"Nager was a frequent e-mailer to Abramoff."

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Some of you movie goers might have taken in Casino Jack this weekend, with Kevin Spacey playing disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Though his story wasn't portrayed in the movie about this gem of a human being, it's worth noting that USGA Vice President Glen Nager ambitiously solicited Abramoff's help in trying to secure a lifetime appointment on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit as described in this Jason McLure story from Legal Times.
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!? PGA Tour And Westchester Back In The Saddle Again

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I guess this is a contractual obligation deal related to Westchester and the Barclays as well (according to the release), the necessity to find a new venue to replace Baltimore Five Farms, which was not obligated to host in August. Still, considering some of the past feuding between Ponte Vedra and Westchester and the club's concerns with hosting an event in August, this is a bit of a surprise.
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"I don’t want to look back knowing that I had the chance to do it and not doing it, and hating myself for it."

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Doug Ferguson tells us that Brett Waldman is giving up his looping duties to play on the Nationwide Tour next year after earning his way in through a miraculous Q-school run.

The hardest part of his journey was the final decision – give up financial security by working for Villegas, or grind it out on a tour with no guaranteed pay from smaller purses.

"It’s just a dream," Waldman said. "I don’t want to look back knowing that I had the chance to do it and not doing it, and hating myself for it. I would always look back and say, ‘What if?’ There’s a reason I got to where I am. I might as well chase the dream."

Waldman, who played college golf at Kansas State and Central Florida, had not played competitively since he was eliminated from the second stage of Q-school in 2002. He went to work as a caddie for his cousin, Tom Pernice Jr., for Ben Crane and eventually Villegas.

On a whim – and with prodding from his wife, Angel – he decided to try PGA Tour qualifying this year and was one of only nine players who made it through a pre-qualifier (four rounds) and the next two stages of four-round tournaments. While trying to advance, he continued to work for Villegas as the Tour Championship and tournaments in China and Australia.

Waldman might want to think about keeping the bag (if allowed) until late February since, as Sean Martin reports, the Nationwide tour is down to 26 events from 29 and doesn't start play domestically until mid-March.

"It's a crying shame that we are destroying a course designed by one of our great heroes for the sake of a small footbridge."

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Frank Urquhart reports on the battle to save an Old Tom Morris, gulp, "signature hole" at North Inch in Perth. After looking at an aerial I couldn't figure out which hole it was. Anyone played it? I'm sure it's better than whatever bridge footing they want to place on it, but would love to hear more about the place.
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