No Tiger, no fanfare for this tournament
By MIKE NADEL AP Sports Writer
COAL VALLEY, Ill. (AP) - Ten months ago, this town near the
Illinois-Iowa border was jammed for the Quad City Classic, a low-paying,
low-profile PGA tournament.
Tiger Woods was around, and he held the lead going into the
final round.
Eighteen more good holes at Oakwood Country Club, and the wonder
kid would have his first professional victory. Woods, however,
didn't win, shooting a 72 to finish tied for fifth place.
Now, Woods has established himself as the present and future
of golf. Unfortunately for the Quad City Classic, his immediate
future doesn't include the $1.35 million event, which begins Thursday
at the par-70 course.
"I'm not going to play. I usually take the week off before
a major to work on my game," he said, referring to next week's
British Open. "Going into a major, you need all the energy
you can muster."
Woods, who won the Western Open last weekend, isn't the only
big name to skip the Quad City Classic. In fact, almost every
golfer who is anybody isn't at this one.
The only participant ranked in the top 20 on the tour's money
list is No. 6 Scott Hoch. Others taking part include: 1988 PGA
champion Jeff Sluman; Steve Sticker and Billy Mayfair, who have
slumped since big years in 1996 and 1995, respectively; defending
champion Ed Fiori; and three-time Quad City winner D.A. Weibring.
Both the geography and relatively skimpy purse work against
the tournament.
But as Woods mentioned, the biggest problem is that the event
was shifted from September to the week between the Western Open
and the British Open. Most stars are either resting, traveling
or playing overseas.
There is hope for the future, however.
Deere & Co., the maker of John Deere farm equipment, has
signed a nine-year sponsorship deal. The tournament will move
to the new TPC at Deere Run in 1999. And, perhaps most important,
Woods hasn't given up on the Quad City Classic for good.
"I did mess up pretty good (in last year's final round),
and it would be nice to rectify that," he said. "Maybe
one day I will."
Start or Join A Discussion about This Item
Send the URL (Address) of This Item
to A Friend:
|
