DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) -- Memorial host Jack Nicklaus wanted the prize money to be $7 million this year, making it the highest purse among regular PGA Tour events and equal to the playoff events.

Instead, he kept it at $6 million because he thought it would send a bad signal at a time when fans from around central Ohio are struggling with jobs, gas is approaching $4 a gallon and the economy is tight.

"There are certain times you do certain things," Nicklaus said. "I just don't think that sends a good message."

FAMILY VACATION: Carl Pettersson is not bashful about putting family before majors.

He missed the PGA Championship last year after his wife had their second child, although his logic didn't make sense to some people. Pettersson played the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (which has no cut) a week after his son was born, then skipped Southern Hills the following week. He was trying to collect FedExCup points.

Pettersson had been eligible for the British Open the last two years, and forgot he had to qualify. The U.S. qualifier is in July, the same week Pettersson had scheduled a beach vacation for his family.

"It's right in the middle of the vacation," he said. "If I go up there (unprepared), why even bother? And if I left to try to qualify, my wife would go nuts. I don't mind. We had a great time last year at the beach, and it's good for us to go back."

All is not lost.

Pettersson has two ways to get in. He can be the leading player among the top five at the John Deere Classic, or be among the top two PGA Tour members on a special money list that includes The Players Championship and five tournaments between this week through the AT&T National at Congressional.

That includes the U.S. Open, and Pettersson won his qualifier Monday.

COLLEGE CHANGE: Jack Nicklaus wishes there were more match play in college golf to get players more prepared?not for the Ryder Cup, but when tournaments come down to two players over the final few holes.

As he shared his sentiments, he learned help was on the way.

Gregg Grost, head of the Golf Coaches Association of America, said the NCAA Championship will revamp its formula next year. Grost said 30 teams will qualify and play 54 holes, with an NCAA individual champion and the top eight teams advancing.

Then comes a bracket of eight teams that are seeded based on their scores. The format would be medal-match play with players per team. Medal matches mean whichever has the lowest medal score wins the match.

There would be three rounds to determine the winner.

Grost said the format would be announced later this month, but he already got a thumbs-up from Nicklaus.

"I'm delighted," Nicklaus said. "Then you're giving them the opportunity to learn how to play competitive golf."

SUZANN AND THE KING: Suzann Pettersen is a member at Bay Hill, and the biggest perk is running into Arnold Palmer.

"I've been around good players out here, like Juli Inkster, Meg Mallon, Beth Daniel. But to be able to get to know and dig into Mr. Palmer's head, that's fun," she said. "He's like a grandpa out there. He's so nice, always friendly, always smiles, always signs autographs."

She noticed something else about Palmer, who turns 79 in September.

"He's always on the range," she said. "He's there every morning. Any time he's unhappy with his game, he'll go get a few drivers from his garage and go hit some. And he's like, all of a sudden, 'I've got it!' He's like 79 years old. We're like, 'OK, that's great.'

"What a character."

STAT OF THE WEEK: Of the 160 amateurs who made it through local qualifying, only five of them earned a spot in the U.S. Open.

FINAL WORD: "I thought I'd win more tournaments by now, but I'm not going to stop trying." -- Lee Janzen, whose eighth and most recent victory was 10 years ago at the U.S. Open.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.