Heard on the Range

As a favor to his caddie, Denver native Ron (Bambi) Levin, British Open champion Todd Hamilton took the claret jug to some of Levin’s old haunts during the week of the International, including City Park Golf Course, where Levin and Tour pro Jonathan Kaye learned to play. Says Levin, “As a big hockey fan, [Hamilton] likes the tradition of the Stanley Cup, which is passed around so people can see it. He wants to share that thrill with the claret jug.” ... Jack Vickers, the founder of Castle Pines, says he had the 2001 U.S. Open “in my back pocket” but passed on the event when the USGA would not negotiate with him for a share of the profits.... Slumping Aaron Baddeley, who’s missed six cuts in his last 12 starts, snapped a fairway wood over his knee last Friday at the International. Badds missed the cut with –11 points, second worst to Denver-area club pro Bill Loeffler.... Garth McGimpsey, captain of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, has been cleared of drug charges stemming from the seizure of $120,000 worth of cocaine at his house in Bangor, Northern Ireland, in May.... Marika Lendl, the 14-year-old daughter of tennis great Ivan Lendl, will attend the IMG/David Leadbetter Academy this fall.... Adam Scott will skip the Australian Open (he’ll play in the Skins Game instead), but 74-year-old Arnold Palmer, the 1966 Oz Open champ, will play an exhibition round at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney to commemorate the 100th playing of the event. --Farrell Evans

COLOR PHOTO

ROBERT BECK (SUTTON)

FIRST PITCH

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton chipped in a strike at an Aug. 3 Dodgers game.