TEEING OFF

Five things to look for on the professional golf scene:

1. So far, it’s been an engaging week for Peggy Nelson, nothing bittersweet about it, as she serves as something of an honorary host at the second EDS Byron Nelson Championship since her husband’s death.

She was happily taking it all in at the opening ceremonies with defending champion Scott Verplank, TPC Four Seasons makeover artist D.A. Weibring and Byron Nelson Prize winner Ken Venturi.

“It was a big Byron fan club,” said Nelson, whose husband died at 94 in 2006.

She’s trying to keep it as upbeat as possible. Peggy and Byron were regulars at Richland Hills Church of Christ, and Peggy went on a mission to Africa. She also taught a Bible class. Because of her faith, she said she knows Byron is in a better place than he was near the end of his life when he was confined to a wheelchair and a near-constant supply of oxygen.

“I love being reminded about him, that’s the great thing. I decided to look at the good things instead of wallowing. I was so blessed to have such a wonderful life for 20 years. He always brought out the best in everybody he met.”

Peggy still lives on the 630-acre Fairway Ranch in Roanoke, Texas, with Nelson’s wood shop in the back. There’s also a full house across the road. Peggy donates the house to missionaries on furlough.

In the meantime, she stays busy, sometimes working on her 27 handicap. But this week, during Nelson tournament week, is like no other week of the year, and she remembers what she hears in church.

“It’s truth for life,” Peggy Nelson said. “The main things are the plain things.”

2. Trevor Immelman is back in action this week at the Nelson, his first tournament since winning the Masters. Immelman said his green jacket is in his closet at home in Orlando, Fla.

“But it’s not hanging with all the other jackets. It’s got its own little spot.”

Immelman said he has spoken with Tiger Woods about Woods’ knee surgery.

“It seems like, as per usual, he’s trying to find a positive spin on it and he’s wanting to make sure that he comes back stronger, especially in that area around the left knee. I anticipate him to win the next event he plays in.”

For the record, Immelman laughed when he said that.

3. The Tiger Rehabilitation Watch continues. Last weekend, only a few days after having arthroscopic surgery for cartilage damage in his left knee, Woods was hobbling around on crutches at his Tiger Jam charity event in Las Vegas, which benefits his foundation.

Van Halen was the musical headliner, but Woods did no dancing, according to Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg of IMG.

“There wasn’t any dancing and there wasn’t any jumping off the stage with David Lee Roth, either.”

4. Chances are that Corey Pavin, 48, is hoping for a big week. The 1995 U.S. Open champion needs a victory at the Byron Nelson to get into the field for the Players Championship -- the last event to become eligible.

Pavin has a 24-year streak of the Players, every year since he was a rookie in 1984.

5. Nobody is quite sure what’s up this week with Colin Montgomerie, although he took a beating in some European newspapers for playing golf with wedding guests the morning of his wedding at Loch Lomond, Scotland.

Montgomerie, 44, was married to 41-year-old Gaynor Knowles but was criticized since his previous marriage of 14 years ended in part because he was too interested in golf. Yet, he spent the morning of his wedding day playing golf with many of his 340 guests.

Does it really matter? What matters to Montgomerie, besides getting ready to play the Spanish Open the first week of May, is trying to get on the Ryder Cup team that plays the U.S. at Valhalla, outside Louisville, Ky., in September.

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THE TOURNAMENTS

PGA TOUR: EDS

Byron Nelson Championship

When: Today-Sunday.

Where: Irving, Texas.

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

LPGA:

Stanford International Pro-Am

When: Today-Sunday.

Where: Aventura, Fla.

TV: ESPN2 (today, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Friday, noon-2 p.m.; Saturday, 1-3 p.m.; Sunday, noon-2 p.m.).

CHAMPIONS TOUR:

Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf

When: Friday-Sunday.

Where: Savannah, Ga.

TV: Golf Channel (Friday, 3:30-5:30 p.m.; Ch. 2 (Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-noon).

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All times Pacific

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Associated Press

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STAT OF THE WEEK

Scott Verplank, above, is the defending champion, but he’s going to see an entirely different course at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. It’s being played at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas, after a $10-million renovation overseen by D.A. Weibring that included adding 200 yards; rebuilding all 67 bunkers and replacing 80,000 cubic yards of white sand; relocating more than 164 trees; moving 75,000 cubic yards of dirt and reshaping all the greens.

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A SLICE OF LIFE

Tom Watson, after winning the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am in Lutz, Fla.,

for the second year in a row:

‘Got to buy a home down here now.’