Eddie Grant: The former Arizona State football standout who also played three years with the Detroit Lions in the NFL has been named the junior golf director of the Southwest Section of the PGA. Grant assumes the job most recently held by Sean Ferris, who is moving to the Junior Golf Association of Arizona as its assistant executive director.

“I wanted the opportunity to work with kids. I love being able to do that,’’ said Grant, who played at ASU from 1985-89 and with the Lions from 1990-92 as a deep snapper. “It’s the greatest reward in the world to be able to work with kids.

“The SWPGA’s junior golf program has doubled its level of participation each year over the past two to three years, and the kids’ passion for the sport continues to grow, so I’m please to be able to step into a situation where the success is so profound.’’

As the SWPGA’s junior golf leader, Grant will oversee its Antigua Junior Tour, the PING Players Series, the U.S. Kids Tour, the Southwest PGA Youth Club and the local qualifier for the Westfield Junior PGA Championship.

“It was a good time to make a change,’’ said Grant, who most recently was the general manager of Hillcrest Golf Club in Sun City, and who also had worked at Eagle Mountain Golf Club in Fountain Hills and Painted Mountain Golf Resort in Mesa. “We’re planning for our third child, and since I only live eight minutes from the Section office, I’ll be a much better father and husband, too.’’

Grant said he got into golf after football because, “You don’t get hit real hard in golf, and you get to hit back.’’ But on a more serious note, he began playing more and more in the late 1990s after a death in the family. “I’ve got it down to a 4 (handicap),’’ said the 39-year-old Grant with obvious pride. “I can hit it pretty far, but I can’s seem to finish very well.’’

His golf game, however, has nothing to do with why Grant was hired by the SWPGA, said the organization’s executive director, Kathy Wilkes. “Eddie brings an infectious enthusiasm to the job, and his love for the game of golf is clearly evident whenever you’re around him,’’ Wilkes said. “I look forward to working with him on our highly successful junior golf program.’’

ON TOUR

Nothing special: Unlike the Masters, U.S. Open and PGA Championship, the British Open never has given out a special exemption to play in its major championship. It won’t happen this year, either, despite a groundswell to bring back Jean van de Velde, the star-crossed Frenchman whose triple-bogey 7 on the 72 nd hole at Carnoustie cost him the title in 1999. According to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, van de Velde’s only way into this year’s British Open at Carnoustie in July is through local qualifying.

Quite a Player: The life and times of Gary Player will be featured Sunday when CBS presents “Gary Player: Good Guys Wear Black.’’ The one-hour profile, which tees off at 11 a.m., takes a close look at Player’globe-trotting career and strong commitment to physical fitness.

NOTEWORTHY

On tap: The 25 th annual MV-3 Invitational, which features many of the Southwest’s top amateurs paired in three-man teams, takes place today and Friday at Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix. In all, 68 teams will compete in three divisions – the open (25-49 years of age), senior (50-64) and legends (65 and older).

On course: The new Trilogy at Encanterra in Queen Creek has a familiar architect building its private 18-hole championship course. Scottsdale’s Tom Lehman is creating the new club, which some observers have called a “mini Phoenix Country Club.’’ The course is beginning the grassing stage, and plans to open this fall. Membership fees have yet to be determined.

And finally: Van’s Golf Shops have acquired two new stores, bringing its total to 10 Van’s throughout the Valley, and 12 in Arizona. According to Rick Levy, the company’s vice president, the new Van’s are former Nevada Bob’s outlets and our located in Phoenix at 32 nd Street and Camelback, and at the Metro Center.