Tournament Name Lost but Flavor Remains : Golf: PGA event forsakes San Diego title, but native sons Stadler and Mickelson remain a big part of tournament.

Sponsors have taken San Diego out of the name of the PGA tournament here, but they haven’t taken the city out of the event.

The $1.2-million Buick Invitational of California, which starts today on the North and South courses at Torrey Pines, has a distinct San Diego flavor.

The defending champion, Craig Stadler, was born in San Diego and honed his game at Torrey Pines. The victory was the 11th for Stadler, who began his professional career 19 years ago.

Phil Mickelson, also born in San Diego, won the event in 1993 at age 22, his first victory as a pro, though he won a PGA event in 1991 as an amateur.

The youngster and the veteran will be among the favorites again, certainly sentimental choices, at least. They will face the best field to play here in years. It includes Nick Faldo, Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw and Peter Jacobsen, who won last weekend at Pebble Beach.

Stadler’s victory last year was his first in Southern California after playing for Stan Wood at USC. However, he has won a Masters, a Tour Championship and the World Series of Golf twice, 10 years apart.

Affectionately known as the Walrus, Stadler battled Steve Lowery through the last two rounds and won by a stroke with a final round 66, six under.

“I always wanted to win in San Diego or Los Angeles because I’ve spent so much of my golfing life in those places,” Stadler said. “I always enjoy playing here. This is one of the few times I’ve seen the rough high. It’s a lot different. I’m not playing bad. I got a little better each day up North. I played well on Sunday.”

Stadler said the course was in much better shape.

“It’s night and day from what it used to be,” he said. “It’s nice and consistent. They’ve made a concerted effort to make it a family tournament.”

Mickelson, who won at Tucson three weeks ago, also had early training at Torrey Pines, the top public courses in the San Diego area. He played the courses almost daily for two years in high school.

“But this is a different course than I played,” Mickelson said. “The greens are really smooth, the rough is consistent and it’ll be important to drive the ball in the fairway.”

After winning the second event on this season’s tour, Mickelson has been having putting problems. He missed the cut at Pebble Beach.

“When you start missing some five-footers, it can hurt confidence in your putting,” Mickelson said. “It happens to all of us, even Crenshaw. All you can do is go back to basics. I did that and I feel my putting is coming back.”

Mickelson played the North Course in the pro-am Wednesday, about 400 yards shorter than the South, where the final two rounds are played. He shot a five-under 67 as did Stadler. Both are on the North Course again for the first round today.