It wasn't a win, but Tiger's Buick start was memorable

The Buick Classic wasn't a total loss for Tiger Woods. He made the cut for the 105th consecutive time on the PGA Tour, tying him with Jack Nicklaus for the second-longest streak in tour history.

The record is 113 set by Byron Nelson in 1940s.

While there have been a few close calls, such as the Masters this year, Woods might not be closing in on the mark if not for Matt Kuchar.

The cut streak was at 24 going into the 1999 Bay Hill Invitational when Woods opened with a 74 and followed that with a 72. He was at 2-over 146 and in a tie for 71st.

How did he make it to the weekend?

The cut is for the top 70 "professionals" and ties. Kuchar played Bay Hill as an amateur that year and was 2-under 142 after 36 holes -- meaning Woods and everyone else at 146 made the cut on the number.

Wie's gamble was worth a trophy and a mall visit

For winning the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, Michelle Wie received a gold medal, the Robert. F. Dwyer Trophy and $300.

The money came from her parents, courtesy of a wager by the 13-year-old. Wie said she made the bet Friday after she advanced to the quarterfinals.

"My dad was like, 'That's way too much.' He wanted it to be $100," Wie said. "But I stared him down, and we made it $300."

B.J. Wie put a different spin on the bet. He said the $300 was pledged as shopping money while they are on vacation in California after the U.S. Women's Open.

"If she wins the Women's Open, I'll have to give her more money," he said.

Consider it a vacation instead of practice

John Rollins will be playing in the British Open for the first time, exempt because he won the Canadian Open.

The only time Rollins has played in Europe was the American Express Championship last year at Mount Juliet in Ireland, an American-style course designed by Jack Nicklaus.

"I know I'll have to adjust my game," Rollins said. "I'll have to learn how to hit shots short of the green and hit some bump-and-runs."

He then mentioned that he'll be going over a week early to play in the Scottish Open.

Spreading the good word

Shooting a 65 to share the first-round lead at the U.S. Open gave Tom Watson a platform to talk about his caddie, Bruce Edwards, who is dying from Lou Gehrig's disease, and the need for more research money.

Edwards and Jeff Julian have formed "Driving 4 Life," an intensive effort to raise money for the ALS Therapy Development Foundation. They even launched an Internet site, www.drivinglife.org.

Donations are for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research. Edwards has a separate trust fund to help cover his medical expenses.

One problem: It's played at Loch Lomond, an American-style course designed by Tom Weiskopf.

In terms of a hobby, they don't get any hotter

Jonathan Kaye has one of the more interesting hobbies among PGA Tour players. He grows jalapeno peppers.

Kaye said gardeners decided to plant the peppers around his house in Phoenix. He liked what he saw, and now takes care of them himself.

"It's not hard to harvest them," Kaye said. "You just decide when to pick them. It's how hot you want them. With jalapenos, the more cracks there are, the hotter it is."

What does he do with them?

"I love Mexican food," he said.

She's still not No. 1, but she outranks Vijay

Annika Sorenstam has made the list of Forbes magazine's "Celebrity 100" for the first time. Sorenstam is No. 74 and trails Serena Williams (60), Venus Williams (65) and Anna Kournikova (70) among the five female athletes on the list.

The only other golfers were Tiger Woods (3) and Arnold Palmer (64). Celebrities were chosen based on money earned, Web site hits, press clippings and broadcast interviews.

Stat of the week

The last three major championships were won with three-putt bogeys on the final hole -- Jim Furyk at the U.S. Open, Mike Weir at the Masters (playoff), Rich Beem at the PGA Championship.

Worth repeating ...

"If it was easy, all of us would be like Tiger." -- John Rollins, on the difficult of winning on the PGA Tour.