Cut history
Paul Azinger was among the most vocal players against the PGA Tour’s new cut policy, and after running through his list of complaints about how 18 players who made the cut couldn’t play in Honolulu, he said of the tour hierarchy, “What is it that makes these guys so afraid of tradition?”

He figured the cut has always been top 70 and ties, regardless of how many players make the cut.

And he was right — with one asterisk.

When the PGA Tour was formed in 1969, regulations stated that the field will be reduced to top 70 players and ties after 36 holes. That policy remained virtually unchanged until this year.

One exception came in 1973 when amateurs were removed from the equation, so the regulation was changed to say that the top 70 “professionals” and ties made the cut. That played a significant role in 1999 when Tiger Woods was in a tie for 71st at Bay Hill, but made the cut because amateur Matt Kuchar easily made the cut. That allowed Woods to be among the top 70 pros, and he went on to set the tour’s consecutive cut record.

As for the asterisk?

The tour only paid the low 70 and ties after the tournament, meaning a dozen or so players could make the cut and not be paid. How would that have gone down at the Sony Open?

That policy change in 1979 so that prize money was paid to everyone making the cut.

Divots
The Buick Invitational has 11 of the top 30 players from the world rankings. The Qatar Masters on the European Tour has 10 of the top 30, including Scott Verplank. ... The last five PGA Tour events have been won by international players. If an American fails to win this week, it would tie the record for most consecutive international winners to start a season, set in 2003. ... Ben Curtis kept busy in the offseason without playing too much golf. His wife, Candace, gave birth Dec. 11 to a daughter they named Addison Marie. It was their second child.

Stat of the week
In his 11 season-opening tournaments, Tiger Woods has won five times and never finished out of the top 10.

Final word
“I love it when your only weakness is you haven’t won a major from behind. I’m feeling bad for him. I’ve never won a major from behind, either.” — Paul Goydos on Tiger Woods.

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