"But we did notice that at this year's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines that the public authorities there in San Diego banned smoking in the public areas."

Ty Votaw, while speaking for the PGA Tour on a number of subjects, was asked about banning smoking at PGA Tour events.

"We certainly had conversations and discussions with John in the past when certain behavioral issues have come up," Votaw said. "We hope to not have many more of those conversations."

Votaw also said the tour has no plans to ban smoking at events, as has been done at the venues of some other sports.

"We play our sport on an expanse of geography that's a little bit different than contained stadium situations," he said. "But we did notice that at this year's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines that the public authorities there in San Diego banned smoking in the public areas."

And it was wonderful not to smell that rancid odor created by grown men sucking on a bobcat turd.

Seriously, the smell I and others connect with the tour stop at Riviera is not the wonderful eucalyptus scent or that distinctive acacia fragance that floats through the property in February. No, it's cigar smoke. Not a nice connection.

I'm setting 2010 in the PGA Tour bans smoking over/under. Place your wagers!