Heard on the Range

Former PGA Tour player Jeff Julian died on July 15, almost three
years after learning he had Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 42....
Michelle Wie's coach, Gary Gilchrist, has left his position as
the top instructor at the Leadbetter Academy, where he's spent
the last 10 years, to accept a position as an elite instructor at
the Nike-sponsored International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton
Head, S.C.... Eccentric 53-year-old journeyman Mac O'Grady used a
persimmon driver and fairway wood at the B.C. Open in Endicott,
N.Y., where he missed the cut with a four-over 148. Said playing
partner Camilo Villegas, "I asked him about the persimmon, and he
said, 'Those new clubs are too easy.'" ... Sam Randolph was
offered a spot in the B.C. Open on July 14, so he withdrew from
the Texas State Open, in which he was in fourth place after two
rounds, and caught a flight for Syracuse, N.Y. He ended up
sleeping on the floor of the Cincinnati airport after his
connecting flight was canceled, and when he finally arrived he
had to track down his clubs, which were at a different airport.
Randolph, 40, made his 1:30 p.m. tee time with eight minutes to
spare but missed the cut.... The Union Jack trousers worn by Ian
Poulter during last Thursday's opening round of the British Open
graced the front page or cover of 14 publications the following
day.... After his third round at Royal Troon, Brad Faxon was
offered a piece of wine-flavored gum by a young fan standing near
the scorer's tent. "I've never had an autograph-seeker offer me
candy," Faxon said. "I hope it's not laced with arsenic."

--J.G., Farrell Evans

COLOR PHOTO: ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES (FAXON) CANDY MAN Faxon had a sweet time with Troon's fans.