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NAPA, Calif. -- Bill Haas, Max Homa and Harold Varner III have something in common at the Safeway Open.They were fill-ins for Tiger Woods.Another PGA Tour season begins Thursday at Silverado in what was billed as the return of Tiger Woods, right up until the point that Woods decided his game was vulnerable and not where it needed to be for him to compete. The announcement at the start of the week spoiled the plans of the Safeway Open to make the golf course -- and not the vineyards -- the place to be.Woods was going to play the pro-am on Wednesday with Stephen Curry, the two-time MVP for the Golden State Warriors. Then, he was to be in the same group as Phil Mickelson and defending champion Emiliano Grillo for the opening two rounds.Varner took over as the pro in Currys group, with both going to college in North Carolina (Varner at East Carolina, Curry at Davidson).Got to thank Tiger, Varner said. If it wasnt for Tiger, I wouldnt be here. I had a good time.Haas is a six-time winner on the PGA Tour. One of those victories was at Congressional for the AT&T National where Woods was the host.As for Homa?The former Cal star made it back to the PGA Tour and was an alternate for the Safeway Open. He got into the tournament when Woods withdrew. Homa tweeted later that day, Thanks Tiger. Next time we hang out, dinners on me. Get back out here soon plz. Sincerely, Your biggest fan.In the meantime, the 2016-17 season begins without him.MICKELSON RIDING HIGH: Mickelson has played 24 times in 35 weeks this year, and the 46-year-old was full of energy when he arrived at the Safeway Open. Attribute that to the Ryder Cup, were Lefty was the vocal leader for the Americans and turned in the top performance on the final day of an American victory. He made 10 birdies and needed them all for a halve against Sergio Garcia.Mickelson hasnt won since 2013, but that team victory at Hazeltine filled a void.Im still on an emotional high, and even though Ive been running around this last week, my energy level is up and Im optimistic about having a good week, Mickelson said. I love the golf course and the feel. Its in California and Im excited to play.The first tournament of the new season is also the last tournament for Mickelson this year.THE COMEBACK: One player dressed head-to-toe in Nike has chosen the Safeway Open to return from a back injury.And yes, Nick Watney is playing.Watney had a herniated disc and last played at Torrey Pines in January. Instead of surgery, he opted to take eight months off for rest and therapy. He began chipping and putting in August. His back specialist put him on what amounted to a pitch count so he wouldnt overdo. Watney was excited to be back on the tour, and several players did a double take when they saw him head to the practice range Wednesday. It had been a long time.THE SHOW: Curry brought some star power to the pro-am, and he put on a show with a birdie on his final hole.But the biggest shot came from Varner.Someone set up a makeshift basketball goal in the bleachers, and Curry and Varner took turns heaving shots into the grandstand at the hoop. None came particularly close until Varner let one fly and banked it in.I dont know if he was really trying, Varner said.THE ROOKIES: The players who make their PGA Tour debuts as card-carrying members can seek inspiration from the defending champion.A year ago, Grillo won the Web.com Tour Championship, and two weeks later began his PGA Tour career with a playoff victory at Silverado. He wound up making it to the Tour Championship and finishing 11th in the FedEx Cup.The previous two winners since the tour went to a wraparound season in 2013 also reached the Tour Championship -- Jimmy Walker and Sang-moon Bae.Cheap Yeezy 350 . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Wholesale Yeezy 350 V2 . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. http://www.yeezys350cheap.com/fake-yeezy-350-womens-wholesale.html .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Wholesale Yeezy 350 v2 Static . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Fake Yeezy 350 v2 Zebra .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.Its been a while since Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas felt this good.Thomas and fellow Legion of Boom members Richard Sherman and Jeremy Lane are healthy heading into their opener against Miami on Sunday. Unlike last year, they didnt have to spend much of their summer rehabbing from injuries.Also last year, Kam Chancellor was in the midst of a holdout that didnt end until hed missed the first two games.You know, having Kam back healthy in mind and body, its very important to our defense, Thomas told The Associated Press while discussing his new investment partnership with Chefs Cut Real Jerky. We need to be strong where we are strong and having Kam back with a clear conscience, it helps us out a lot.Thomas said Seattles secondary and the Seahawks defense as a whole is miles ahead of where it was a year ago at this time.Of course, when you look at the whole picture, Kam wasnt there to run it all. A lot of guys were fighting battles with issues that needed to be cleared up, Thomas said. So, now you just see people have their fire back and thats just fun to be around.After back-to-back Super Bowl trips, the Seahawks were beaten by Carolina in the playoffs last year.Its also enjoyable to be a Longhorn again, Thomas said.Texas, Thomas alma mater, is ranked for the first time under coach Charlie Strong , coming in at No. 11 in the latest AP Top 25 after a rousing opening victory against Notre Dame..dddddddddddd.The last time the Longhorns were ranked was November 2013, Mack Browns last season as coach.I think college football fans around the world respect what we do in Texas, Thomas said. They might not have been for the past couple of years. But everybody in the world knows what were capable of and when we pull out a win like that, it gives everybody that same taste of what great Longhorns do. We produce greatness.Its a great time to be a Longhorn, man.And a member of the Seahawks, who have posted double-digit wins in each of the last four seasons under coach Pete Carrol. Seattle has had the NFLs best scoring defense in each of those four seasons, the first team with such a run since the Cleveland Browns in the mid-1950s. Unlike previous endorsements, Thomas latest business venture is an equity partnership in Chefs Cut, which hes making available on his website www.earlthomas.com . Another partner is Super Bowl MVP Von Miller of the Broncos.We actually have the same agency and were both good friends so we talked about it, Thomas said. Its a great way to introduce it to my fans.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton ' ' '