TEEING OFF

1 In case you’re wondering, Tiger Woods is in Florida this week shooting commercials instead of shooting under par at Riviera.

2 If you see a grinning, left-handed guy in a visor in front of you on Sunset Boulevard, maybe you should let him pass. It might be Phil Mickelson, whose commute to work this week includes flying back and forth from his home in Rancho Santa Fe.

3 A line of clothes by John Daly? Hey, if it works for a rail-thin dude like Jesper Parnevik, maybe something for the calorie-challenged is called for. Daly, whose weight is charitably listed at 220 pounds, said Daly Comfort Wear is something he has needed in his clothing. “Some are too tight and some are too hot. My new line has been designed with comfort and function in mind first and foremost. The fact they look great too is an added bonus.”

4 Charles Howell III lists Riviera among his favorite courses, even though it handed him one of his toughest defeats -- a playoff loss to Mike Weir in 2003. Since then, Howell has finished second seven times, including twice this year, at the Sony Open in Hawaii and at Torrey Pines. For those of you not keeping score at home, Howell is making his 128th PGA Tour start since he won the 2002 Michelob Championship at Kingsmill in Virginia, which was so long ago, the tournament is no longer in existence.

5 Say hello to Mark O’Meara, who is making his debut on the Champions Tour this week at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. The Champions Tour is the No. 1 golf destination of the over-50 set, and O’Meara, who won the 1998 Masters and British Open, turned 50 Tuesday.

THOMAS BONK

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*--* STAT OF THE WEEK

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* The wind blew 20 mph from the south in the third round, and the average score on par-four No. 9 at Pebble Beach was 4.97. There was only a breeze from the north in the final round, and the average score was 3.98.