Former PGA POTY’s Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk bounced from Accenture Match Play Championships
by Christopher C. Wuensch on Feb. 23, 2011, under Bear Down...and Blog, SportsBear Down…and Blog!
Current and former University of Arizona athletes are always making news and not always in traditional mediums. We scoured the Internet and found Wildcats online by visiting these lynx
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TIGER WOODS, FURYK BOUNCED FROM ACCENTURE MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Former UofA golfer Jim Furyk gazes at his 2010 PGA Tour Player of the Year trophy. Furyk, who was eliminated in the first round of the Accenture Match Play Championships, has seen better days on the golf course. Luckily for him, it's a very long season. Allan Henry-US PRESSWIRE
A former University of Arizona golfer will not win this year’s World Golf Championship-Accenture Match Play Championship held in the backyard of their old stomping grounds.
Nor will any past PGA Tour ‘Player of the Year’ winners – of which ex-Wildcat Jim Furyk is both.
Furyk (2010 PGA POTY), Tiger Woods (2009 and eight other times) and Padraig Harrington (2008) were all eliminated in first round action on Wednesday in Marana, Ariz.-tournament that pits the top 64 World Golf money earners against one another in a March Madness-style tourney.
Furyk, the No. 10 seed, lost his opening round match to Ryan Palmer (2 up). Woods, No. 3, saw his comeback fall short in an extra hole to No. 62 Thomas Bjorn. Harrington, No. 30, lost to former Match Play champ Geoff Ogilvy.
The former Wildcats’ PGA Player of the Year title defense has gotten off to a sluggish start. Furyk has made the cut in only two of the four tournaments he’s played in, and finished in the top-25 once.
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While the top 64 World Golf money earners square off in the outskirts of Tucson, the balance of the PGA Tour is basking in the Mexican sun and sand traps at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun. That includes former Wildcats Robert Gamez, Ted Purdy and Rory Sabbatini.
“Sticks are finally thawing out for Cancun. I’m ready for some golf.”
- University of Arizona sports hall of famer Ted Purdy, via Twitter
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“business project number 2…. complete. aye nothing but basketball on my mind this week/weekend now!”
- That’s good news for Arizona forward Derrick Williams and bad news for Southern California and UCLA, the Wildcats’ opponents this week
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“Today my brother Austin would be 5 years old. Love n’ miss my lil angel. Happy Bday bro”
- Arizona guard Brendon Lavender reminding us all that life isn’t always about sports
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“life is so good right now. Ball is great. Got the best girlfriend in the world and az is back to where it was. Just wish my bro was here 2c”
- Lavender’s teammate Kevin Parrom doing the same
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“Not going to Lie, feels good to have the spikes back on!!”
- Former Wildcat golfer Ricky Barnes, who’s played in two PGA events so far this season
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“The car next to meat sonic is stuck”
- Arizona wide receiver Dan Buckner, accidentally splicing two words together with an appropriate Freudian slip
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“Just left foot locker northpark mall its official the REEBOK JET SHARK shoe is on the runway only 24 pair available”
- Better get your pair of the new Jason Terry (AKA the ‘Jet’) sneakers before someone else takes off with them
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“Please teach your children water safety and if you don’t know how to swim it’s never too late to learn!!!”
- When a former Wildcat swim star and Olympic medalist such as Amanda Beard gives you swimming advice, you’d best listen
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“Ace gets pumped for #Taco Bell like it’s Chuck E’ Cheese! Def- our boy! 
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- Once you’re retired and have had the career that former Wildcat softball star Jennie Finch has had, you and your son can eat anything you’d like…you can also name your kid Ace
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“Best of luck to all the LPGA players!… enjoy Asia!”
- Former ‘Cat and retired PLGA Player of the Year Lorena Ochoa wishing her peers well on the start of the 2011 season
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“On my way to the golf course to play a little golf, one of the best places for business transactions… Ha! Lehgo!”
- Former Wildcat and current St. Louis Ram Fendi Onobun learning the nuances of big business
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“I dislike when people smoke around me.. I hate the smell of cigarets !!”
- The only smoke Arizona cornerback Robert Golden likes to inhale is the kind created by the pre-game fireworks at Arizona Stadium
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“Yesterday I worked 12 hours and really only “worked” 1 hour. These entertainment folks are a special breed. #fb”
- No rat race for ex-Wildcat track and field star Brianna Glenn
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Former Wildcat walk-on David Bagga is the author of a new book entitled "The Walk-On."
BOOK
You’ve seen the guys at the end of every bench in NCAA basketball. They’re the role players jumping up and down, but not seeing much action. That doesn’t mean the action isn’t an everyday occurrence in their world.
David Bagga is rehashing the years he spent as a walk-on player for the Arizona basketball team in his new book appropriately named: The Walk On.
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AMAZON.COM PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
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“THE WALK-ON is a story about a young man and how he experiences the game of college basketball through his eyes, telling people what it is like going through the rigorous routine of being a division 1 athlete for one of the best basketball programs arguably in the country and finding out what the journey is all about. He experiences many highs and lows throughout the way but shows that inspiration, determination, a good work ethic and a team first attitude is what it takes to make the experience a great one. Playing for 3 coaches in 4 years David shows what it is like adapting to different methodologies and coming together with a group of guys from all around the country to make up a team.
David Bagga was a Student-Athlete at the University of Arizona from 2005-2009 and had the privilege of playing for legendary Hall of Fame basketball Coach Lute Olson. He was also teammates with current NBA players Chase Budinger, Jerryd Bayless, Jordan Hill, Marcus Williams, and Hassan Adams. He graduated from the University of Arizona in June of 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and currently resides in Orange County, California.
“David is a very team oriented player, all he wants to do is help us win basketball games.” – Hall of fame coach Lute Olson”
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NEWS
Jennie Finch has a new position that will keep her around her beloved sport of softball. The National Pro Fastpitch League named the former Wildcat hurler to its newly created NPF Board of Advisors, along with Arizona head coach Mike Candrea. The Arizona duo joins the 10-member panel that also includes tennis great Billie Jean King and baseball’s John Kruk.
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In other Finch news, make sure to read the pregnant pitcher’s celebrity blog on People Magazine’s website.
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YOUTUBE
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The LPGA is attempting to reshape its image. Using Natalie Gulbis as a spokesperson is a great start. The former Wildcat finished 18th overall in last week’s season-opening Honda LPGA-Thailand tournament. That’s one tournament down and one modest check for $17,444 deposited into the 28-year-old’s bank account. This week, Gulbis is staying in the Pacific Rim and competing in Singapore’s HSBC Championships.
