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 It’s called the West Coast Swing, a series of nine events that begins in Hawaii before moving to San Diego, the Bay Area, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Carlsbad and Arizona. While nine events comprise the swing, it’s the four stops in Southern California and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am that tend to dominate the headlines. And for good reason. Each of our four regional events has a distinct identity. The Buick Invitational traditionally attracts a strong field, and with Torrey Pines hosting the U.S. Open in 2008, that will continue to be the case. The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic is an institution in professional golf, a five-day marathon in which pros play with amateurs and celebrities. The Nissan Open, held at Riviera Country Club, is steeped in history and could be the most prized non-major championship on tour. And the World Golf Championship Accenture Match Play Championship, held at La Costa Resort & Spa, is one of four annual events that brings the top 64 golfers in the world together in match-play competition. Since the plot of the 2005 PGA Tour season begins here, we asked some experts what might be in the script as this year’s story unfolds. 1) What’s next for Tiger? He lost his No. 1 ranking to Vijay Singh last year, but he’s still the biggest name in golf. How he fares in 2005 will again be a major topic for discussion. There are a lot of theories about Tiger Woods’ so-called slump: He’s gotten soft; he’s preoccupied with marriage; the competition is better; his clubs are inferior. But look at the numbers. Yes, Woods won only one sanctioned event in 2004: the Accenture Match Play Championships. But he posted nine top-10 finishes and ended up tied for third or better in four of his last six events, not to mention the win at his star-studded invitational at Sherwood Country Club in December. Most of Woods’ game is still upper echelon, particularly the part that wins tournaments. His putting average of 1.7222 was a fraction higher than PGA Tour leader Stewart Cink. Woods also ranked ninth in distance and second in birdies. The one glaring problem in 2004 was driving accuracy. Of a possible 1,012 fairways, Woods hit 568 for a 56.1 percentage that ranked 182nd on tour. “Tiger keeps saying that he’s making adjustments in his swing and it’s almost there, but he’s been saying that for a long time,” said Tom Barber, head professional at Griffith Park Golf Course and the son of former PGA Tour player Jerry Barber. Woods, however, is ready to end all the speculation and get back on the winning track. “I’m really excited about 2005 just because of all the work I’ve done this year,” Woods said in December at the Target World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks. While admitting to being frustrated with his lack of multiple victories last season, Woods thought 2004 was a lot like 1998, a year when he won only one tournament but posted 13 top-10 finishes. The next year, he won eight times. “This year is almost identical to what it was in ’98 numbers-wise, and I’m excited about the prospects of next year,” Woods said. “Hopefully it’ll be similar to the results I had in ’99.” West Coast Swing prospectus: Woods usually plays in the Mercedes Championship but has never played the Hope and doesn’t always play the AT&T. Look for him to compete strongly at the Buick, which he has won before and finished 10th last year. He usually plays the Nissan, although it’s still a win that’s eluded him. He finished seventh last year. He is the dominant player in the Accenture, winning the event the past two years. 2) Will Vijay Singh’s dominating 2004 carry through? The 2004 Player of the Year knocked Woods off the top of the world golf rankings and money list. And there’s a reason. “He may be the hardest worker on tour,” said longtime CBS golf analyst Ken Venturi. Barber agrees. “When my father won on tour, he said there might be guys who can beat me, but they’ll never outwork me,” he said. “And there are people out there who aren’t as exceptional as Tiger Woods who are beating him. Like Vijay Singh. No one works harder than him.” While the media loves to talk about how Singh’s rise has energized the tour and gives Woods an equal rival, many PGA Tour players don’t agree that it’s a two-man show. “I don’t need anyone else to energize me, I’m doing it on my own,” said Padraig Harrington at the Target World Challenge. “But it is nice that (Singh) knocked him off. Three years ago, no one could touch Tiger.” “We’re aware of it but we don’t sit around talking about it,” said Jerry Kelly of the so-called Woods-Singh rivalry. “We have too much going on with our own games. But it is exciting for the sport, because it gets people talking about golf and gets people watching it.” Singh agrees that he has more to worry about than just Woods. “I hope I just keep playing the way I am,” he said at the Target World Challenge. “I know it’s going to be a very difficult season for me because there’s a little bit more pressure. I think everybody in the top 10 is going to be playing well. I think Mike Weir is coming up, as well. It’s going to be a showdown this year.” When asked what it will be like to be the guy on top this year, the media reclusive Singh replied with tongue in cheek: “They can hunt me all they want. I know how to hide.” • West Coast Swing prospectus: Singh’s incredible 2004 campaign was launched during the West Coast Swing, where he won the AT&T. He said in December that he wants to play most of the events this year. He’ll skip the Hope, play the Buick and Accenture and was “still deciding” on the Nissan. Last year, Singh finished 24th at the Nissan and missed the cut at the Buick, the only time he missed a cut all year. 3) Which Phil Mickelson will show up? The San Diego native had a fascinating 2004. He won his first major — the Masters — and came tantalizingly close at the other three: second at the U.S. Open, third in the British Open and sixth in the PGA Championship. His only other tournament win was the Chrysler Classic, and he made $5.7 million. But the meltdown at the Ryder Cup and his decision to change equipment a few days before the event attracted all kinds of criticism. Venturi, however, remains a strong supporter. “If you’re consistent with what you’re doing, no one really has room to criticize you,” Venturi said. “He had a fine year and he’s got all the talent in the world and one of the best short games on the tour. He’s got more imagination now and tremendous talent and you will definitely hear from him this year. I believe he’ll definitely have one win before the Masters.” • West Coast Swing prospectus: Mickelson won his first event of 2004, the Chrysler Classic, and always plays the Buick, which he’s won three times. He’s only played the Nissan once since 1998, missing the cut in 2001. 4) Can Mike Weir three-peat at the Nissan Open? When the Canadian-born Weir won the Nissan last February — the second straight time he’d won the event — he looked like the man everyone would need to catch. He’d finished fifth at the FBR Open in Phoenix and fourth in the AT&T before his top finish at Riviera. But Weir didn’t win again, even though he posted four top-10 finishes. Returning to Riviera may be just what Weir needs to regain his winning form. But nobody has won the event three straight times. Mac Smith, Ben Hogan, Paul Harney and Corey Pavin all tried but failed. Venturi, however, says the course is a good fit for Weir’s game. “Riviera is a shot-maker’s course and he’s the type of golfer that can win at a course like that,” Venturi said. “He’s not the longest hitter. but his game is perfect for that course.” Weir also is one of the most dedicated golfers on tour, and Venturi says that will help him in his quest. • West Coast Swing prospectus: You can bet Weir will be at the Nissan to defend. 5) Do PGA Tour players care about the West Coast Swing? The top international players tend to skip a big portion of the West Coast Swing. Traveling to Hawaii for the first two weeks of the tour and playing with amateurs at the Chrysler Classic and the AT&T keep a lot of big names home. Ernie Els hasn’t played an event in California other than the Accenture since 2000. Sergio Garcia usually plays the Nissan, but that’s about it. Retief Goosen has played the Chrysler once, but never the Nissan or Buick. But for domestic players, the West Coast Swing is important. “I’ve always loved coming to California and playing and I’ve always had really good luck,” said Jerry Kelly. “I have no idea why. I’m from Kentucky and I’m not even used to the grasses out here.” A lot of players who finished the year strong can’t wait to get back on a course in sunny weather to keep their games fine-tuned. For others, who ended the year weakly, the West Coast Swing means a new beginning. “A lot of guys look at these events as a way to get off to a good start, especially if they didn’t do so well at the end of the previous year,” said Chad Campbell in December at the Target World Challenge. “And other guys look at it as a way to ease into the year. It all depends on your perspective.” West Coast Swing prospectus: Don’t hold your breath waiting for the Europeans to make much of a splash before the Accenture, but you’ll see plenty of Mickelson, Woods and other U.S. golfers at every event. 6) Which tournament will match the biggest names in the game? Barring an act of divine intervention, almost all of the top players will be at the Accenture Match Play Championships, since the million-dollar-plus purse is one of the biggest on tour. But Venturi believes that another Southern California tournament may attract more top stars this year: the Buick Invitational. Torrey Pines is hosting the 2008 U.S. Open and players will want to experience the course as much as possible. “That’s a golf course that rewards good shot-making and it’s a tournament that everyone would like to have on their resume,” he said. “So I think you’ll see the big names matched up there for the first time.” West Coast Swing prospectus: The Buick has been played in mid-February in the past but was moved to mid-January this year. That makes the San Diego tournament third in line behind the Mercedes Championship and the Sony Open in Hawaii. The move should attract more foreign players and other top guns when returning to the mainland. 7) Does anyone care about the Accenture Match Play Championship? This event, along with three other World Golf Championships, was created in 1999 as a way to bring the top 64 players in the world together four times a year in match-play competition. It’s a manufactured event that attracts big names because of the huge purses. As long as those big names keep coming, the events will continue to get attention. But for the general golf public, it all depends on who’s in the finals. This is an event that can reward streaky players more than consistent ones. Unlike a stroke-play tournament, in which a player can rebound from a poor early round, match play is do-or-die. Last year, with Woods facing off against Davis Love III in the final match, there was built-in excitement. But three years ago, when Kevin Sutherland played Scott McCarron, it was a snoozefest. West Coast Swing prospectus: Woods loves match play, and as long as he’s in the finals, people will care. 8) Is the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic fading from the rest of the tour? Bob Hope lending his name to a golf tournament in 1965 helped the PGA Tour attract television viewers across the country. But the Hope, while still one of the biggest parties on tour, has lagged in recent years. A lot of players skip it because it has five rounds, four of which are played with amateurs. The courses aren’t that difficult, and players have to go ridiculously low to win. And the $4.5 million purse — while a lot of dough — is one of the lowest on tour. But don’t worry about the Hope: as long as Chrysler is affiliated with the event, and as long as proceeds go toward charity, the legendary entertainer’s name and likeness will be associated with it, and that’s good branding potential. And tournament organizers are taking steps to whip up the challenge. Three new courses will join the rotation in 2006: the Arnold Palmer-designed Silver Rock Resort in La Quinta; a still-to-be-named Berger Foundation course in Palm Desert; and the Jack Nicklaus-designed Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells. Indian Wells Country Club, a 6,478-yard track that has been pulverized by the pros for years, was officially dropped from the rotation last year, with the equally short Tamarisk Country Club taking its place. West Coast Swing prospectus: The Hope isn’t going anywhere. Sure, the top players will continue to skip it, but as long as the ratings are good, no one’s going to complain, and the celebrities are always around to pick up the slack. The inclusion of three new courses to a rotation that has been dominated by 1950s-style courses should enhance the event. 9) Will The Buick have its best field ever? The Buick always had a good field and its list of champions is one of the most impressive of any tournament. Woods, Mickelson and Singh usually play the event, and returning champ John Daly will bring some hefty excitement. But this year should bring an even more impressive field, since Torrey Pines is hosting a U.S. Open in three years and the Buick is the first PGA Tour event of the season on the mainland. “The West Coast Swing in general is benefiting from all the foreign players who are joining the tour and who have to play at least 15 events throughout the year,” said tournament director Tom Wilson. “With us being the first event of the season actually on the mainland, I think we’re going to see one of our strongest fields ever.” • West Coast Swing prospectus: Ernie Els has committed, Wilson said, while Singh has given an unofficial nod. Hometown boy Mickelson loves the course, and Woods is on Buick’s payroll. And guys from Ben Crane and Chris Dimarco to Justin Leonard and Ian Poulter have already committed early. Don’t be surprised if most of the world’s top names are in San Diego in mid-January. 10) Is Riviera still one of the best courses ever? So much of this venerable George C. Thomas-designed course is steeped in history. From Ben Hogan’s miraculous wins to the constant sightings of Humphrey Bogart and other celebrities, Riviera Country Club is a living golf course legend. But the course was bypassed by the USGA in favor of Torrey Pines for the 2008 U.S. Open, and attempts to lengthen it to make it more difficult for the new generation of hard-hitting pros have drawn criticism from some quarters who believe that some of its identity is being compromised. While admitting that a lot of Riviera’s attraction is the tradition associated with names like Jimmy Demaret, San Snead and Hogan, who won four tournaments there in the 1940s, Venturi said it would be a great course regardless of that pedigree. “It is a great shot-maker’s course,” he said. “Every hole is different and presents different challenges. West Coast Swing prospectus: Guys like Nicklaus, Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Billy Casper never won at Riviera (the course didn’t host a PGA Tour event from 1954-1972). Neither have Woods, Mickelson or Love. That’s pretty impressive, and reason enough to consider it one of the world’s greatest courses. n |
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