Notebook: Percy drops back to reality in Australia

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(AP) -- It didn't take long for Cameron Percy to go from the ultimate high -- a final-round pairing with Tiger Woods in his hometown of Melbourne -- back to reality.

Two weeks after the JBWere Masters, his draw for the first two rounds of the Australian Open put him with Jian Chen of China and Shintaro Iizuka of Japan. Both missed the cut at a combined 49 over. Chen shot 82-90, while Iizuka shot 83-82.

"Bit of a contrast," Percy said with a laugh. "The Tour really looked after me on tee times."

The scores were one thing. Percy said toward the end of the second round at New South Wales -- one of the most scenic golf courses in Australia -- they asked him to take pictures of them.

"You don't expect that from your playing partners in the middle of the round," Percy said.

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YOGI AND THE HOPE: Yogi Berra will take on a new role at the Bob Hope Classic as the first "Classic Ambassador," in which he will perform a variety of duties during the 51st edition of the tournament in the California desert.

The Hall of Fame catcher played 15 times in the Bob Hope, during which he brought his brand of wisdom to the game.

"Ninety percent of all putts which finish short of the hole don't go in," Berra once said.

Among other things, Berra will hit the ceremonial first tee shot on Jan. 20 and present the trophy after the 90-hole tournament.

"It's a privilege for me to be honored by the Bob Hope Classic, which has always been a wonderful tournament," Berra said. "I thought the world of Bob, for all he's done for golf and everything and everybody, and I cherish the times we spent. Playing this tournament every year over the last 15 years, I can honestly say has been a great experience.

"I can also say, being 84, not many can beat me in experience."

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GRAND FINALE: Anders Hansen of Denmark goes into the South African Open with a chance to become the first player from the northern hemisphere to win the Order of Merit on the Sunshine Tour.

That's not all that's at stake. The South African Open is the final tournament of the year that awards world ranking points, and the top 50 in the final ranking Dec. 28 will be invited to play in the Masters. Hansen is at No. 48.

Even without golf being played, points are gradually reduced from a player's record each week. Among the players on the bubble for an automatic bid to Augusta National are Miguel Angel Jimenez (No. 47), former British Open champion Ben Curtis (No. 49) and big-hitting Alvaro Quiros of Spain at No. 50.

Ryan Moore and Dustin Johnson are just outside the top 50, although they already are exempt.

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DIVOTS: Tadd Fujikawa has been given a sponsor's exemption to the Sony Open in Honolulu. ... Ryo Ishikawa had last week off, and the Japanese teenager certainly earned his break. Dating to the PGA Championship, Ishikawa played 17 weeks in a row. ... Lee Westwood has won the Golf Writers' Trophy, joining Seve Ballesteros as the only three-time winners of the award from the Association of Golf Writers in Britain. Catriona Matthew, who won the Women's British Open, was the runner-up, while Rory McIlroy finished third. ... Sophie Gustafson won the Ladies European Tour money title for the fourth time this decade.

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FINAL WORD: "I just don't think that even if you become a professional athlete that you have to give up your education." -- Michelle Wie, who took a final exam at Stanford over the internet just hours before shooting 65 in the final round of the Dubai Ladies Masters.