Heard on the Range

Every golfer is familiar with the work of famed architect Donald Ross, but the members of Owasco Country Club in Auburn, N.Y., took a dim view of the work of local amateur designer Donald J. Ross. Ross was arraigned on Nov. 30 for criminal possession of stolen tee markers, ball washers and other items he allegedly swiped from the club over a three-year period. The 68-year-old Ross, who's not related to the iconic Scot, used the material to build a three-hole course on property he owns with his twin brother, Ronald.... Think Tiger Woods's nine-stroke win at the Dunlop Phoenix Open last month was a big deal in Japan? Not as big as Ai Miyazato's victory at the Elleair Ladies Open in Saita, Japan, the same week. That the women's event had better TV ratings than the men's (6.1 to 5.3) on the final day was attributed mostly to Miyazato, a 19-year-old Japan LPGA rookie who has thrilled Japanese fans by winning four times this year. Miyazato plans to attend LPGA Q school in 2005.... Wisconsin football coach Barry Alvarez broke a bone in his right foot on Nov. 30 while playing at Augusta National. When Alvarez's third shot on the par-5 2nd hole landed in a bunker, he "dropped" his club--right onto the inside part of his foot. "I heard it crack," Alvarez said. The Badgers' coach played two more holes then had to be carted to the clubhouse.... On Monday the PGA Tour made the inevitable official, announcing that Vijay Singh has been voted player of the year. Singh won nine times and earned more than $10 million in 2004. --J.G., Farrell Evans

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PETE FONTAINE/WIREIMAGE.COM (MIYAZATO)

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Miyazato was a bigger draw than Tiger in Japan.