Tiger Woods’ victory in the British Open wasn’t the best news tournament officials of The International could have received. It likely ensures the 144-player field for the Aug. 4-7 PGA Tour event at Castle Pines won’t include a winner from the year’s three completed majors for the first time since 1992.
Woods, who also won the Masters, would surprise everybody if he suddenly departs from his scheduling routine to play in The International, which he has bypassed every year since 1999. Woods prefers to use the first week in August to practice for the PGA Championship, to be held this year at Baltusrol in New Jersey.
Michael Campbell, the 2005 U.S. Open champion, is headed back to his native New Zealand next week for some rest and a ticker tape parade. Campbell has played in one International – earning $10,650 in 1995 after failing to make the cut to Sunday.
“That’s too bad,” said Larry Thiel, executive director of The International, about the failure to land a 2005 majors winner. “But when Tiger has won two (majors), you’ve got Michael Campbell and he can’t make it.”
Even without Woods and Campbell, this year’s International could feature one of its strongest fields if Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Davis Love III and David Toms honor their oral commitments and 2004 PGA Championship winner Vijay Singh comes aboard, as expected.
For only the fourth time in history, tournament officials likely won’t be able to promote any winner of the year’s majors, however.
The International was snubbed by Masters, U.S. Open and British Open champions in 1988 (Sandy Lyle, Curtis Strange, Seve Ballesteros), 1989 (Nick Faldo, Strange, Mark Calcavecchia) and 1992 (Fred Couples, Tom Kite, Faldo). Sixteen other Internationals attracted at least one winner of the year’s completed majors.
Don’t look for Campbell to play a heavy stateside schedule anytime soon. Campbell, 36, played on the 2003 PGA Tour but missed the cut in nine of 14 events.
Campbell, married with two children under the age of 8, found it exhausting to ferry the family around the U.S. with no home base. The Campbells reside in England.
“I’m more comfortable on the European Tour,” Campbell said recently. “I hope (winning the U.S. Open) sends a message to all of the European Tour players; that you can win major championships not playing in America.”
Footnotes
The Cornerstone Club, a private golf facility designed by Greg Norman, is taking shape near Telluride. Nine holes are scheduled to open in the summer of 2006; the full 18 in 2007. … Entries are being accepted for the annual Steve Minot Golf Classic, which supports the Colorado Physical Handicap Golf Program. The Aug. 8 event at Omni Interlocken, will have an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $150 for able-bodied players and $110 for those with disabilities. Call 303-421-3823 for details.
