Kirk Triplett: The good-natured pro from Scottsdale returned last week to the PGA Tour after taking 10 weeks off to recover and rehabilitate from surgery to his right elbow. According to Triplett, the surgery was performed by Dr. Donald Sheridan in Scottsdale, and involved tendonitis and damaged ligaments.

“For being off that long, I didn’t play too badly,’’ reported Triplett, who chose the Funai Classic at Walt Disney World to begin his comeback. “I was 4-under, but the cut came at 6-under, so the family just hung around and enjoyed Disney World on the weekend.’’

Enjoying the family has been the theme for 2005 for the Tripletts, as Kirk and his wife, Cathi, have four children -- twins Conor and Samuel (9), Alexis (5) and Kobe (3). “(The break) gave me some time to catch up on things at home, and we spent a lot of time with the kids up in Flagstaff doing other things that we don’t normally do in the summer.’’

As for the injury, Triplett said he had tried other therapies -- even cortisone -- before resorting to surgery. “I was playing so poorly that it was affecting my golf game to the point where I was wondering if my skills were eroding,’’ said the 43-year-old, who has played the Tour for 16 straight years with two wins and over $12 million in career earnings. “There was really no choice, because (the injury) was causing me to develop bad habits. I’ve seen this type of thing happen to other players, and it’s the kind of injury that can take people right out of their jobs.’’

The layoff, however, has led to other problems. Triplett currently is 127 th on the money list with $579,958 in 18 events. He has but one more chance -- next week’s hurricane-delayed Southern Farm Bureau Classic in Jackson, Miss. -- to make enough money to end up among the top 125 and keep his card.

Fortunately, it’s not quite as bad as it seems, as a medical exemption he recently received from the Tour will allow him to play in another 10 tournaments in 2006 -- money that will be applied to his 2005 season. That should ultimately allow him to be among this year’s top 125.

“I’ve never gone through this before, so I’m hoping I can take care of business next week,’’ he said. “But I should be OK one way or another. I would hope I could earn enough money next week, or in those 10 events next year, or else I’ll use my top 50 (all-time money) exemption.’’ Triplett said. He currently is “about 40 th’’ on the top-50 list after beginning the season in 35 th place.

NOTEWORTHY

Pressel invite: Morgan Pressel, the 17-year-old who was the runner-up in the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open, has accepted an exemption to the Safeway International. The LPGA event takes place March 13-19 at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Gold Canyon. Pressel, who recently turned pro and has earned a spot in the LPGA Qualifying School finals later this month in Daytona, Fla., is in an unusual spot, in that she can earn her card at Q-School but can’t become a member of the LPGA Tour until she turns 18 in May. Tournament organizers of the Safeway International also announced they have offered another exemption to Michelle Wie, who has played here the past two years, but that Wie has yet to accept.

PGA meeting: The PGA of America’s outgoing CEO, Jim Awtrey, and its new CEO, Joe Steranka, will both attend next week’s national business meeting, which is to be held at the Hyatt at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale. Approximately 300 members from 41 sections throughout the country are expected to attend the event, which is being held in the East Valley for the first time since 1968.

Partnership: The Arizona Golf Association has announced that it will provide operational and logistical support, as well as office space, in its new relationship with the Southwest Golf Media Association. SWGMA’s core mission is to educate, inform and promote the game in Arizona.

Moving on: Three players from Scottsdale -- Tom Kalinowski, Brian Kontak and Wil Collins -- along with Mesa’s Chez Reavie have advanced to the second stage of PGA Tour qualifying school after finishing among the top 19 and ties last week at Dayton Valley, Nev. Just missing out by a single stroke was Tyler Erickson of Tempe.