in Austin of lung cancer. He was 77. Shrake was a journalist and author. He worked for several newspapers, including the “Dallas Times Herald” and the “Dallas Morning News” before writing for “Sports Illustrated.” Shrake is the author of ten books, but it was his collaboration with golf pro and teacher, Harvey Penick, for which he is best known. “Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book,” published in 1992, includes golf tips and golf wisdom from the coach to such pros as Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Judy Kimball, and Betsy Rawls. Shrake is survived by two sons and... [Read more]

The LG Skins Game, a Thanksgiving weekend tradition for almost 30 years, appears to be the latest victim of the downturn in the economy. Organizers of the popular event that marks the end of the PGA season, say they plan to resume the tournament in 2010. The Skins Game is unique in that prize money is awarded for every hole and in that only four golfers are invited to participate. The total prize money available is $1 million, with $25,000 awarded to the winner of holes 1-6, $50,000 for holes 7-12, $70,000 for holes 13-17, and $200,000 for the winner of the 18th hole. The event is held at Palm Springs’ Indian Wells Resort. Last year’s winner was K. J. Choi (pictured above). Fred Couples has won the event a record five times and... [Read more]