Thoughts from the fringe

Former Ohio State standout John Cook fell to 0-3 in playoffs on the Champions Tour with his loss to Bernhard Langer at the Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Fla., last weekend.

It took a holed bunker shot for an eagle from about 45 feet on the first playoff hole to frustrate Cook's latest bid for a victory. He also lost to Mike Reid in overtime at the 2009 JELD-WEN Tradition.

But one need not feel too badly for Cook, who closed 2009 with a five-stroke victory at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Since joining the Champions Tour in 2007, he has won four times and earned $3,954,106.

Last week's second-place finish moved him to eighth in the Charles Schwab Cup points race and to fifth on the money list in what figures to be another stellar season.

Joey Sindelar, a teammate of Cook's when they played for Ohio State, finished alone in third at the Allianz Championship. He was playing just three months after suffering a pulmonary embolism and just missed joining Langer in Cook in the playoff with a final-round 67. Since joining the Champions Tour in 2008, Sindelar has never missed a cut in 44 events and has managed to finish in the top 25 an amazing 35 times while earning $2,076, 037. But he's still looking for his first victory.

Nice to be picked: Former Ohio State standout Rosie Jones was informed yesterday by LPGA commissioner Michael Whan that she has been named the U.S. Solheim Cup captain and will lead the Americans against Europe in Ireland next year.

Jones, a 13-time LPGA winner who has retired from tour play, was surprised by the appointment, saying "I haven't won a major, so this is a major accomplishment for me. It's a huge honor for me."

There was speculation that Meg Mallon would be captain when the Solheim Cup is held Sept. 23-25 at Killeen Castle in County Meath, Ireland. Mallon's Irish heritage and the fact that she served as assistant captain to Beth Daniel when the Americans won the event last year fueled the speculation.

Jones, 50, will be only the second U.S. Solheim Cup captain who isn't a major championship winner. Judy Rankin captained the U.S. in 1996 and 1998 and had 26 LPGA victories but no majors.

The only players who have won more U.S. Solheim Cup points than Jones who have yet to be captain are Juli Inkster (18), Mallon (16½) and Dottie Pepper (14). Jones won 12 points in her seven Solheim Cup appearances. She was 11-9-2 with a 3-3-1 singles record.

Mallon, who, like Jones, is an Ohio State graduate, said she strongly supported Jones’ appointment. After struggling with injuries and serious family health issues the last few seasons, Mallon said she’s not ready to retire at age 46. She is using a top-20 career money exemption to play this season.

Quick divots: The PGA Tour makes the final stop of its West Coast swing this week at the Phoenix Open. Veteran Kenny Perry will defend his title and rowdy crowds at the 16th hole will receive too much television coverage. ... After getting lucky and picking Ian Poulter to win last week's match play event just north of Tucson, Oldgolfdawg won't go out so far on the limb in picking J.B. Holmes to prevail this week. The TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course favors bombers and Holmes showed good form at Pebble Beach and he will be seeking his third victory in Phoenix when play begins today. ... Mark Calcavecchia will be trying to become only the third player to win a PGA Tour event in four decades. He won the Phoenix Open in 1989, 1992 and 2001. ... For the last three years, Phil Mickelson has won his first PGA Tour event of the season in his fourth start. A win Sunday would extend that streak.

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