Masters 2004 presented by Augusta.com - Tiger might not appear at regional events after Masters

Tiger might not appear at regional events after Masters

Web posted 04/13/97

The Augusta Chronicle

Pro golf continues in the Augusta region over the next week, but Tiger Woods might not be at any of the sites.

On Monday, the Monday After The Masters pro-am will be played at the new University Club in Blythewood, S.C., near Columbia. The event, hosted by rock group Hootie and The Blowfish, benefits the South Carolina Junior Golf Association, Fairway Outreach, the National Minority Junior Golf Scholarship Association and Columbia's Golfland facility.

Woods originally was scheduled to play in the pro-am but pulled out a couple of weeks ago because of scheduling conflicts. Many PGA Tour players, including David Duval and Peter Jacobsen, are scheduled to play. Other scheduled participants include Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre and REM's Mike Mills and Bill Berry.

Hootie and The Blowfish will be in concert Monday night at The Township in downtown Columbia. For tickets to the tournament or concert, call (803) 251-2222.

The MCI Classic begins Thursday at Hilton Head, S.C., about three hours east of Augusta. The only way Woods can play at Harbour Town now is to win this weekend's Masters and take advantage of a loophole granted the champion. The winner each week on the PGA Tour is given until one hour after the completion of play to enter the following week's field.

Even without Woods and Greg Norman, who also is skipping the Heritage this year, the field at Harbour Town next week will be among the strongest this season outside of the major championships.

Among the players scheduled to compete are 24 of the top 30 on the 1997 PGA Tour money list and 10 of the 13 winners of this year's tour events. Three of last year's major championship winners - Nick Faldo, Tom Lehman and Steve Jones - also have committed.

The finale of the area golf splurge takes places Monday, April 21, and Tuesday, April 22, at Great Waters in Greensboro, Ga., for the Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf.

The tournament pits the top eight Americans in two days of match play to determine who advances to the world finals Jan. 3-4, 1998 at Scottsdale, Ariz.

The pairings for April 21 include British Open champion Tom Lehman, the top seed, against tournament invitee and defending champion Scott Hoch; Fred Couples (2) vs. Steve Stricker (7); Phil Mickelson (3) vs. Mark O'Meara (6); and Davis Love III (4) vs. Corey Pavin (5). On Tuesday, April 22, the Lehman-Hoch winner faces the Love-Pavin winner and the Couples-Stricker winner meets the Mickelson-O'Meara winner.

Woods was believed to be the frontrunner for the tournament invitee spot, but he ``didn't respond positively'' to inquiries about the event, according to tournament organizers. Woods' schedule may exclude events held late in the year.

Great Waters is located just over an hour west of Augusta off Interstate 20.

Tickets for the Andersen event are on sale for $32 (one-day credential), $62 (two-day credential) and $150 (two days plus amenities). Call (706) 467-3151 for details. The gallery is limited to 5,000.