Barclays Golf: The Barclays 2010 Golf Tournament Tees Off At Ridgewood Country Club [Photos]

Barclays Pro-Am golf tournament is underway at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey. Finally, golf is in the news for a reason not directly related to Tiger Woods (although he is in the tourney).

Tiger Woods smiles as he finishes the 18th hole during the Pro-Am round at The Barclays golf tournament, N.J., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010, in Paramus, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

The Pro-Am brings PGA Tour pro golfers together with amateurs. New York City’s own Mayor Michael Bloomberg teed off this morning with Phil Mickelson.

The highlight of the Barclays Pro-Am so far happened off the course. Golfer Jim Furyk, victim of a missed alarm due to a dead cell phone, was late for the 7:30 a.m. start. Per PGA Tour rules—a golfer cannot skip tournaments like Pro-Ams, where they have to play with typically bad but rich non-pros—Furyk was disqualified.

Mickelson was not happy about the decision. “I cannot disagree with it more,” he said. “I have no idea how the commissioner let this rule go through. It’s ridiculous.”

The other big news is, of course, that El Tigre is playing. Already finished with his 18 holes by 11:45 a.m., Tiger shot six under par for a 65 and, as of now, sole possession of first place. After three years of being ranked as the No. 1 golfer in the world, his current 112 ranking could not use a solid round more than it does now.