Heard on the Range

Tiger Woods recently purchased a 155-foot motor yacht from
Christensen Shipyards in Vancouver, Wash. According to reports,
the vessel will have six double staterooms, extensive crew
quarters and a dark-cherry interior with inlaid marble floors.
The yacht, which will launch on July 17, will also be outfitted
for diving and fishing.... Colin Montgomerie nearly blew his top
on the 8th hole of the British Open qualifier at Sunningdale on
June 28 when former pal Alasdair Hadden-Paton, a wealthy English
hotelier who was part of the gallery that day, allegedly said to
him, "I've had dinner with your wife." According to The Sun,
Monty grumbled, "What the hell is he doing here?" Monty recovered
from the distraction and survived a 12-man playoff to earn a spot
at Royal Troon, where his father was once club secretary....
Steve Lowery made an eight-footer on the final green to finish
second at the Western Open and earn a spot in the British Open as
the lowest finisher who wasn't already exempt. Had he missed, he
would've fallen into a three-way tie for second and Luke Donald
would've received the exemption.... Jerry Kelly was so sure that
he'd missed the cut at the Western that he checked out of his
hotel and drove home to Madison, Wis. After realizing his error,
he made the three-hour drive back and finished 33rd.... For the
first time in his 13-year career, Phil Mickelson will not play in
the Aug. 5-8 International at Castle Pines, where he's won twice.
Instead, Lefty will spend the week preparing for the PGA.
--J.G., Farrell Evans

COLOR PHOTO: JONATHAN DRAKE/EPA (MONTGOMERIE) ON TO TROON Monty qualified despite a below-the-belt crack.