Gore Won’t Forget This

He won for the first time on the PGA Tour by standing up to the pressure Sunday at the 84 Lumber Classic, which means that Jason Gore doesn’t have to worry about his PGA Tour card for at least two years.

But that victory didn’t mean Gore could afford to skip a trip to Boise, Idaho, to take part in a nine-hole skins game for breast cancer research before the Nationwide Tour tournament that begins today. Golf’s minor leagues, that’s a far cry from the PGA Tour, but Gore wasn’t about to overlook the place.

“They gave me a sponsor’s exemption just when I came out of college and it means a lot,” he said. “You try not to forget where you came from, and it just means a lot to me that they would go out on a limb like that, and for this [84 Lumber] tournament to do the same for me, it’s pretty special.

“I’ll be back here forever, I hope, until they kick me out.

“It’s just nice to know that these people have a lot of faith in me.”

Gore, 31, from Valencia and Pepperdine, hadn’t done much in his previous three PGA Tour starts after making it to the big leagues as a result of his three Nationwide Tour victories this year, but he struck pay dirt last week in Farmington, Pa.

He’s the first player to earn the three-win promotion to the PGA Tour from the Nationwide Tour and then win on the PGA Tour the same season.

Gore said he sang karaoke Tuesday night before the 84 Lumber tournament began, but that wasn’t so unusual for him.

“I sing in the shower every day,” he said.

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The quote of the week is from Gore, asked how he relaxed himself playing the last hole: “An ancient Jedi mind trick.”

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According to the overnight Nielsen ratings of weekend sports, the only event with a lower rating than the Presidents Cup preview Saturday on NBC (0.8) was Sunday’s WNBA finals Game 3 between Sacramento and Connecticut on ABC (0.7).

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It hasn’t been officially released yet, but the West Coast part of the 2006 PGA Tour schedule is set, with the 90-hole Bob Hope Chrysler Classic kicking off as the first tournament on the mainland, Jan. 18-22.

As usual, the first two weeks of January are occupied by the limited-field Mercedes Championships, Jan. 5-8, at Kapalua, Maui, followed by the full-field Sony Open, Jan. 12-15.

After the Hope, it’s the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, Jan. 26-29; the FBR Open at Scottsdale, Feb. 2-5; the AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Feb. 9-12; the Nissan Open at Riviera, Feb. 16-19; and the Accenture Match Play Championship at La Costa, Feb. 22-26.

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Ernie Els, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee two months ago, said he isn’t going to be able to play any PGA Tour events until the Nissan Open.

That doesn’t mean Els no longer has a presence. He is still pictured on banners hanging from light poles in San Francisco to promote the upcoming American Express Championship at Harding Park -- a tournament in October advertising a player who was sidelined for the year in July.

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Phil Mickelson came back from three weeks off and tied for 28th at the 84 Lumber Classic, but he also made a big splash with a hole in one in Saturday’s third round -- a seven-iron from 200 yards at the seventh hole.

It was his fifth ace as a pro, but his first since the 2001 U.S. Open at Southern Hills.

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Annika Sorenstam continues to pile up victories -- her one-shot margin over Paula Creamer over the weekend at the LPGA tournament in Tulsa, Okla., was her 63rd and seventh this year. Plus, she has won 18 LPGA events at least twice.

Sorenstam leads the LPGA in victories, money ($1.957 million), player-of-the-year points, scoring (69.32), rounds under par, greens in regulation, top-10 finishes and putts per greens in regulation. She’s third in sand saves and third in driving distance -- ahead of Laura Davies.

Sorenstam is a lock to pass $2 million in prize money for the fifth consecutive year -- something no other LPGA player has accomplished once.

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When Bob Gilder won the Constellation Energy Classic over the weekend, he kept a surprising streak alive. Gilder is the 15th consecutive different winner on the Champions Tour.

Former Dodger pitcher Rick Rhoden, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, tied for eighth and won $46,750 with three rounds under par. And coming off back surgery, Lee Trevino, 65, played his first tournament since January and was 76th.

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Newport Beach Country Club will be open to the public Monday with a $150 check for Hurricane Katrina relief to the American Red Cross providing a round of golf, range balls and a cart. Details: (949) 644-9680.

The Jim Murray SilverRock Alumni Challenge, 36 four-person teams from colleges competing over 36 holes in a best-ball format, will be Dec. 11-13 at the SilverRock Course at La Quinta. Details: (760) 564-5630.

Kermit Alexander, James B. Sikking, Dwight Stones, Tanya Roberts, Ken Howard, Sammy Shore and Leann Hunley are expected to play in the El Dorado Ranch tournament, Oct. 15 at San Felipe, Mexico. The event benefits the St. James Infirmary Hospital in San Felipe. Details: (760) 632-7770.

An Orange County Columbus Day tournament will be played Oct. 10 at Talega Golf Club at San Clemente. The event benefits the Special Olympics of Orange County. Details: (714) 564-8374.