McNeil, 39 others survive Q-School; Seve Ballesteros to return; USGA teams with AMEX

George McNeil ran away with the victory at the PGA Tour qualifying tournament, joining 39 other players who earned their PGA Tour cards for next year.

On a day full of drama at PGA West’s Stadium Course in La Quinta, Calif., Rich Barcelo, Alex Cejka, Paul Stankowski, Glen Day, Paul Gow and Michael Bradley were some of the players who made it through the stressful, six-round Q-School to earn a right to play on Tour next season. The top 30 and ties earned cards, with 12 players tied for 29th at 8-under …

Seve Ballesteros is planning to return to competitive golf in 2007, and said he will play in several PGA events leading up to the Masters, where he will play for the first time since 2003. Ballesteros, a five-time major winner, will turn 50 a week after the Masters and plans to join the Champions Tour afterward and play a “significant schedule” on the 50-and-over tour …

The U.S. Golf Association announced a multiyear deal making American Express its first corporate partner. One of the oldest sports organizations in the nation, the USGA had previously avoided corporate sponsorship. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.