Lefty's DVD helps his peers

What started as a "fun project" to share his wizardry with the short game has gone beyond Phil Mickelson 's expectations.

His Secrets of the Short Game DVD debuted last month at No. 2 on the Billboard Video Sales recreational sports category. Early sales have topped 25,000 copies, and it now is in the second print run.

"We did a lot better than we prepared for," Mickelson said, "which is a good problem to have."

Mickelson said he wanted to help players of all levels, but the highest compliments have been seeing some tour players using the drills. And last week, he received an unsolicited testimonial from Ted Purdy .

Purdy had 20 birdies at Hilton Head Island, S.C., and only finished at 2-under 282 for the tournament. He was browsing through a PGA Tour store in the airport when he came across Mickelson's DVD and plunked down $49.95.

"I've always been a decent ball striker, and my putting has turned around, but my short game always seems to lag," Purdy said. "I bought the DVD, and I've been chipping great ever since."

TOUGH SHOT: This isn't a shot Briny Baird will face on the PGA Tour -- a 9-iron from 230 yards with a 375-foot drop in elevation. In a promotion for his corporate sponsor, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Baird hit from the top of the Omni Hotel to a target in the outfield of Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.

Baird hit the target eight out of 10 times, meaning the restaurant will make good on an online coupon for a free lettuce wrap, along with a $25,000 donation to the San Diego Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society.

DEADLINE NEARS: Another major deadline looms, and Davis Love III again is on the bubble. This is the final week for players to avoid 36-hole qualifying for the U.S. Open and the British Open.

Love, who missed the Masters Tournament by just over four-hundredths of a point in the world ranking, goes into the Byron Nelson Championship at No. 54 in the world and most likely will need to finish no worse than 14th to get into the top 50.

The top 50 in the world and the top 10 on the PGA Tour money list after this week are exempt from U.S. Open qualify.

Former Louisville, Ga., resident Brian Gay is 56 in the world and probably would need to finish ninth or higher at the Byron Nelson to make the top 50.

HONORED: Arnold Palmer has been honored with the Bryon Nelson Prize.

In accepting the prize Tuesday, Palmer said it was a "great thrill" to accept an award in Nelson's name.

The Byron Nelson Prize was established after Nelson's death in 2006. It's given to a person or organization in golf who exemplifies the ideals of "giving back."