A composed, even occasionally smiling Kyle Stanley just concluded his pre-Phoenix Open press conference in the media center this morning.

Of course, he was asked to revisit the freefall late Sunday in which he blew a three-stroke lead on the final hole of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South Course, eventually losing in a playoff.

“It’s a crazy game,” he lamented. “It can love you. It can hate you.”

He said the one shot he revisits in his head is the 80-yard third shot on the finishing par 5. If he could do it over, he said he …

Read more »

For the second consecutive year, Tacoma’s Troy Kelly earned a spot in the Waste Management Phoenix Open through Monday qualifying.

An alternate coming into the week, Kelly and Aaron Watkins co-medaled to qualify.

Last season, Kelly made the cut, and tied for 57th at 4-under-par 280.

Back that start-up date for University Place’s Michael Putnam in his return to the PGA Tour.

Putnam, who broke the small lunate bone in his left wrist while working on the driving range last summer, has been cleared by doctors to resume golf-related activities.

He originally targeted his 2012 debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am – set to start Feb. 9 on the Monterey Peninsula – but after a few recent sessions of physical therapy, his wrist is nowhere near ready from a strength and flexibility standpoint.

Putnam’s new target date is mid-April at the Valero Texas Open …

Read more »

Yes, Gig Harbor’s Kyle Stanley woke up this morning a little bummed as he makes his way to the next PGA Tour stop – the Waste Management Phoenix Open (where, no doubt, the raucous sun-soaking, beer-drinking patrons surrounding the 16th hole will remind his of last week’s crushing loss at Torrey Pines South Course).

The Bellarmine Prep graduate, who is in his second year on tour, sent out a couple of tweets Sunday night after receiving an outpouring of support.

“Tough to take. So grateful for family and friends. And thanks so much for the support #patience #mytimewillcome”

A couple …

Read more »

This week: PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open, Thursday through Sunday, Torrey Pines North and South Courses, San Diego.

Stanley’s fourth-round score: 2-over-par 74.

Position: Stanley (16-under 272) lost on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to Brandt Snedeker. Kelly (2-over 218) missed the final-day cut, but did earn a paycheck for finishing in 79th place. Moore missed the cut Friday at 1-under 143.

Recap: It appeared the Bellarmine Prep product, who once owned a seven-shot lead on the front nine of his final round Sunday, would survive an up-and-down ball-striking day because of his clutch back-nine putting, especially with …

Read more »

As Gig Harbor native Kyle Stanley remains in hot pursuit of his first PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open today, the only thing striking about this week’s development is how quickly the Bellarmine Prep product is contending in 2012.

When we met in late December at a coffee shop, I asked him if golfers – especially himself – could ever feel close to winning tournaments.

Sitting very relaxed in his chair, this was his answer:

“It is always a process – you are always trying to get better. My progression since since I started playing competitively, it has

…

Read more »

This week: PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open, Thursday through Sunday, Torrey Pines North and South Courses, San Diego.

Stanley’s third-round score: 4-under-par 68 on the South Course.

Kelly’s third-round score: 6-over 78.

Position: At 18-under 198, Stanley holds a five-shot lead over John Huh and John Rollins (203). Kelly (2-over 218) missed the final-day cut, but did earn a paycheck for finishing in 79th place. Moore missed the cut Friday at 1-under 143.

Recap: Simply put, with his great length and stellar poise, Stanley appears to be playing the beastly South Course differently than the field this week. His lead …

Read more »

This week: PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open, Thursday through Sunday, Torrey Pines North and South Courses, San Diego.

Stanley’s second-round score: 4-under-par 68 on the South Course.

Kelly’s second-round score: Even-par 72 on the South Course.

Moore’s second-round score: 4-under 68 on the North Course.

Position: Stanley (13-under 131) leads by one stroke over Brandt Snedeker. Kelly (4-under 140) is tied for 41st, and Moore (1-under 143) missed the cut by one stroke.

Recap: Stanley grabbed the outright lead when he got up and down from 40 yards out on the par-5 ninth hole for a final birdie to shoot …

Read more »