Annika Sorenstam will make her 2008 LPGA Tour season debut at the SBS Open in Hawaii. Sorenstam, who played a limited schedule last year with injuries, has said she plans to enter as many as 20 tournaments this year. Paula Creamer is the defending SBS Open champion … U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger has changed the format of the competition, reversing the order of the team matches on the first two days of competition. The four best ball matches will now follow four foursome matches … The Arthur Hills course at Palmetto Dunes in Hilton Head, S.C., is a thinking golfer’s ...

Michelle Wie will make her 2008 season debut in Hawaii at The Fields Open at Ka Olina. Wie, who was offered a sponsor’s exemption, is hoping to right her professional golf career after an unimpressive 2007 season that saw her struggle with chronic wrist injuries … In the TraveGolf.com This Week podcast, Brandon Tucker tells host Dave Berner about the cool golf gadgets he discovered at this year’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

Tiger Woods shot a 1-under-par 71 yesterday to win his fourth consecutive Buick Invitational title. His command eight-stroke victory was his 62nd as a pro, tying Arnold Palmer for the fourth most career wins … “I’m sure that there are many, many more coming in the future,” Palmer told the media. “There isn’t any question about that.” Meanwhile, Australian golfer Adam Scott carded an 11-under 61 Sunday to win the Qatar Masters in Doha. He defeated Henrik Stenson, who ended with a total 271, for his 14th career title … At TravelGolf.com, Brandon Tucker writes about the great golf courses at the ...

Despite a tough day playing from the sand, round and behind trees, Tiger Woods shot a 5-under 67 in the first round of his 2008 PGA Tour debut at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines. The effort left him tied for third, two shots behind Troy Matteson. Woods is going for his fourth straight Buick Invitational title. Phil Mickleson opened his season with a 70. Meanwhile, Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman returned to the airwaves, issuing a 21-second apology at the start of the telecast Thursday. It was her first appearance after serving a two-week suspension for saying Woods’ peers should ...

The Buick Invitational kicks off today, and both Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods will be competing in their first event of the 2008 PGA Tour season. There was concern that a respiratory problem might keep Mickelson out of the event, but thethree-time major champion has said he’s ready to play … An eye problem will keep Retief Goosen from playing in the Qatar Masters. The defending champion had corrective laser surgery 10 days ago, and he noticed his vision was beginning to blur in one eye in a practice round Tuesday, prompting him to withdraw from the event … At TravelGolf.com, Senior ...

Phil Mickelson could miss the Buick Invitational, his first scheduled PGA Tour event of 2008, because of a respiratory problem he’s been struggling with since October. Mickelson has reportedly been suffering from heavy congestion, shortness of breath and fatique since October, around the time his neighborhood in Southern California was damaged by wildfire. His condition worsened over the weekend, and a doctor told him to stay in bed for two days Monday … In Tiger Wood’s first public comments since Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman’s two-week suspension, Woods said Tilghman had no ill intent when she used the term “lynch” during ...

D.J. Trahan overcame a four-shot deficit Sunday to win the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Shooting a final-round 7-under-par 65, the 27-year-old defeated 11-time PGA Tour winner Justin Leonard … “You certainly don’t feel particularly optimistic about it when you’re playing against a guy like Justin Leonard,” Trahan told reporters. “I wasn’t playing against a rookie who was in the lead for the first time.” Meanwhile, Fred Funk got off to a strong start on the Champions Tour, winning the season-opening MasterCard Championship. Funk, who will also compete on the PGA Tour this year, shot a 7-under-par 65 to defeat Allen Doyle by ...

Dave Seanor, the vice president and editor of Golfweek, has been replaced immediately by Jeff Babineau. The action comes as a result of GolfWeek’s recent edition featuring a noose on the cover to accompany its story on Kelly Tilghman’s recent remarks on The Golf Channel. From Doug Ferguson at the Associated Press: Golfweek apologized Friday for putting a noose on the cover of its magazine to illustrate the controversy over a Golf Channel anchor’s use of “lynch” in a comment about Tiger Woods. The editor responsible for the cover was replaced. “We apologize for creating this graphic cover that received extreme negative reaction ...

D.J. Trahan has a piece of the lead at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, having shot an 8-under-par 64 yesterday at La Quinta Country Club. Robert Gamez shot a 65 in windy conditions to become the co-leader … Meanwhile, European Tour rookie Martin Kaymer carded a 6-under 66 yesterday to lead the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. He’s one shot ahead of Henrik Stenson. Adam Scott is tied for third … In the TravelGolf.com This Week podcast, host Dave Berner talks to Brandon Tucker about new upscale golf courses in Myrtle Beach.

Joe Durant shot a 7-under-par 65 yesterday for a piece of the first-round lead at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Desert, Calif. Durant, a former Bob Hope champion, had two eagles in his round … Black Mountain Golf & Country Club near Las Vegas is an excellent place for a relaxing round of golf, Mike Bailey writes at LasVegasGolf.com.

K.J. Choi finished with a 1-over-par 71 yesterday to win the Sony Open in Hawaii for his seventh career PGA Tour title. He defeated Rory Sabbatini by three shots. This is Choi’s fourth consecutive year with a PGA Tour victory … Richard Sterne of South Africa defeated Garth Mulroy in a sudden-death playoff yesterday to win the Johannesburg Open. After shooting a 6-under 65 to force the playoff, Sterne won the event on the second extra hole … At TravelGolf.com, Tim McDonald writes about the best golf resorts in Alabama, including the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa in Florence.

K.J. Choi shot a 6-under-par 64 yesterday for a one-shot lead at the Sony Open. Jimmy Walker is tied for second with Heath Slocum, Boo Weekley and Stephen Marino after shooting a 65 at Waialae Country Club … Meanwhile, Tyrone Ferreira of South Africa made a strong professional debut at the Joburg Open Thursday, carding a 6-under-par 65 for a piece of the lead. Ferreira was the No. 1 amateur in South Africa in 2007 … Biloxi is a great place to get in a little golf and gambling on a three-day weekend, Tim McDonald writes at GulfCoastGolf.com.

The Golf Channel has suspended anchor Kelly Tilghman for two weeks for her comment during a discussion of Tiger Woods at the Mercedes-Benz Championship that young PGA Tour players should “lynch him in a back alley.” Though Woods’ camp has dismissed the comment as a “complete non-issue,” the suspension follows calls by Rev. Al Sharpton that Tilghman be fired … In the TravelGolf.com This Week podcast, host Dave Berner talks to PGA instructor Chuck Evans about keeping your golf game sharp even in cold weather.

Daniel Chopra defeated Steve Stricker on the fourth playoff hole at Kapalua’s Plantation Course yesterday to win the PGA Tour season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship. Chopra finished with a 7-under-par 66 … “It’s the best final round I’ve ever played to win a tournament,” Chopra told reporters. At GolfEurope.com, Brandon Tucker helps you select the best region in Scotland for your next Scotland golf vacation.

Nick Watney is the first round leader at the Mercedes-Benz Championship after shooting a 5-under-par 68 yesterday on the Plantation Course at Kapalua. He had only one bogey en route to a one-shot lead over Daniel Chopra. Surprisingly, Brandt Snedeker, who’s been struggling with the flu, led most of the day until an errant tee shot on No. 17 contributed to a double bogey-bogey finish … In the TravelGolf.com This Week podcast, host Dave Berner talks to golf writer Brandon Tucker about his best moments covering the golf world last year.