Ryder Cup Captains Colin Montgomerie (Europe) and Corey Pavin (US) have laid out some expectations for team members and hopeful team members.

Montgomerie has stated that he expects candidates for the European team to play Celtic Manor Wales Open next year.  Miguel Angel Jimenez is the only European hopeful who is in the field this week at Celtic Manor.  This comes just a month after Montgomerie stressed the importance of gaining a knowledge of the course prior to the Cup.

“I am sure I will get a number to say ‘yes’ and I would expect those potential Ryder Cup players to be playing.”, Montgomerie said.

Corey Pavin has set forth a similar expectation for the American team members.  Pavin said he wouldn’t require that his team play in the Wales Open, but they should find time to play the course prior to the Ryder Cup match if they don’t.

“It is obviously a little different for us, but what I’m going to do is ask my players who come over for The Open Championship, either before or after, to try to get a couple practice rounds here,” Pavin said. “I certainly would like my potential players to see the course once or twice before Ryder Cup week.”

John Daly, still a week away from his official PGA Tour return at the St. Jude Invitational, has signed an endorsement deal with sports drink company, All Sport.  He signed a multi-year deal with the company and will feature their Big Red brand drink on his bag .  “Corporate America believes in his comeback,” agent Bud Martin said Thursday.

The Pebble Beach National Pro-Am will be adding a new course to the mix next year.  The Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club replacing Poppy Hills.  Monterey was last used for the Pro-Am in 1977 and it will join Spyglass Hill for the PGA Tour event.

This will mark the first course change in the event since 1991, when Poppy Hills replaced Cypress Point due to membership issues.  Poppy was the least favorite among the players, with rounds lasting upwards of 6 hours due to the 5 par 5′s and bumpy greens.

After determining the course of treatment for his wife Amy’s breast cancer, Phil Mickelson has decided to return to the course for the St. Jude Invitational June 11.  He will use the tournament as a tune-up for the US Open the following week.  After that, his schedule is still uncertain.

With the Russian property giant Inteko pulling out of the title sponsorship role, the organizers of the Russian Open decided to cancel the event.  They were left $990,000 short of their prize money goal.  Inteko’s withdrawal came out of th blue and organizers didn’t have enough time to find a replacement sponsor.  The tournament is expected to be held again in 2010.

John Daly’s 6 month PGA suspension is officially over.  Daly was suspended in November after numerous off the course incidents and had recently been playing on the European Tour.  He has been given a sponsor exemption to play in the St. Jude Invitational June 11-14 and is expected to play.

In other news, Daly wore bright pink trousers in the Sunday’s final round at the BMW PGA Championship as a gesture of support for Phil Mickelson’s wife, Amy, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  “I had a pair, so I figured I’d do that for her today. I thought it would be a good gesture,” Daly said of his trousers. “I know Phil very well and I know Amy. I’ve known them for a long time — we’ve played the Tour together. She’s a great lady. She has always been a sweetheart to everybody.”

Phil Mickelson’s wife, Amy, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Mickelson has indefinitely suspended his PGA Tour schedule to be with his wife during this time.  His wife will need more tests before beginning treatment, but major surgery could come within the next 2 weeks.

It’s always tough when a loved one has to battle a disease like cancer.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Amy, Phil and their children during this time.

Jose Maria Olazabal has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.  He was elected with 56% of the vote and will be enshrined November 2.  He will join Steve Ballesteros as the only Spaniards in the Hall.  Olazabal’s resume includes 29 world victories and 2 Masters wins.

Nancy Lopez is looking to make herself more high profile on the LPGA Tour again.  Lopez, 52, cut back her playing schedule in 2002 in order to concentrate on raising her 3 children.  She told the Tennesseean that she had an 18 month plan for her comeback, including foot surgery.

The Hall of Famer has 48 victories,3 major wins and was one of the most popular players on tour.  She has played sporadically since 2002 but hasn’t made a cut in four years.

The European Ryder Cup team has changed the way team members will be selected.

Colin Montgomerie will now have 3 captain selections and four players will be taken from a points list based on world rankings.  The European team had only had 2 captain’s picks since 1995.

The European change follows the US teams change last year which gave the US captain 4 picks with the rest coming from a points based system.