Tiger Woods expected to make Kemper debut
POTOMAC, Md. (AP) - Last year, the short walk between the Kemper
Open and the U.S. Open attracted almost every top name except
Tiger Woods.
This year the two tournaments are on opposite coasts, but that
suits Woods just fine. Although there won't be a repeat of last
year's field - the best in Kemper history - officials say they
are expecting Woods to make his debut at the TPC at Avenel course
for the June 4-7 tournament.
"As of right now, we're on Tiger's schedule," said
tournament chairman Ben Brundred, who added that he's received
firm commitments from Tom Lehman, Tom Kite, John Daly, Jesper
Parnevik and Lee Janzen.
Woods usually doesn't commit to a tournament until the Friday
before the event.
For players like Woods and defending champion Justin Leonard,
the lure of this year's Kemper is that the tournament is scheduled
two weeks prior to the Open at Olympic in San Francisco. Woods
doesn't play the week before a major, so last year's back-to-back
arrangement with the U.S. Open at neighboring Congressional didn't
fit in his plans.
"With the U.S. Open on the West Coast this year, it's
perfect timing for my game," Leonard said. "I'm looking
forward to playing there and then I'm going to take the following
week off and get out to California a day or so early."
Leonard, a regular at the Kemper, thinks last year helped the
Kemper's prestige, but concedes that some players may opt to skip
the Kemper and play the Buick Classic at Winchester the following
week as a "warm up" for the U.S. Open.
"This year it may not be as good because some guys like
to play the week before a major. The field will be split a little
between the Kemper and Winchester," Leonard said.
Leonard's five-stroke comeback in the Kemper last year was
a stepping stone for his similar rally at the British Open.
"I remember at the British Open, on Saturday night specifically,
saying to my parents on the phone, five shots back, hey, I was
in the same position at the Kemper Open ... things worked out
well. I can do the same thing here," Leonard said.
Leonard went on to finish second at the PGA Championship and
fifth on the money list in 1997 with $1.58 million. He has continued
his success this year with a win in March at the Player Championship
at Sawgrass.
"The Kemper Open was the beginning to all that. It allowed
me to go on and do some greater things," Leonard said.
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