31.   Sorenstam is skipping the tournament along with fellow Swedish stars Liselotte Neumann and Helen Alfredsson, and Americans Dottie Pepper and Michelle McGann.

32.   The cross-country flight involved prompted a lot of players to skip tournaments the last two weeks because of the travel strain.

33.   The South Korean star is clearly the headliner this week, with Sorenstam and Karrie Webb skipping the tournament.

34.   The title was a long time coming for Draper, who said he nearly skipped the tournament.

35.   Until last Friday, he had planned to skip this tournament and bypass the next three tour stops.

36.   Venus Williams, who won Sunday in Hamburg, Germany, is skipping the tournament.

37.   Venus skipped the tournament because of a knee injury.

38.   Williams had considered skipping the tournament because of her tight schedule.

39.   The two leading money-winners on the Tour this year, Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples, are skipping the tournament.

40.   Japanese judo officials said they decided on wearing coloured outfits because if they skip tournaments recognized by the IJF, Japan would be isolated internationally.