Pak close to Callaway deal

Se Ri Pak has been playing Callaway clubs since she joined the LPGA Tour two years ago and went on to win eight tournaments, including two majors.

Se Ri Pak has been playing Callaway clubs since she joined the LPGA Tour two years ago and went on to win eight tournaments, including two majors.

Now, she may actually get paid for using them.

Pak and Callaway are moving closer to a deal, which would be the second major endorsement for Pak since Samsung allowed IMG to take over her management. One industry source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the deal could be worth as much as $1 million over three years, depending on her performance.

Pak, who had been playing the X-12s, switched to Callaway's new Hawkeye irons the day before the season-ending Tour Championship, which she wound up winning in a playoff over Karrie Webb and Laura Davies.

"It is not great for me, because I didn't make any contract yet," she said in Las Vegas. "Good for Callaway."

A key part of the deal for Callaway is getting its logo on Pak's bag, along with part of the shirt. Samsung, her primary sponsor, has the rights to her bag, hat and shirt. Maxfli, which signed Pak to play its golf ball in June, has a side of the hat.

Equally important is that Callaway be able to use Pak in advertisements, which could be especially effective in Asia.

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MAMMOTH WHITE SHARK:@ Greg Norman announced a partnership Tuesday with Mammothgolf.com that he hopes will lead to the most extensive golf-related commerce and content site on the World Wide Web.

Mammothgolf.com will drive the e-commerce store for Shark.com, the golf and lifestyle Web site that Norman launched in Augusta, and will also fill orders for all merchandise purchased at Shark.com.

Norman, meanwhile, has taken an equity position in Mammoth Sports Group and will be its corporate spokesman. He already has started producing an advertising campaign for TV, radio, print and online media that will start in 2000.

Shark.com will also provide Mammoth Sports Group with editorial content.

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TIGER AND MIKE:@ In an interview with Golf Digest for the January issue, Tiger Woods described how Michael Jordan will do anything for an advantage on the golf course - even pushing cigars.

"He tried to get me to smoke one while we were playing golf last summer," Woods said. "I've got allergies. He wanted to throw me off my game, maybe make me dizzy. No thanks."

The two Nike poster stars struck up a friendship when Woods turned pro and asked Jordan's advice on handling stardom, among other things. Although he has replaced the retired Jordan as perhaps the most recognizable active athlete, Woods is adjusting.

"I go out to dinner or a move, with buddies or my girlfriend, whenever I want," he told the magazine. "I'm not new anymore. I'm not 6-foot-6 (1.9-meters), either, like M.J."

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HALL OF FAME:@ The World Golf Foundation has approved Nov. 20 as the date in 2000 for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida. The ceremony previously was held in May 1998, when the new shrine opened, and March 1999, to coincide with the end of the Legends of Golf and the start of The Players Championship.

But that knocked out the women, whose first major was played that week in California.

The only 2000 inductees so far are Beth Daniel and Juli Inkster. No one was elected off the International ballot, and the PGA Tour ballot results are not expected until January. Greg Norman and Payne Stewart are considered the leading candidates for election.

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FINAL WORD:@ "And I don't cook, either. Not as long as they still deliver pizza." - Tiger Woods.