Front Pages

Front Pages

(page 2 of 4)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Challenge

FOR A STRETCH OF TIME now approaching a decade, the Buick Invitational has been dominated by two players generally considered to be the world’s best golfers, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, with strong emphasis on the latter.

Woods first won at Torrey Pines as a professional in 1999. As though roused by having a major rival best him in the city of his birth, Mickelson then claimed consecutive titles in 2000 and 2001 to become the tournament’s first three-time champion (he’d earlier won in 1993). Following an interruption by Spain’s José Maria Olazabal in 2002, Woods returned to the trophy presentation a year later, saw the popular but erratic John Daly replace him in 2004, then reeled off three straight victories.

When Woods and Mickelson return to their Torrey Pines playground later this month (January 21-27), they’ll find more old friends in the competitive mix. With the U.S. Open Championship set for the Torrey Pines South Course in June, the Buick Invitational entry list is certain to include a virtual roll call of the world’s top players.

“We’ve already had a heads-up from Ernie Els and Padrig Harrington, both top-10 guys who don’t normally play here,” says Tom Wilson, executive director of the Century Club, the tournament’s administrative arm. “We know there’ll be others. It looks like ours will shape up as a U.S. Open–type field.”

Players unfamiliar with Torrey Pines South see the Buick Invitational as an opportunity to familiarize themselves. Others, who may have appeared here prior to the extensive 2001 renovation of the South Course but not since, will be anxious to see what was done to elevate it to U.S. Open standards. Even Woods and Mickelson will be interested in recent tweaks mandated by the United States Golf Association.

“We’ve made all the basic changes that are going to be made,” says Mark Woodward, golf operations manager for the city of San Diego. “There will, of course, be some differences in actual playing conditions between tournaments. Fairways now are dialed in as to width, but they’ll be a little softer for the Buick. We’ve done heavy seeding of the rough [600 pounds of rye grass per acre] ... it will be around 3 inches for the Buick, but graduated to 5 to 6 inches for the Open. The sixth hole will play as a par-4 for the Open, but remain a 5 for the Buick.

“Even the North Course will be more challenging. There’s been a concerted effort to increase rough there, and we have new [longer] tees on a couple of holes that could be used. This probably will be the hardest Buick ever.”

Those types of conditions, says Wilson, are what draw great players——even in non-Open years. “When I came aboard in 1993,” he says, “we had only two or three of the top guys in our field. When I asked why, I was told, basically, the course was too easy. Anyone in the field could win, which discourages marquee players from entering.

“Redoing the South Course, making it more difficult, moved the needle for us. Our entry list has gotten stronger and stronger since, and we’re hoping that what players experience at the Buick this year will encourage them to return——even when the Open is elsewhere.”

Those who do revisit need not worry about a competitive vacuum. Precedent suggests that Tiger and Phil will be here to welcome them. Mixed blessing, that.
——TOM CUSHMAN

Do you like what you read? Subscribe to San Diego Magazine »