North Is Going Way of South

Tiger Woods glanced at the sprinkler head, and the computer between his ears quickly did the calculating. He was 226 yards from the hole. He reached for a two-iron.

“And,” he said, “I came up about 30 yards short.”

This might be attributed to a momentary lapse in intensity and concentration, but this was, after all, a mere practice round for the $2.7-million Buick Invitational, which begins today at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Woods was telling his story as a means of explaining that local knowledge has to be relearned on the North Course.

The Buick’s first two rounds are split between the South and North courses. The North has traditionally been chewed up by half the field on Thursday and the other half on Friday and then tucked away for the weekend rounds.

Indeed, the North Course has always been considered maybe two shots easier. Thursday’s leader almost always came from the North.

Woods has considerable local knowledge of Torrey Pines, though this is only his second appearance there as a professional. He played the courses extensively as an amateur, particularly during his time as a dominant figure in the Junior World tournament. He finished tied for third in last year’s Buick, one shot behind winner Scott Simpson.

This year’s field has only nine of the top 20 money winners, and the only 1999 winner playing at Torrey Pines is Jeff Sluman.

As Woods, and other pros, have learned this week, the North Course is growing some fangs of its own.

“The PGA came to us and asked if we could make the North Course tougher,” said John Walter, course manager. “We toured the course and identified 11 new tee sites. We’ve been able to build five of them and we hope to have the other six ready by next year.”

Three of the five “new” holes--Nos. 9, 11 and 13--will be in play this week. The other tee boxes, on Nos. 4 and 18, were not yet firm enough. The three deemed “ready” will add 132 yards to the North Course.

Buick Invitational

* When: Today through Sunday in La Jolla.

* Courses: Torrey Pines Golf Club, South Course (7,022 yards, par 72) and North Course (6,862 yards, par 72).

* Purse: $2.7 million (Winner’s share: $486,000).

* TV: USA (Today-Friday, 4-6 p.m. delayed) and Channel 2 (Saturday, 1-3 p.m.; Sunday, 1-3:30 p.m.).

* Defending champion: Scott Simpson.