This Week in Golf - October 15th through October 18th

He was only the 14th celebrity to earn the distinction of hosting a PGA Tour event, joining a list that also includes Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Timberlake's star power -- he may have been the most recognizable face at the TPC Summerlin -- provided a spark of excitement for the tour during a time of the season, the Fall Series, when that is lacking.

Turnesa, playing to keep his tour card, owned at least a share of the lead after all four rounds and closed with a four-under 68 on Sunday to claim his first win and a $738,000 check. Turnesa set the tournament record with his 263 total of 25-under-par.

The victory also earned Turnesa a two-year exemption -- and that post-round photo-op with Timberlake.

Turnesa, who has made only eight cuts and finished no better than 30th while playing a full schedule this year, will be back to defend his title in a field light on star power.

Rickie Fowler will make his professional debut this week. The former No. 1 amateur, has appeared in three PGA Tour events this season, missing the cut at the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship and placing 58th earlier this year at the FBR Open. At Oklahoma State, Fowler was named College Player of the Year in 2008. Playing as an amateur, Fowler lost a playoff on the Nationwide Tour back in August.

Golf Channel will have coverage of all four rounds beginning at 4 p.m. (et) each day.

The Fall Series continues next week with the Frys.com Open, where Cameron Beckman won last year.

EUROPEAN TOUR

PORTUGAL MASTERS, Oceanico Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura, Portugal - Last year, Alvaro Quiros closed with a four-under 68 in the final round to capture his second win on the European Tour.

Quiros finished at 19-under 269 for a three-shot win over Paul Lawrie.

The defending champion will face stiff challenge this week from a strong field that includes Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood and European Tour money leader Rory McIlroy -- all ranked inside the world top 25.

And with the 2009 season winding down, players are jockeying for position to qualify for the lucrative Dubai World Championship. Only the top 60 players on the money list will qualify for the tournament, to be held Nov. 19-22.

Golf Channel will have coverage of all four rounds beginning at 10 a.m. (et).

Next week is the Castello Masters Costa Azahar, where Spanish star Sergio Garcia captured the win last year.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

ADMINISTAFF SMALL BUSINESS CLASSIC, The Woodlands Country Club (Tournament Course), The Woodlands, Texas - The Champions Tour returns from a one-week break for the Administaff Small Business Classic.

Bernhard Langer returns as the two-time defending champion after he closed with a three-under 69 in the final round last year to beat Lonnie Nielsen by two shots.

Langer will be joined in the field by every other past champion -- Jay Haas, Mark McNulty and Larry Nelson -- as well as Schwab Cup points leader Loren Roberts.

Golf Channel will have coverage of all three rounds beginning at 7:30 p.m. (et) each day.

Next week is the AT&T Championship, where John Cook won last year. It is the final event before the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

NATIONWIDE TOUR

MICCOSUKEE CHAMPIONSHIP, Miccosukee Golf & Country Club, Miami, Florida - This is the final event remaining before the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship.

After the final round of the Miccosukee Championship, players must be among the top 60 on the money list to gain entrance to next week's finale, the Nationwide Tour Championship in Charleston, South Carolina.

Sunday's winner at the Chattanooga Classic, Chris Baryla, jumped to 20th on the money list to secure his spot in next week's field -- and that's the type of outcome players will be after this week.

Last year's Miccosukee Championship winner, D.A. Points, is not in the field to defend his title.

Golf Channel will have coverage of all four rounds beginning at 1:30 p.m. (et) each day.

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