Waterloo, Ill., mini-tour professional Collin Neeman fired a 4-under 66 to take a one-shot lead into Friday's second round of the 4th Metropolitan Open Championship at the Country Club of St. Albans.

Without Tiger, PGA Tour begins 2009 season in need of a personality infusion

Scott Thomas came to terms with turning 50 a good year before he actually hit the milestone in November of 2007. "Two years ago, I wasn't very excited about it," Thomas said. "But in the year before turning 50, I started embracing it." PGA Tour pros have long called hitting the big 5-0 "golf's greatest mulligan." As Thomas approached the half century mark, he realized his opportunities to win with regularity looked more and more promising.

It was Berkmeyer, after all, who as a St. Ambrose University golfer spent some time with a young recruit from nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the request of his coach, Jeff Griebel, Berkmeyer checked out the credentials of the young Iowa golfer. "Coach, I don't think this guy's what we're looking for," Berkmeyer told his coach after his visit with high school senior Zach Johnson.

Is Stevie Williams that good? Or is Tiger Woods' softening with age? In any regard, news that Williams has retained the most desirable caddie job in the world after making headlines with a crude critique of Phil Mickelson would indicate that the Woods-Williams partnership is more than just business. Woods has dismissed one caddie for lesser crimes.