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NAPLES, Fla. -- An impressive field will descend on Naples next week for
the 17th annual Franklin Templeton Shootout. Here are some interesting
facts about the careers of this special group.
Qualified for THE TOUR Championship: Six of the 24 players in the field
have qualified for this week's THE TOUR Championship in Atlanta. The field
consists of the top 30 players on the Official PGA TOUR Money List through
October 30. Shootout participants who earned a spot in this exclusive event
are Kenny Perry (6th), Fred Funk (10th), Adam Scott (13th), Mark
Calcavecchia (22nd), Olin Browne (24th) and Tim Herron (29th).
PGA TOUR Victories: The 24 players in the field have 181 total victories.
Something In Common: While it may not be a secret to their success,
two-time defending champions Jeff Sluman and Hank Kuehne do share something
interesting. Both were born on September 11 -- Sluman in 1957 and Kuehne in
1975.
Making The Cut: Two players in the Shootout are among the top in making
cuts week-to-week on the PGA TOUR. Scott is currently ranked 4th with 13
consecutive cuts made and Perry is 6th with 10 consecutive events in the
money.
World Golf Rankings: Six players in the field are ranked among the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings - Scott (8th), Perry (10th), Fred Couples (22nd), John Daly (26rd), Fred Funk (39th), Herron (48th).
Nice Fall Finish: During September, three players competing in the Shootout
collected victories on three consecutive Sunday's on the PGA TOUR. Browne
got the ball rolling when he won the Deutsche Bank Championship September
5, Calcavecchia won the following Sunday at the Bell Canadian Open and on
September 18, Jason Gore captured the 84 Lumber Classic.
Top-10 Talent: Four players in the Shootout field are ranked among the top
20 on the PGA TOUR this year with top-10 finishes. Herron and Perry share
the 8th spot with seven top 10 finishes. Calcavecchia and Scott are ranked
19th with five top-10 finishes.
JD's Longest Drive: Daly's longest recorded drive of the season was 399
yards, the longest boom among those coming to Naples.
Q-School Champs: Early stages of the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament are
underway. Two players in the field earned medalist honors at the PGA TOUR
Qualifying Tournament Final--Paul Azinger in 1984 and John Huston in 1987.
Major Championship Titles: Included in the field are nine major champions
who have combined for 14 major championship titles including Greg Norman
(1986 and 1993 British Open), who is joined by Nick Price (1992 PGA
Championship, 1984 British Open, 1984 PGA Championship), Mark O'Meara (1998
Masters and 1998 British Open), Couples (1992 Masters), Steve Elkington
(1995 PGA Championship), Azinger (1993 PGA Championship), Calcavecchia
(1989 British Open) and Sluman (1988 PGA Championship).
Vardon Trophy Winners: Two players in the field won Vardon Trophy honors
which is given annually by the PGA of America to the professional golfer
with the lowest scoring average for a season. Norman won the distinguished
honor three times - in 1989 (69.49), 1990 (69.10) and 1994 (68.81) and
Steve Elkington won it in 1995 (69.62).
Low Numbers: Three players in the field set new milestones toward the
all-time TOUR records for scoring during their careers. Calcavecchia shot
65-60-64-67--256 for a 72-hole record in winning the 2001 Phoenix Open; John
Cook fired 64-62-63--189 for the lowest opening 54-hole total at the 1996
FedEx St. Jude Classic which Calcavecchia later tied. Finally, Huston shot
28-under-par 260 at the 1998 United Airlines Hawaiian Open to break Mike
Souchak's record, which stood since 1955. Another record Calcavecchia later
tied.
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