NAPA, Calif. – Jarrod Lyle takes another step back in his amazing return from twice beating leukemia, and this one might be the biggest one yet.

He earned his spot in the Frys.com Open through a playoff at Monday qualifying.

And he’s back among the best players in the world on the PGA Tour, part of a family he never knew was so large.

Lyle got choked up Wednesday talking about a DVD he was given shortly after leukemia returned in March 2012, right about the time his wife was due to give birth to their daughter. Golf Channel arranged for players at Bay Hill to say a few encouraging words to the Australian.

“I watched it and I cried for 45 minutes,” Lyle said Wednesday. “I still cry when I look at it. These guys were taking 30 seconds out of their day to jump on camera to wish me all the best, guys that I probably haven’t spoken to much or haven’t played with before. But to see those guys get on there and just wish us all the best, that meant the world, and it showed me how much support that I had from my competitors and my peers over here.”

This is the third time Lyle has returned to a tour.

The most emotional was at home in Australia last December, when he made the cut riding a wave of support. He came back to America this summer to play on the Web.com Tour as he continued to work on his game.

The Frys.com Open was not on his schedule. Lyle received a sponsor’s exemption to the tournament next week in Las Vegas. He did not receive one to the Frys.com Open, so he decided to go through Monday qualifying. Nothing comes easily to Lyle, and he never complains.

Instead, he shot a 66 to get into an eight-man playoff for four spots. He made a 20-foot birdie putt on the second hole and was in.

“I sort of a gave myself a little fist pump and thought, `I’ve done it.’ But in the car on the way home, I kind of screamed like a little girl that I’d finally done it and got myself into a tournament that I wasn’t going to be playing. I came up here with a job to do.

“To come out and achieve my first goal this week, which was to Monday qualify, it’s got the year off to a really, really good start.”

He will head home to Australia after next week to get his blood tested as a precaution. Lyle is no longer taking any treatment except for a penicillin tablet he takes once a day for the rest of his life. He was on the putting green at Silverado with his neon yellow bucket hat. He was among friends.

His wife, Briony, and daughter, Lusi, were at his side. Lyle’s daughter was playing with a pair of small, rubber duck toys as he gave a radio interview on the phone.

The ducks resemble the “Leuk the Duck” character that Robert Allenby, his longtime mentor, passed out to players to wear at Bay Hill when Lyle was diagnosed. Lyle has plenty of friends on the PGA Tour. He just didn’t realize until he got sick how many.

“I think the reason Australia was so emotional is because I have a lot of family and friends around,” he said. “There were family and friends around me the whole time that helped out with my wife and Lusi and were visiting me in the hospital. But I think this is going to be just as emotional because these guys on the PGA Tour, they’ve reached out to us from the start and they’re always texting and emailing and getting in contact and just making sure we’re doing OK.

“To be able to have them in your corner, helping you deal with everything, that’s great,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed the last couple of days just being out here and seeing everybody and thanking them for their support over the last couple of years.”

Lyle has 20 events to earn $283,825 and reach the equivalent of No. 125 on the money list in 2012 to keep his PGA Tour card.

NAPA, Calif. – For the first two days of the Ryder Cup, only 16 players were on the golf course at the same time.

And they had plenty of company.

The greatest growth in golf might be the number of guests allowed inside the ropes at the Ryder Cup.

The access began with the players’ wives dressed in uniform. It has expanded significantly in the last decade to include the parents of the players, the parents of the players’ wives, other family members of the players, the wives and family members of the caddies. Not to be overlooked was Michael Jordan, a regular at the Ryder Cup.

Some have credentials. Some do not. One person at Gleneagles was the friend of a brother of a player. Other person seen inside the ropes was … well, no one was sure.

It’s not a clean look, especially with overhead views on television. And there were a few complaints from fans behind the ropes to struggled to see.

This has not escaped the attention of Ryder Cup organizers.

“It is an issue that we continue to review and monitor,” Kerry Haigh, chief of championships for the PGA of America, said in an email. “As you know, there are a number of different groups that currently are allowed access inside the ropes. … All categories and numbers are and will be reviewed and may be reduced or eliminated if we collectively feel it will be in the best interests of the Ryder Cup.”

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Team Canada’s Adam Svensson showed no signs of rust out of the gate, winning the Guy Harvey Invitational by three strokes on Tuesday with a score of 9-under par.

Svensson, a junior at Barry University, took the outright lead with a remarkable 8-under par 64 during Monday’s second round. That was the low-round for the tournament and the key reason Svensson was able to capture individual honours in his first tournament as a junior at Barry.

With the win, Svensson continues his impressive streak of collegiate victories that includes seven titles from the 2013-14 season. The National Amateur Squad member carries the momentum of winning last year’s Jack Nicklaus award, given to the top player in NCAA Div I, II and III.

Collectively, Svensson led the No. 1 ranked Buccaneers to a convincing 19-stroke victory over runner-up Nova Southeastern University. Svensson and the Bucs will tee-it-up again Octover 20 at the Otter Invitational in Seaside, Calif.

Click here for full results.

Federal Way, Wash. – Melanie Grant of Kelowna, B.C. won the 28^th Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Amateur, while Sue Hubbard of Kent, Wash. took the title in the 3^rd Pacific Northwest Super Senior Women’s Amateur. Both championships were held concurrently at Fairwood Golf & Country Club in Renton, Wash., and were conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).

Grant’s final round 2-over par 73 was the championship’s low round and vaulted her into first place for a two-shot victory over second-place finisher Gretchen Klein of Hoquiam, Wash. Grant had shot an 82 in the first round.

“Basically, what did it for me was my putting, my short game,” Hubbard said. “I made some good up-and-downs. I also drove the ball pretty steady.” Hubbard has never won a championship of this calibre before. “I’ve played in several events, the Alberta Seniors, the Canadian Seniors, so I’m fortunate to have that experience. It’s been a good year.”

Hubbard’s win was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the par-3 12^th hole in yesterday’s opening round of the championship. Her husband had passed away just five weeks ago, and she used his 3-wood on the par-3. The hole is uphill so nobody saw the ball go in the hole, and after she hit her tee shot she stopped to use the restroom before heading to the green. When she got to the green, her playing partners said they couldn’t find her ball, so she started looking behind the green, but then they told her to look in the hole for her ball.

“They had already seen the ball was in the hole, and were kidding me,” said Hubbard. “When I saw the ball in the hole I told myself that I did this for my husband.”

PNGAHall of Famer Ann Swanson of Bellevue, Wash. finished in second place, one shot behind Hubbard.

Complete final results can be found here.

The Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s and Super Senior Women’s Amateur are two of 16 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors, and seniors conducted annually throughout the Northwest by the PNGA.

UXBRIDGE, Ont. — The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), Golf Canada and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport are proud to announce the implementation of a new junior golf initiative: the NXTee youth (U13) golf x-perience.

The NXTee pilot program has been created to increase the development and engagement of junior golfers, aged 8-13 in the York Region, by providing them with an opportunity to continue to practice and increase their skills throughout the winter. The program prepares participants for the golf season in a fun and friendly environment.

“We want to be able to look at the NXTee x-perience as being able to inspire and enhance the development of kids at the club level,” said Doug Lawrie, NXTee Lead Coach. “We need to have that junior coach and leader at the club to inspire kids to learn and show them how simple it is to learn the game of golf. I think this program will help create structure to get everyone on the same page.”

A key strategy for the program aims to educate parents and increase awareness about junior golf pathways and the necessary next steps for their junior golfer.

“The GAO is truly excited to launch this important project as we work to strengthen our support for communities, families and clubs across Ontario,” added Mike Kelly, Managing Director, Sport. “NXTee is focused on enhancing engagement for parents and kids in the sport of golf while making new friends and having fun.”

The program includes: two outdoor skills challenges, one in the fall followed by another in the spring; two indoor training sessions during the winter; two parent education seminars; and proper rules and etiquette training.

“The GAO NXTee x-perience has been designed using scientific principles of long-term athlete development (LTAD),” said Dr. Peter Davis, GAO LTAD Consultant. “It is designed to help children improve their skills and enjoy their golf game using age-appropriate coaching and also for parents to understand how their children can best enjoy and develop their golf game through appropriate support.”

Locations for the Skills Challenges will be at Cardinal Golf Club (King), Copper Creek Golf Club (Kleinburg), Bushwood Golf Club (Markham), Lakeridge Links Golf Club (Whitby) and St. Andrews Valley Golf Club (Aurora) and will take place October 18-19. Each club will host a three-hour skills challenge on both days. The second skills challenge will take place in April 2015.

After the skills challenges, participants will sign up for winter training sessions. The winter training sessions will be held at The Golf Lab, in Vaughan.

During the winter training sessions, parent education seminars will also take place. The seminars are designed to offer parents insight and knowledge into the world of junior golf, competitive or recreational pathways, long-term player development and strategies to improve their child’s golf development.

UXBRIDGE, Ont. — The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), Golf Canada and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport are proud to announce the implementation of a new junior golf initiative: the NXTee youth (U13) golf x-perience.

The NXTee pilot program has been created to increase the development and engagement of junior golfers, aged 8-13 in the York Region, by providing them with an opportunity to continue to practice and increase their skills throughout the winter. The program prepares participants for the golf season in a fun and friendly environment.

“We want to be able to look at the NXTee x-perience as being able to inspire and enhance the development of kids at the club level,” said Doug Lawrie, NXTee Lead Coach. “We need to have that junior coach and leader at the club to inspire kids to learn and show them how simple it is to learn the game of golf. I think this program will help create structure to get everyone on the same page.”

A key strategy for the program aims to educate parents and increase awareness about junior golf pathways and the necessary next steps for their junior golfer.

“The GAO is truly excited to launch this important project as we work to strengthen our support for communities, families and clubs across Ontario,” added Mike Kelly, Managing Director, Sport. “NXTee is focused on enhancing engagement for parents and kids in the sport of golf while making new friends and having fun.”

The program includes: two outdoor skills challenges, one in the fall followed by another in the spring; two indoor training sessions during the winter; two parent education seminars; and proper rules and etiquette training.

“The GAO NXTee x-perience has been designed using scientific principles of long-term athlete development (LTAD),” said Dr. Peter Davis, GAO LTAD Consultant. “It is designed to help children improve their skills and enjoy their golf game using age-appropriate coaching and also for parents to understand how their children can best enjoy and develop their golf game through appropriate support.”

Locations for the Skills Challenges will be at Cardinal Golf Club (King), Copper Creek Golf Club (Kleinburg), Bushwood Golf Club (Markham), Lakeridge Links Golf Club (Whitby) and St. Andrews Valley Golf Club (Aurora) and will take place October 18-19. Each club will host a three-hour skills challenge on both days. The second skills challenge will take place in April 2015.

After the skills challenges, participants will sign up for winter training sessions. The winter training sessions will be held at The Golf Lab, in Vaughan.

During the winter training sessions, parent education seminars will also take place. The seminars are designed to offer parents insight and knowledge into the world of junior golf, competitive or recreational pathways, long-term player development and strategies to improve their child’s golf development.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Oliver Wilson held off Rory McIlroy to capture his first European Tour title with a one-shot victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Wilson shot a 2-under 70 in the final round on the Old Course at St. Andrews as McIlroy came up just short after a bogey on the 17th hole. Wilson finished at 17-under 271, with McIlroy (68) in a three-way tie for second with Richie Ramsay of Scotland and Tommy Fleetwood of England.

The 34-year old Wilson, currently ranked 792nd in the world, had finished second nine times in his 227 previous tour events, but lost his card two years ago and was competing this week on an invitation.

“It’s all really hard to believe as I have dreamed of this moment many times in my career, and in the circumstances it has happened I can’t believe it,” said Wilson, who started the day with a three-shot lead. “So it’s a dream come true to win a tournament as St. Andrews because three, four weeks ago my career was looking pretty grim. It’s just amazing what is possible playing professional golf.”

McIlroy started with a double bogey but then made four straight birdies and picked up two more shots after the turn before putting from off the green and into the infamous Road Hole bunker at the 17th. At the first hole, his ball spun back off the green into the Swilcan Burn.

“I feel I cost myself the tournament in the space of 20 yards at the front of the green at the first and over at the Road Hole bunker, with both not too far away from each other,” McIlroy said. “They were the only two mistakes I made all day.”

Ramsay had a two-shot lead after birdies at 14 and 15 but then handed the shots back with bogeys the next two to shoot 67. Fleetwood had a chance to force a playoff but missed a six-foot putt at the 18th to settle for a 68.

Chris Doak of Scotland was alone in fifth place, another shot behind.

BEIJING – South Korea’s Mirim Lee won the second title of her rookie LPGA Tour season, shooting a 5-under 69 in the final round on Sunday to capture the Reignwood Classic by two strokes.

Starting the day tied for third, Lee birdied three holes on the front nine and added two more on No. 16 and 18 to offset one bogey. She finished at 15-under 277.

Lee’s first LPGA victory came just two months ago at the Meijer LPGA Classic, where she beat her third-ranked countrywoman Inbee Park in a playoff.

“I really didn’t think I would get my second win this quickly,” Lee said. “I was a lot more nervous this time than first time around.”

Top-ranked Stacy Lewis and Caroline Hedwall, the co-overnight leaders, both fell short on a windy final day at Pine Valley Golf Club.

Hedwall, who was aiming for her first LPGA title, shot a 73 to finish second at 13 under.

“It was tougher out there today,” the Swede said. “I think most girls out there were struggling a little bit with the wind, because it’s a tough golf course in the wind.”

Lewis, meanwhile, started off her round with a birdie, but bogeyed No. 7 and added three more bogeys on the back nine to slip out of contention. She shot a 75 for equal sixth at 11 under.

Lee said she learned a lot playing in the final group with Lewis, who was aiming for her fourth title of the year.

“Usually when I play my rounds I don’t watch the other players,” she said. “Today I really observed how Stacy played, and she was such a phenomenal player. It shows why she is the No. 1 player in the world.”

In 17 events this year, Lee has made the cut 13 times and has four top-10 finishes. With the win, she will move up 11 spots in the world rankings to No. 18.

Park shot a 71 to finish in a share of third with fellow South Korean Haeji Kang (69) and American Brittany Lang (72) at 12 under.

Tom Watson took the blame Saturday for his communication with his players in another American loss at the Ryder Cup, and the 65-year-old captain said he called Phil Mickelson earlier this week to clear the air.

“I regret that my words may have made the players feel that I didn’t appreciate their commitment and dedication to winning the Ryder Cup,” Watson said in a statement issued through the PGA of America. “My intentions throughout my term as captain were both to inspire and to be honest.”

Mickelson indirectly called out Watson in an awkward press conference after Europe’s 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory, the eighth out of the last 10 times it has won the cup. Mickelson said the Americans have strayed from a winning formula they had under Paul Azinger in 2008.

Watson was sitting in the middle of his 12 players and said he had a different philosophy.

The statement was issued one day after an ESPN report citing four unidentified people who were in the U.S. team room on the night before the final round. Those people said Watson blamed the players for their performance in foursomes – Europe went unbeaten in both sessions to build a 10-6 lead going into singles – and scoffed at a gift from the players by saying it was meaningless if they didn’t win.

The gift was a replica of the Ryder Cup the players had signed.

The report also said Watson denigrated some of the European players, and only praised the play of U.S. rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.

Watson was the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history. He was the last U.S. captain in 1993 to win the Ryder Cup away from home.

“The guys gave everything. They played their hearts out,” Watson said in his statement. “I was proud to get to know each and every one of them.”

Mickelson was playing his 10th Ryder Cup – no American has played more times – and said the U.S. team was not involved in any decision. He heaped praise on Azinger for his “pods” system that got the players involved when they won at Valhalla in 2008.

Watson dismissed that during the press conference, saying winning the Ryder Cup was not about pods and that it simply took 12 players to win.

The ESPN report said Mickelson was the last to speak during the team meeting, kept his back turned at Watson and tried to rally the players. Europe won key matches early and clinched the cup with four matches still on the course.

Watson said he had a “candid conversation” with Mickelson this week “and it ended with a better understanding of each other’s perspectives.”

“Phil’s heart and intentions for our team’s success have always been in the right place,” Watson said. “Phil is a great player, has great passion and I admire what he’s done for golf.”

Watson said the loss at Gleneagles fell to him.

“I was their captain,” he said. “In hindsight, whatever mistakes that were made were mine. And I take full responsibility for them.”

Golf’s best selling shoe is about to get even more comfortable thanks to the introduction of the all-new Contour Series™ from FootJoy.

Since its launch in 2001, the Contour Series has enjoyed tremendous success. The straight-from-the-box comfort fit construction, soft supple leather, consistent fit and unrivaled number of sizes and widths propelled Contour Series to the top of the footwear leaderboard with more than 6 million pairs sold and counting.

With this major overhaul, FootJoy’s top selling shoe is now even lighter, more flexible and more comfortable, while still delivering the fit and feel that keeps players coming back to Contour year after year.

“The success of Contour really begins with the consistent fit and unparalleled comfort players experience when they wear it, so we made sure we delivered on those expectations first and foremost with the latest version,” said Doug Robinson, VP of Golf Footwear Worldwide. “After that, however, we reconsidered every material and construction element to ultimately deliver our best Contour yet.”

The new FJ Contour Series will be available in 10 colors:

• White + Orange + Grey
• White + Taupe + Black
• White + Grey + Black
• White + Lt Grey + Grey
• White + Red + Grey
• White + Lime + Navy
• All over Black
• All over Brown
• Charcoal + Black (BOA Lacing System)
• White + Brown (BOA Lacing System)

Sizes (includes whole and half sizes):

• Narrow: 9 – 13
• Medium: 7 – 15
• Wide: 7 – 14
• Extra Wide – 7 – 13

All styles will be available starting October 15, 2014.