84 Lumber Classic notebook
Toms released from hospital, plans on returning to Nemacolin Woodlands FARMINGTON – David Toms, who was rushed to the hospital after collapsing on the No. 1 tee during the first round of the 84 Lumber Classic, was released from UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh Friday.
Ranked No. 11 in the world, Toms was playing in his second 84 Lumber Classic and had completed nine holes Thursday when he experienced chest pains after his tee shot on No. 1.
Playing partner Shaun Micheel said Toms appeared fine through his first nine holes, but said as Toms was leaving the tee at No. 1, he dropped to his knee.
Toms tried to get up and walk, but again dropped to his knee.
After he was taken to Uniontown Hospital by ambulance, Toms was transported by helicopter to Presbyterian Hospital for further tests, according to PGA Tour officials.
On Thursday night, Toms’ condition was at first listed as critical before being upgraded to good later that evening.
A statement released Friday from Adam Young, executive director of the David Toms Foundation, said Toms had left the hospital and was planning to return to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa.
The statement also said doctors diagnosed Tom’s heart condition as supraventricular tachycardia, which is a general term for any rapid heart rate originating above the ventricles.
According to doctors, it is a non-life-threatening condition that can either be treated with medication or cured with minor surgery.
A statement from Toms was also issued:
“First, let me thank all the doctors and staff at Pittsburgh’s UPMC-Presbyterian University Hospital. They were outstanding and I don’t think I could have received better care anywhere. I also want to thank Mr. (Joe) Hardy and the tournament staff of 84 Lumber. His (Hardy) kindness and compassion is truly remarkable.”
Toms also said through the statement, “I want to thank all the people who have offered prayers and support during the last 24 hours. Your encouragement has meant a lot.”
Toms, 38, is ranked No. 4 on the Tour money list with $3,656,213 in earnings this season and is slated to play for the United States in Presidents Cup action next week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Manassas, Va.
Blowin’ in the wind
Just as Cameron Beckman took the outright lead in the second round at the 84 Lumber Classic Friday with a birdie on the 18th hole before beginning the front nine, his name on the monster scoreboard began to catch in the wind gusts that had some golfers scratching their heads throughout the day.
Beckman, at the time, had posted an 8-under par to take the lead in the tournament and finished with a 10-under, tied for second with Chris Smith.
Tournament officials scrambled to catch the giant placard before it fell, crawling out along the side of the massive board to retrieve the Beckman sign.
Beckman will tee off today in the final pairing with second-round leader Stuart Appleby at 1:45 p.m.
Rain, rain, go away
Tournament officials kept their fingers crossed throughout the day Thursday, as remnants of tropical storm Ophelia threatened Mystic Rock Golf Course.
But other than a few minutes of very light sprinkles, the rain stayed away, keeping the already dry course firm, as players battled the hard greens, landing shots as much as 20 yards short in an attempt to hold the greens.
“Everything is going to pass us by,” golf course superintendent Brian Anderson said early Friday.
Tournament officials did not want a repeat of the 2003 Classic when the remains of Hurricane Isabel drenched the course and forced lift-and-place style play and had scores hovering around 20 under from soft, forgiving greens.
The Weather Channel was predicting mostly cloudy skies with a 30 percent chance of showers today with a high around 72 degrees.
Sunday is expected to be mostly sunny with high temperatures in the mid-70s.
Scrambling
First-round co-leader Jason Gore, who gained notoriety for his performance during the first three rounds of this year’s U.S. Open, aced Mystic Rock’s par-3, 165-yard No. 12 hole Friday.
Sort of.
After dropping his original tee shot in the water, Gore had to drop from 110 yards away. Already sitting two, Gore pulled out a sand wedge and let it fly.
And yes, he saved par.
“I just kind of flailed my original tee shot,” Gore said.
Gore struggled at times, but still wound up back where he started, at 7-under par, just four shots off the lead.
“The course played more difficult today,” Gore said. “The winds were more swirly.”
Under the radar
Some solid performances seemed to fly under the radar Friday, as the galleries moved with the big-name players like Daly, Singh, Couples and Mickelson.
Justin Leonard, currently 11th on the PGA money list, began the day eight shots off the pace at 1-over par, but turned in the best 2005 round yet, posting a second-round 64 and moving into a six-way tie for seventh place.
Craig Barlow posted a 6-under 66 to move to 8-under for the tournament and joined Joey Sindelar and Carl Pettersson in a three-way tie for fourth place.
Ben Crane also followed up a solid Thursday performance with a second-round 70, posting a 7-under. And John Senden who was seemingly doomed to head home after a first-round 75, shot a 7-under 65 to climb back into tournament contention.