Iron play leads to missed cut - Sunday, June 24, 2007

CROMWELL, Conn. -- Inconsistent iron play played a major role in Notah Begay III missing the cut at the Travelers Championship this past week, held at the site of his 2000 Canon Greater Hartford Open - the TPC River Highlands.

"I arrived in Connecticut - the site of my last PGA Tour victory - with some definite curiosity about the status of my game," Notah said. "My back injury prevented me from putting in any long practice sessions and that was clearly evident in my iron play this week. I was on top of the stat sheet with the accuracy of my driver but was unable to give myself many good birdie opportunities."

While his driver was on the money his back was far from pain free.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't pain free," Notah said, "but I was feeling good enough to make some good swings. I think I can improve some before my next start."

Notah will now play the waiting game for his next assignment on Tour.

"I'm not sure when my next start will be, as we await responses from the tournaments in which we've requested sponsors invitations," Notah said. "I plan to head up to the Turning Stone Resort to get in some extra practice time on the tournament course and work on my iron play. Hopefully, I will be ready if the phone rings and I get an invitation."

Be sure to check back with Notah.com to follow NB3 in his quest to earn a fifth Tour victory.

2007 - Travelers Championship - cut (74, 74) = 148 (+8)

2006 - Buick Championship - T9 (68, 66, 71, 69) = 274 (-6) $101,828.57

2005 - Buick Championship - cut (75, 70) = 145 (+5)

2003 - Greater Hartford Open - T33 (73, 66, 69, 69) = 277 (-3) $22,600.00

2002 - Canon Greater Hartford Open - T33 (67, 72, 69, 69) = 277 (-3) $21,133.34

1999 - Canon Greater Hartford Open - T14 (69, 68, 69, 64) = 270 (-10) $45,000.00

, Cromwell, Conn.