Saturday, January 20, 2001
Woods to play Phoenix Open
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Tiger Woods
will play in next week's Phoenix Open, giving the tournament the
strongest field in its 69-year history.
Woods hinted last week that he might add
an extra tournament to try shake off rust after taking a month
off. With him in the field, the Phoenix Open will have the top
16 players from last year's PGA Tour money list, and at least
27 of the top 30.
The Phoenix Open starts Thursday on the
TPC at Scottsdale.
Woods last played Phoenix in 1999, when
police wrestled a drunken man to the ground and found a loaded
pistol in his backpack. Woods' agent said at the time that Woods
wouldn't return unless security was tightened.
Tournament officials have taken several
steps to improve security, including a ban on weapons. They also
moved the Bird's Nest, a raucous party tent, 2 miles from the
golf course.
Woods has played Phoenix twice — and
left lasting memories.
In 1997, he made a hole-in-one on the 16th
hole, which features one of the loudest and wildest grandstands
in golf.
Two years ago, he caused a controversy by
having fans roll away a mammoth boulder that was restricting his
swing. The rules of golf allowed for Woods to ask for outside
help in moving the rock. He tied for third in that tournament.
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