Jeff Quinney: FBR Open tournament chairman Pat McGinley picked a good day to announce that the former Arizona State All-American had been given the third sponsor’s exemption into the upcoming tournament, which takes place Feb. 1-4 at the TPC of Scottsdale. Who knows? Maybe McGinley’s gesture even gave Quinney some FBR Open karma, as he held Wednesday’s early lead (12-under par through seven holes) at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

“Jeff is not only a great young player, he’s a great young man,’’ said McGinley, who still has two sponsor’s exemptions to dole out, or possibly three should Quinney somehow manage to stay on top and play his way into the FBR. “He’s got the ties to ASU, he played well on the Nationwide Tour (No. 6 on last year’s money list), he’s a former U.S. Amateur champion, and he’s a local guy.’’

That’s right, the 28-year-old Quinney lives at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. And he certainly has the game and potential to play in many FBR Opens to come. Even though he finished next to last at last week’s Sony Hawaiian Open, he did make the cut in his first start as a rookie on the PGA Tour.

Who gets the next exemption remains McGinley’s secret, but chances are strong that another former ASU All-American, Alejandro Canizares, might be the likely candidate. Canizares has no status on the PGA Tour, but he did win the Russian Open late last year on the European PGA Tour. Earlier, McGinley gave out sponsor’s exemptions to John Daly and Lee Janzen, the 1993 FBR Open winner.

ON TOUR

FBR Open updates: All the sand in the bunkers at the TPC of Scottsdale has been replaced for the upcoming tournament. The renovation project was needed to bring the bunkers “up to PGA Tour standards,’’ said Bill Grove, general manager of the TPC of Scottsdale. . . . Also undergoing a new look for the tournament is the popular Greenskeeper Tent, which has been expanded by several thousand feet to accommodate the massive crowds. Good thing, as the Greenskeeper Tent has been sold out for months!

Love it: Davis Love III recently told Golf World that he hopes his plan to put live microphones on the players comes to fruition at the FBR Open. According to Love, he has asked NBC producer Tommy Roy to mike him and his caddie, Mike Hulbert, as well as other players. No word yet on whether NBC and the PGA Tour has agreed to the deal, but FBR Open tournament chairman Pat McGinley says he “loves the idea.’’

On course: Phil Mickelson Design announced this week that the architect of the same name is set to build two new private golf courses. They are River Rock in Cashiers, N.C., and Diamante Cabo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Also in the negotiation process for Mickelson, whose only course to date is the Lower Course at Whisper Rock in Scottsdale, are private projects in southern California, Hawaii and the Caribbean. It makes you wonder, when will Phil have time to golf?

NOTEWORTHY

Secret weapon: In 2002, the Arizona State men’s golf team added a player named Alejandro Canizares to its team at the semester break in January. The Spaniard went on to win the NCAA individual title that year. Now, ASU has a new secret weapon in Norwegian standout Knut Borsheim, who joined the Sun Devils this month. Come this spring, could history repeat?

Not in my house: When Dustin White captured last week’s season-opening Gateway Tour event at Anthem Country Club it brought up a strange situation. White had to beat Ryan Dillon, which he did with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff after both players finished 7-under par. As it turns out, Dillon had been White’s houseguest for the week, but as it turns out, the hospitality only went so far.

And finally: Resort Suites Scottsdale, which is located just two blocks from the TPC of Scottsdale, is offering a special FBR Open/Super Bowl package for the weekend of Feb. 3-5. Along with the price of the room ($289), the hotel is including two tickets to the FBR Open and a Super Bowl party on Sunday afternoon. For reservations, call (480) 585-1234.