Rex's Rants     Volume 1, Edition 5    Tuesday January 9th

Hello Sports Fans, Rex is back, I was off enjoying the Holidays. I hope you
and your families had a great Holiday season. Rex would like to wish a
happy, healthy and prosperous new year to all!

The 2003 PGA tour starts today, Thursday 1/9/03 with the Mercedes
Championship at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii.

This is exciting news for a weekend duffer like Rex! I can't wait to hit the
links this year. I'm suffering from golf withdrawal. I set up the old net in
my back yard and was smashing balls into until I was stymied by the snow
cover! I've enjoyed many hours of quality time on the golf courses with my
sons, both way better golfers than me by the way and I look forward to many
more this upcoming season.

Last years defending champ, Mr. Waggle Waggle Waggle regrip waggle waggle
waggle regrip Sergio Garcia is the odds on favorite this year with Tiger
still rehabbing the knee he had scoped last December. Lefty "I choke at all
the majors" Phil Mikelson will be absent too. He is home with the wife and
other children taking care of the latest addition to the family.

 Combine the number 1 and 2 ranked players in the world not playing and the
new rule to speed up play being enforced, where a player will get one verbal
warning and then be assessed a one stroke penalty, the field should be wide
open. This rule looks to really put a cramp in Sergio's game if it's
enforced. Sergio beat David Toms in a playoff last year at this tourney to
drive off in a brand new Mercedes convertible. This year there is a whopping
$235 million in prizes plus the car. Must be nice to be a PGA tour player!
Rex will never know!

Other notables to watch would be the currently number 3 ranked player, Ernie
Ells. Els lost this tournament in a playoff to Tiger in 2001. Retief Goosen,
Vijay, and 2001 Rookie of the year Charles Howell III will also be in the
hunt.
Some other big names that will not be playing because they failed to win in
2002 are the previously mentioned David Toms, Davis Love and David Duval.

Grip it and rip it baby! Hit'em straight and long!!