No, US Tour commissioner doesn't know when Tiger's coming back

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
The Tiger Woods waiting and guessing game goes on - just when it looked as if a date for his comeback was going to be announced.
Excitement mounted when US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem called a teleconference today, but it was purely to announce a new tournament sponsorship deal.
==================
More News
McIlroy out of top 10
==================
Woods has been pictured practising and there has been mounting speculation that he could return to action in the unofficial Tavistock Cup next Monday and Tuesday, the Arnold Palmer Invitational later the same week or The Masters at August 8-11. But Finchem was unable to shed any light on any of that and there was no announcement on the world number one's website either.
"We have the general information that Tiger is preparing to play and there's been a lot of speculation about when he might come back out," said Finchem.
"Tiger's indicated to us that he will give us reasonable notice because we know we've got some preparation to do.
"But I don't have a specific date when he's going to come back and I can only assume, though, that all this speculation about late March and early April, if he is going to start back then, we will know soon. Beyond that I can't help you."

Nationwide Tour graduate Lamely wins Puerto Rico Open

US PGA Tour newcomer Derek Lamely won the weather-prolonged Puerto Rico Open which finished on the fifth day today over a the rain-softened Trump International Golf Club course tropical course at Rio Grande.
Lamely won with a 19-under-par total of 269, managing to outlast Kris Blanks (271) at a palm-fringed 7,526yd course which was deluged by rain early in the competition.
Lamely earned promotion to the tour by finishing fourth on the 2009 Nationwide Tour money list, earned $630,000 along with PGA Tour playing privileges through 2012.
Lamely had to watch his competitors for more than two hours to see if he'd be overtaken or forced into a sudden-death play-off.
FINAL TOTALS
(USA unless stated, par 288: 4x72):
269 Derek Lamely 69 71 63 66
271 Kris Blanks 65 70 67 69
272 Brendon De Jonge 69 68 67 68, James Nitties (Aus) 68 66 69 69, Steve Wheatcroft 68 67 67 70, Kevin Streelman 67 68 64 73
273 Bryce Molder 71 71 65 66, Woody Austin 69 68 66 70, Steve Elkington (Aus) 68 70 66 69
274 Bill Lunde 68 72 68 66, Chad Collins 69 65 68 72
275 Jeff Maggert 69 67 69 70, Paul Stankowski 66 70 68 71, Nicholas Thompson 68 69 69 69
276 Jeff Overton 66 70 67 73, Michael Bradley 71 67 68 70
277 Jeff Klauk 72 68 68 69, Kirk Triplett 69 69 66 73, Kevin Stadler 72 67 65 73, Henrik Bjornstad (Nor) 70 68 70 69, Marco Dawson 70 71 68 68, Skip Kendall 65 70 70 72, Cameron Tringale 69 69 69 70
278 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 70 70 68 70, Graham Delaet (Can) 67 69 69 73, Tom Pernice Jnr. 71 67 72 68, John Daly 69 73 66 70, Mark Calcavecchia 68 73 68 69, Guy Boros 71 67 69 71, Boo Weekley 74 68 69 67, Jimmy Walker 73 69 67 69, Jhonattan Vegas 69 67 68 74
279 Spencer Levin 69 69 69 72, Aron Price (Aus) 72 65 70 72, Martin Flores 71 70 68 70, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 72 67 69 71, Michael Connell 71 69 69 70
280 Kent Jones 68 74 68 70, J J Henry 70 69 68 73, Robert Garrigus 68 70 71 71, Kevin Johnson 70 66 71 73
281 Jeff Quinney 72 69 71 69, Craig Barlow 71 65 72 73, Johnson Wagner 70 69 69 73
282 Jonathan Kaye 73 69 67 73, Omar Uresti 70 72 71 69, Phil Tataurangi (Nzl) 72 69 71 70, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 67 73 69 73, Manuel Villegas (Col) 72 69 72 69, Shaun Micheel 73 69 68 72, Chez Reavie 70 71 66 75, Daniel Barbetti (Arg) 68 72 69 73, Rich Barcelo 70 72 68 72
283 Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 69 70 73 71, Jeff Gove 72 68 69 74, Steve Flesch 72 66 72 73, Matt Bettencourt 67 72 71 73
284 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 70 72 71 71, Billy Mayfair 69 73 71 71, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 69 71 73 71
285 Chris Stroud 76 66 73 70, Erik Compton 72 69 70 74, Chris DiMarco 68 72 72 73, Roger Tambellini 70 71 68 76
286 Jay Williamson 70 68 74 74, Jerod Turner 71 70 73 72
287 Cameron Percy (Aus) 69 72 70 76
288 Brent Delahoussaye 69 73 73 73, John Merrick 71 70 74 73
292 Steve Lowery 71 70 76 75

Paul Lawrie Foundation leading trophy-winners in 2009

Paul Lawrie Foundation's leading trophy winners in 2009 with their prizes at last night's junior conveners' evening at The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel. Left to right: Alex Wiseman (Order of Merit winner), Ryan Bain (boys' match-play champion again) and Louise McGillivray (girls' match-play champion, with, of course the man himself, writes Colin Farquharson.
I forgot to take my camera but I am sure that Paul will not mind me having "lifted" the above picture from his website!
Sad news that Murray Carnie is having to stand down as the Paul Lawrie Foundation Manager due to pressure of work - he is a P.E. teacher.
Murray has put in a power of work over the past three or four years and his successor, Iain, Powell, has a hard act to follow.
We'll be telling you more about Iain when the Media Release comes out. This is, in fact, a bit of a scoop for Scottishgolfview.com!

Next to playing in Ryder Cup, Paul would love to be one of Monty's lieutentants

Paul Lawrie conducted a Question-and-Answer session with the junior conveners and other guests. The 1999 Open champion has become quite polished in this routine - and that's a fact.
He expressed the opinion that Colin Montgomerie will be a "phenomenal" Ryder Cup team captain, having played in three Seve Trophy matches under Colin's captaincy, so Paul knows what he's talking about.
And Lawrie thinks that the European line-up is also shaping up to be a very powerful force.
Paul, who played in the 1999 Ryder Cup match at Brookline, Massachusetts after winning the Open at Carnoustie, would love to earn a place in Monty's team for the Celtic Manor Summit Meeting but, failing that, he would like to be one of Colin's lieutenants. Fingers crossed for you, Paul.
Paul responded to one question from the floor about just how good a player Tiger Woods is.
"I've played with him three or four times in tournaments, so I have seen him in action at close quarters .... even at 60 per cent of his powers, Tiger is good enough to beat anyone in any tournament .... he can play some shots that are not within my range, such as a three-iron out of a bunker, which carried a tall tree between him and the green, magnificent shot!"

Lawrie and Monty were partners four times in 1999 Ryder Cup match

+Paul Lawrie and Colin Montgomerie were paired together four times by skipper Mark James in the 1999 Ryder Cup match which the Americans won by a single point: 14 1/2-13 1/2.
Lawrie and Montgomrie beat David Duval and Phil Mickelson 3 and 2 in the lead-off foursomes on the first morning. In the afternoon, they again were first off the tee and got a halved match with Davis Love and Justin Leonard in the four-balls.
On the second day, Colin and Paul lost to Hal Sutton and Jeff Maggert by one hole in the morning foursomes but beat Steve Pate and Tiger Woods, no less, by 2 and 1 in the afternoon four-balls.
In the final set of singles on the Sunday, Lawrie completed what was a great Ryder Cup personally by performing the anchor role and beating Jeff Maggert 4 and 3.

Stephen Clark aims to be on

European Tour next year

Former United States college circuit player Stephen Clark is in Turkey this week for the TGI pro-am, having turned professional recently.

Stephen, born February 12, 1985, comes from Glasgow and was a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

"I had a pretty succesful time there, winning three times on the college circuit and achieving several top 10 finishes," recalls Clark.

He became the first player in the school's history to become Conference Player of the Year and the first golfer in the school's history to be named Athlete of the Year for the university, an award which normally is won by a basketball of (American) footb all player.

"I turned pro recently and had my first top 10 finish at the Major Golf Pro-am at Archerfield. I will be playing on the 2010 EuroPro Tour with the goal of getting on the European Tour for 2011.

"Another big target for 2010 is to qualify for the Open at St Andrews. I have recently become attached to The Carrick on Loch Lomond as a playing professional. I have been up there practising the last couple of weeks and feel that the world class facilities there will help me develop as a player.

"During the winter I have been working with Simon Payne with my long game and since joining the team at the Carrick I have been working with their new Head of Instruction, Spencer Edwards who has a wealth of knowledge and experience teaching players on the European Tour."

+When Stephen turned pro he had an amateur handicap of +4 (When Nick Faldo and Padraig Harrington turned pro, they both were +2!).

+Stephen played for Scotland at boys and youths level and was in Scotland men's squads.

+He was four times Ralston Golf Club junior champion and four times Glasgow boys' champion.

NORTH GOLF ALLIANCE REPORT

Liam pips Calum on card countback at Brora

By ROBIN WILSON
Two local teenagers, Liam MacDonald-Macleod (19) and Calum Stewart (17), left the Alliance's leading player, Tain's Munro Ferries, in the shade when playing their home course in Sunday's North Golf Alliance fixture at Brora.
Each local protege returned a gross card of one-over-par 70 and with a one-under-par inward half of 33, MacDonald, pictured by Robin Wilson, pegged back Stewart's outward lead of two strokes to make it into first place, adding his name to the list of scratch winners after a handicap win at Royal Dornoch last November.

Scottish junior cap Stewart matched his rival's outward 35 shots over the next nine holes but it was at the 13th and 14th holes where MacDonald made up ground with back-to-back birdies to win the card play-off.
Tain's left-hander Ferries finished with the fourth best score of the day, a 73, which matched his two earlier scores of 73 at both Royal Dornoch and Tain. After adding a 66 at Tarbat the previous week and an opening season 70 at Durness, the +2 handicapper, now with a four scores' total of 282, has built up a six-shot aggregate lead over Thurso's Bryan Ronald whose 77 at Brora did not improve his situation.

Ferries' lead should be a sufficient to guarantee retention of the Scratch Quaich with two fixtures remaining.
Reducing his previous net aggregate total of 283 by 10 shots to 273 with a superb handicap- winning score of 64 at Brora, Seann Sutherland (Bonar-Bridge/Ardgay) is on track to retain the Mackintosh Salver. He has gone ahead of Ronald's net 276 total by three with remaining fixtures left to play this weekend at Golspie on Saturday, followed by Reay on Sunday.

Tain's Andrew Watt occupies third net place with 277, Watt unable to improve on any of his counting scores at Brora. Missing a chance to get into the mix was Durness's Billy MacBain who unfortunately along with playing partners Alister Corbet and John Morrison disqualified themselves after discovering they had played from a wrong tee.
Sutherland has had two strokes taken from his handicap (8 to 6) for the final two events but he won't grumble too much after his gross 72 (38-34) for a net 64 was six ahead of the next best score in Class 1.

This came from former Alliance secretary Robin Wilson (Brora) who has been out of the prize lists for the whole of last season and all of the current while his handicap was rising to seven. But he got back into the scene with a closing birdie 2 for a gross 77, net 70, and second place. The local member finished two ahead of Tain pair, Steve Holmes and Alec Gunn.
The overnight rain and strong wind that had even blown out several of the flag poles from the greens had abated by morning but Brora's winter tee positions toughens several holes and this was reflected with no player in the Class 2 section getting close to the net par.

Three net 72s were separated into order by inward half counts and it was local Peter Etheridge, who came home in net 34, who got first place ahead of Jim Johnstone (Thurso) and Tain's Ali Melville.
As mentioned above, the final fixture is at Reay on Sunday but Golspie are giving three hours of their members' times on Saturday morning - 8.30 to 11.30am - to get all ten fixtures completed. RESULTS
Scratch

70 L MacDonald-Macleod (Brora) 37-33, C Stewart (Brora) 35-35.

72 S R S Sutherland (Bonar-Bridge/Ardgay) 38-34.

73 M Ferries (Tain) 38-35.

74 J Sangster (Thurso) 37-37.

75 B Ferries (Tain) 39-36.

76 S Holmes (Tain) 40-36).

Handicap

Class 1 – S R S Sutherland (BBA) (8) 64; R J Wilson (Brora) (7) 70; S Holmes (Tain) (4) (bih), A Gunn (Tain) (6) 72.

Class 2 – P Etheridge (Brora) (12) (bih), J Johnstone) (Thurso) (16), A Melville (Tain) (11) 72; D A Matheson (Brora) (15) 75.

Tartan Tour Scoreboard
WINTER SERIES (Four-ball, better-ball)
DUNDONALD LINKS
Par 72
65 Graeme Brown (Montrose) & Chris Kelly (Cawder); Mark Loftus (Cowglen) & Simon Payne (Adam Hunter Golf).
68 Kenneth Monaghan (Bothwell Castle) & Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Design).
69 Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links) & Christopher Currie (Caldwell); Tom Eckford (Ranfurly Castle) & Stuart Kerr (Strathaven).
70 Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) & Jamie Stevenson (Braehead); Ricky Gray (Torrance House) & Stephen Gray (Hayston); Scott Henderson (Kings Links) & Greig Hutcheon (Banchory).
72 Richard Hall & Michael Sweenie (Westin Turnberry) & Billy Marchank (Crieff) & Alan White (Lanark); Gary McFarlane (Clober) & Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh).
73 Gregor Abel & David Herd (Alloa) & Craig Everett (Esporta Dougalston) & Stewart Savage (Dalmuir); Brian Gibson (Carrick at Cameron House) & Colin White (unatt); Guy Redford & David Ross Nicol (Dundonald Links).
74 Kenneth Kelly (Baberton) & Steve Kelly (Tulliallan); Alistair Brown (Whitecraigs) & Scott Herald (Whitecraigs); Robert Collinson & Bobby Wallace (Bearsden Golf Range).
75 Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) & Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation); James McKinnon (Irvine) & Duncan Williamson (Kirkhill).
76 Derek Watters (Gourock) & Euan Cameron (Hamilton); Daniel Welsh (Port Royal Driving Range) & Derek McIntosh (Elderslie); Peter Kerr (Hayston) & James Clive (Carrick).
78 Robert Irvine (Douglas Park) & Ross Neill (Drumpellier); Andrew Fullen (Largs) & James Smallwood (Fereneze); Graeme Stewart (Gleddoch) & Stuart Williamson (unattached);
80 Anthony Mackrell & Richard Mannering (Playsport Golf); Keith Baxter (Buchanan Castle) & Alastair McLean (Duddingston).
84 David Snodgrass (Hilton Park) & Paul Wilson (World of Golf); Craig Knowles & Christopher McMaster (Panmure).

US Tour chief calls conference - to make

Tiger comeback announcement?

US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has called a news conference for this evening, a day after hinting he knows when Tiger Woods will return to golf.
The tour gave no details of what Finchem will talk about in the conference, which is set for 18.30 GMT.
However, on Sunday Finchem said he expected Woods to announce his comeback date "pretty soon."
The world number one is taking an extended break from the game after admitting cheating on his wife, Elin.
In an apology for his conduct which was televised worldwide last month, Woods again said he did not know how long he would be away from the sport.
But the New York Post, citing two unnamed "sources in the golf community", said on Thursday that the 34-year-old was preparing for a possible return at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando on 25 March.
Another suggestion is that Woods will return to action at The Masters at Augusta on 5-11 April.
On Sunday Finchem said: "I'm as excited as everybody else to see him back I hope this spring, but my sense is we'll know pretty soon.
"Everybody's done looking back at the circumstances that resulted in him stepping away from the game and [are] now focused on when he's going to play golf - I think that's good."
Woods has been working with his coach Hank Haney, further fuelling expectations of a return before or for the Masters.
"If he wasn't going to play for six months, why would Hank be there?" said Australian pro Roger Allenby, a Florida neighbour of Woods.
"I look at that as maybe he's getting ready."
The Bay Hill tournament is run by Woods' management company, International Management Group, but tournament director Scott Wellington said he has not heard from the player's agent, Mark Steinberg.
"At this point, we still don't know," he said. "Tiger has until next Friday to commit."
Woods has won at Bay Hill six times, from 2000 to 2003 and again in 2008 and 2009, and it is the only PGA Tour event he has never missed since turning professional.
Meanwhile, Augusta National, the home of the Masters, the first major of the year, is famed for its watertight security, which means it would be next to impossible for the paparazzi to gain access to the course.
Speculation has also centred on the Tavistock Cup, a made-for-TV exhibition team event between PGA talent from rival Florida clubs Isleworth and Lake Nona.
Golfer Mark O'Meara, a friend and neighbour of Woods, fanned that flame this week when he told the Golf Channel that he "wouldn't be surprised" to see Woods play the 22-23 March competition.

Hugh Hunter's Clackmannan county news

IT'S ALL GO FOR THE 2010 GOLF SEASON

With lengthening days and better weather, the local golf season will be underway in a week or two when golf clubs stage their usual opening events.
New members will be especially welcome at the six golf clubs in Clackmannan county (Alloa, Alva, Braehead, Dollar, Tillicoultry and Tulliallan).
Anyone interested in joining a club should contact a local golf club secretary or golf club member whether they are a new starter to the game or a former player returning to the game.
There is considerable fun and pleasure to be gained on the local golf courses, playing socially or competitively.

COUNTY GOLF FIXTURES 2010

At the annual general meeting held in November, the small group of golf enthusiasts set up Clackmannan's county golf arrangements for 2010. Bill Abernethy (Braehead) takes over the Presidency for 2010 with George Kay appointed as Vice President. Tommy Johnson continues in the crucial role of Secretary and Treasurer, and John Gullen was re appointed team Captain. Tillicoultry’s Sam Kinnaird was appointed Junior Convenor, and Kenneth Ellacott continues as the county delegate to the Scottish Golf Union.
The Clackmannan county team are in action right at the start of the season with the usual Provan Salver matches against the other Midlands areas of Angus (March 28), Fife (April 4) and Perth & Kinross (April 18).
On the competition side, the Spring meeting (Division 1 at Tulliallan; Division 2 at Alloa) is on Saturday, April 24 followed by the boys' championship on Sunday, April 25. Entry forms for these events will be posted in local clubs shortly.
The Clackmannan county dinner has been rescheduled for Friday, April 9 where presentations will be made. Details are on club notice boards, with tickets available in the golf clubs.

FAST START FOR LAWRENCE IN 2010

Junior golfer Lawrence Allan (Alva) has made a quick start to the 2010 season. In the four events of the winter series for the best Scottish Under-16 golfers, Lawrence finished in the top 10 three times out of four, and over the four events, he finished a highly creditable third in the Under-16s' Order of Merit.
Indeed, had he been one shot better at the last event held at Forrester Park near Dunfermline, he would have been in the runner-up spot. As a result of this fine performance, he has been selected for the Under-16s Quadrangular match in April.
The team of eight boys representing Scotland will take on teams from Ireland, Wales and the Netherlands over the Rijk van Nunspeet course to the east of Amsterdam from April 13 to 15.
Lawrence played well at the Under-16s International held last year at Arbroath, and with his current handicap of 1.7, he will be hoping for some good results in 2010 boys' events.
Lawrence will be joined by Dollar’s Gary Chalmers in the Scottish boys' championship, to be held at West Kilbride from April 5 to 10. Gary plays his first match at 12.29 on the Monday while Lawrence has to wait till 11.57 on the Tuesday.

HOPE FOR CALLUM IN 2010
Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay is finding the professional game difficult. After missing cuts in early season events, he bounced back in true Macaulay fashion with a second place finish in the Hi5 tournament in Spain. He is in the field for the Kenya Open a Challenge Tour event, and will be hopeful for another good performance.
His aim is of course to return to the main European tour, and with the experience he is building up this should be achievable during 2010. Best of luck!

MIDLAND ALLIANCE

Clackmannan county golfers continue to make their presence felt in Midland Alliance events held weekly during the winter. This winter has been a real headache for the organisers with cancellations and rescheduling.
Recent good results have been 1st equal handicap from Alloa’s Chris Westland and Hugh Hunter with net 68’s at Arbroath and at Burntisland last week, Senior Internationalist Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) gave the younger golfers ( including several professionals) something to think about with a well compiled 71.
Bob leads the voucher list, with Alloa’s Michael Niven also in the top ten.

World Cup to be held every two years on

Hainan Island, southern China

The Omega Mission Hills World Cup will return to the international golfing calendar in 2011 as a biennial event – staged in every odd year – with a record prize fund of US$7,500,000 at a brand new venue in the Mission Hills Resort on Hainan Island in Southern China from November 24-27 next year.
This was announced today by the International Federation of PGA Tours, the International Golf Association, Omega and Mission Hills.
The re-positioning of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup, which has been played at Mission Hills Shenzhen, China, between 2007 and 2009, as a biennial event follows last year’s decision by the International Olympic Committee to re-introduce golf to the Olympic movement from 2016.
By playing the event in alternate years from 2011, the World Cup is aligned with many of the major sports in the Olympic movement, such as the World Athletics Championships, which are contested biennially and are not in any potential conflict with the summer and winter Olympic Games.
However, the Olympic golf tournament will be staged as an individual competition, whereas the Omega Mission Hills World Cup remains the only team event in the men’s professional game where players can proudly represent their own countries, thus maintaining its status as the oldest international team event in professional golf.
In 2011, the Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be among the richest events in world golf, with prize money for the 28 team competition increasing from US$5,500,000 in 2009 to a record US$7,500,000 when the event makes its debut at the newly opened Mission Hills Resort Hainan.
Next year’s winning team will earn US$2,400,000 - US$1,200,000 to each player - which is $350,000 more than last year’s winners. The new prize fund elevates the 2011 Omega Mission Hills World Cup right up alongside the Major Championships and the World Golf Championships.
The format for the contest will remain unchanged, with two series of foursomes and two series of fourballs on alternative days, which has the capacity to create huge swings in fortune and adding to the drama and excitement of the event.
The Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be hosted on the Blackstone course, a spectacular, 350-acre lay-out that weaves through a striking landscape of mature trees, expansive wetlands, ancient town ruins and ever-present lava rock.
The 7,777-yard Blackstone features a myriad of risk / reward opportunities throughout the back nine. The course is set in front of the 525-room 5-star resort complex and the 238,000 square-feet clubhouse, making it ideal for hosting the world’s foremost golf tournaments.
Stephen Urquhart, President of Omega, said: “In addition to finding a coherent strategy in relation to the Olympics, one of the main reasons for making the World Cup of Golf a biennial event is that it should give all the Federations involved a better opportunity to send their best teams to represent their country. We are confident that we can make important inroads in our primary objective which is to re-establish the World Cup of Golf in its rightful position.”

Puerto Rico Open splashes

over into Monday

FROM THE PGATOUR.COM WEBSITE
Chad Collins is getting used to surging the top of the Puerto Rico Open leaderboard with his strong short game just before darkness suspends play in the rain-delayed competition which will now finish on Monday.
Just before the horn suspended third-round play on Sunday, Collins birdied the par-5 fifth hole as night descended over Trump International Golf Club-Puerto Rico. With the clutch shot, he claimed a share of the lead at 12 under with Kevin Streelman, who also made a last-minute birdie on the par-4 seventh hole.
======================
RELATED LINKS
Leaderboard: Round 3
======================
"Just late in the day, and I guess I'm pretty loose," Collins said after staying atop the leaderboard for the second straight day on the scenic par-72 course framed by the Atlantic and the tropical El Yunque rain forest.
On Saturday, Collins eagled the par-5 second hole to top the leaderboard at 9 under before second-round play was suspended. The former Methodist College player's strong putting and bunker play are giving him his best position after any round on TOUR.
Collins finished second on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2009, a year after his rookie season on the US PGA Tour.
Derek Lamely, 7 under for 13 holes in the round, was a stroke back at 11 under with Steve Wheatcroft and Kris Blanks. Wheatcroft played six holes in the third round, and Blanks completed seven.
Lamely, No. 4 on the 2009 Nationwide Tour money list, seemed easy to overlook in the Puerto Rico Open until he vaulted up the leaderboard with his Saturday scoring assault. He strung together strong shots from tee to green.
"I've got greens like this at home. So for whatever reason, I feel like my lines are good. My speed is pretty good here. Just a good fit," said Lamely, who tied for 13th last year in the Puerto Rico event.
Lamely credited his Saturday surge with getting more rest lately than he had been.
"My brain's working a little better. I just think I just jot so beat up there for a little while, just traveling all the time," he said.
His strategy on Monday? "Make a lot of birdies," Lamely said.
Monday TV -- Puerto Rico Open
The Puerto Rico Open got off to a soggy start Thursday, with only 18 players able to tee off that day because of drenching rain. It was the first suspension of play in the history of the young tournament, now in its third year. The weather woes continued Friday.
The tropical course began to dry out Saturday under a day of strong Caribbean sunshine. But because of previous days' soggy conditions, players were allowed to use preferred lies in the fairways. The maintenance crew worked through the night with squeegees and pumps to sop up the water.
A few players voiced surprise that the course wasn't soggier than it was, after the deluge leading up to the tournament and the first two day of competition.
"It's actually surprising how much drier it is. It's still very wet out there, but it's getting to the point where we don't need to take it 15 yards to get out of casual water," said Australia's James Nitties, who was in a 6-way tie for sixth place at 10 under.
It also helped that the cut came at 2-under 142, with 70 players moving on to the third round. Among those headed home were Greg Kraft, who won the first Puerto Rico Open in 2008 with a 14-under finish, and the highest-ranked player, South Africa's Rory Sabbatini, No. 55.
Last year's Puerto Rico Open champ, Michael Bradley, was still in the hunt. He shot 3 under for the day and was tied 12th place at 9 under.
The competition, which was scheduled to end Sunday, will stretch into Monday due to the rain delays. The winner will earn $630,000.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS TO COME