KAPALUA, Hawaii — Any uncertainty about a new PGA Tour season goes beyond the absence of Tiger Woods.
The winners-only field for the SBS Championship, which starts today, has only 28 players. That matches a record for the smallest field since the tournament moved to the Plantation Course at Kapalua in 1999.
Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy is the only player at Kapalua who has won here previously, a rarity at a regular tournament. Even more alarming is that only seven players from last year made it back to Maui by winning a PGA Tour event last year.
“Somewhat interesting, but the depth of our tour is so strong that I can see that happened,” Steve Stricker said. “It’s just tough to win out here in general.”
Even when Woods was playing, golf was entering a cycle in which no one was sure who might emerge as a potential star, and which stars would flame out. Could anyone have guessed the four major champions — Angel Cabrera, Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink and Y.E. Yang — would be ranked outside the top 30 when they won? Or that Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas would go an entire season without winning?
“I think it’s an interesting time,” Ogilvy said. “Obviously, No. 1 in the world might be up for realistic grabs this year, depending on how it all takes shape.”
Woods is out indefinitely as he tries to salvage his family from the fallout of his extramarital affairs. He last played Kapalua in 2005 even during good times. Mickelson has not played since he won the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, his second straight tournament that he won with Woods playing in the final group. Mickelson will start his season Jan. 28 in San Diego.
What to expect in 2010? Anything.
“This could be wide open,” Stricker said. “I have a feeling Tiger will be back. He doesn’t need many events to get back to the top spot, whether it be in the FedEx Cup or money list or whatever.”
Couples, Pavin to make Champions debuts in Hawaii
KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii — Fred Couples and Corey Pavin will make their first official Champions Tour starts at the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai on Jan. 22.
Couples and Pavin were among eight players who have accepted sponsors exemptions to the winners-only event. The others are Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Bruce Lietzke, Mark O’Meara, Curtis Strange and 74-year-old Gary Player.
