TEEING OFF

Five things to keep an eye on this weekend on the pro golf scene:

1. The first Byron Nelson Championship since Nelson’s death starts today at Irving, Texas, with Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh the only top 10 players on hand.

Tiger Woods, among others, has been criticized by some for not showing up, but Nelson’s widow said she has no problem with the decision of any player, especially Woods.

“That’s counter-productive,” Peggy Nelson said. “I’m grateful that Tiger came as often as he did when Byron was alive. That was enough of a tribute. He can’t play everywhere anymore.”

Nelson was 94 when he died in September at the couple’s ranch in Roanoke, Texas. The tournament, which was named for him in 1968, has raised $94 million for charity, more than any other PGA Tour event.

Peggy Nelson said it has been a busy week so far, but also a very good one.

“I’m just looking for all the positives,” she said. “I’m happy and Byron is happy where he is. Byron is happy in heaven.”

Peggy Nelson attended the pro-am draw party, spoke at the opening ceremonies and will be on hand Saturday when she is presented Nelson’s Congressional Gold Medal. She isn’t going to quibble with the players who aren’t around this week.

“Anybody who’s been following the tour knows there’s so much money that you don’t have to play 30 tournaments a year to make a living,” she said. “Byron, he said it all the time, that it’s important to spend time with family.”

She said she isn’t moving from the ranch and is busy with piano lessons, art classes and golf and is looking forward to riding her horse more often. Before she attended the Masters, she spent two weeks on a mission to Kenya as part of her North Richland Hills Church of Christ group.

“That was a mountaintop experience,” she said. “Byron was so pleased when I told him I was going to do that someday.”

2. Lorena Ochoa can celebrate her debut at No. 1 by defending her title at the LPGA event in her home country of Mexico. Ochoa leads the LPGA in scoring average, top 10s, sand saves, birdies and earnings.

3. Lost in all the attention Mickelson got for hiring Butch Harmon as his swing coach is that this kind of job has a revolving door. You get one, you lose one.

Justin Leonard has left Harmon after five years and rehired Randy Smith.

4. Woods played 36 holes Sunday at Oakmont Country Club and 18 more during a corporate outing Monday, getting his first looks at the U.S. Open’s 7,230-yard layout.

For the record, he hit a three-wood at the 288-yard, par-three eight hole.

5. From hard-core rocker to hard-core drinker to hard-core golfer, that has been Alice Cooper’s journey. And the perennial celebrity golfer has written a book to prove it: “Alice Cooper, Golf Monster.”

Cooper’s autobiography has this in its dedication: “My liver would like to dedicate this book to me for giving up drinking and taking up golf.”

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WORLD RANKINGS

*--* MEN Golfer Points 1. Tiger Woods 806.44 2. Jim Furyk 426.48 3. Adam Scott 354.39 4. Phil Mickelson 295.84 5. Ernie Els 344.49 6. Henrik Stenson 334.50 7. Vijay Singh 371.83 8. Retief Goosen 360.46 9. Geoff Ogilvy 294.58 10. Padraig Harrington 294.20 WOMEN 1. Lorena Ochoa 642.19 2. Annika Sorenstam 546.22 3. Karrie Webb 519.08 4. Morgan Pressel 251.02 5. Cristie Kerr 341.70 6. Paula Creamer 372.32 7. Ai Miyazato 326.93 8. Juli Inkster 250.98 9. Jeong Jang 330.82 10. Shiho Oyama 360.85

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THE TOURNAMENTS

*--* PGA TOUR Byron Nelson Championship

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* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas (7,022 yards, par 70) and Cottonwood Valley Course (7,030, par 70), Irving, Texas.

* Purse: $6.3 million. Winner’s share: $1,134,000.

* TV: Golf Channel (Today-Friday, noon-3 p.m., 5:30-8:30 p.m.) and Ch. 2 (Saturday-Sunday, noon-3).

* 2006 winner: Brett Wetterich.

*--* LPGA TOUR Corona Championship

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* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: Tres Marias Residential Golf Club (6,600 yards, par 73), Morelia, Mexico.

* Purse: $1.3 million. Winner’s share: $195,000.

* TV: None.

* 2006 winner: Lorena Ochoa.

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Associated Press

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STAT OF THE WEEK

Lorena Ochoa, the LPGA Tour player of the year last season, passed injured Annika Sorenstam for the top spot in the world rankings Monday (642.19 to 546.22). Sorenstam, sidelined by a ruptured disk in her back, had topped the list since the rankings began in February 2006. Ochoa won the Safeway International last month in Arizona for her 10th career victory, and leads the money list with $584,870 in six starts.