For Millions, They’re Glad to Take Tiger’s Challenge

What does the world of professional golf need urgently? Tiger Woods’ cell phone number on Tim Finchem’s speed dial? Smaller bunkers and bigger holes? More million-dollar off-season tournaments?

Apparently, it’s more tournaments, such as the one that began Thursday at Sherwood Country Club and figures to be a huge success. The Williams World Challenge has two very important factors going for it: Tiger Woods and $3.5 million.

Woods is the host of this 72-hole, stroke-play event that really amounts to nothing more than a private party for some of golf’s elite. While Woods is the headliner, there are 11 other players who are lucky enough to divide among themselves the $3.5-million purse.

With $1 million going to the winner and last place worth $120,000, this is one party where you really want to be on the guest list.

Sergio Garcia shot a seven-under 65 in the first round to take a one-shot lead over Vijay Singh. Davis Love III is third after a 67 and Woods is tied for fourth with Fred Couples after opening with a 68.

Garcia, paired with Singh, was asked if he and Singh were pushing each other on the course.

Said Garcia: “Yes, I tried to push him in the creek.”

Woods was unlucky enough to have five birdie putts lip out.

“I’m not counting, though,” he said.

Stewart Cink hit three balls into the water on the first four holes and finished with a 79.

This is only the second year of the tournament, which already has the look of a heavyweight in the so-called “silly season” of made-for-TV special events. It is the time of the year when the results aren’t nearly as important as the number of digits in the prize money.

Woods says he has a good idea why his tournament is a sought-after invitation.

“I think the players enjoy playing here, well, one, because it’s good weather, and, two, it’s not a cheap event,” Woods said.

Williams is in the energy and communications business, through energy-distributing pipelines and high-speed fiber-optic cables. The company obviously has some deep pockets--paying an appearance fee and picking up the expenses of nine pros imported for the pro-am.

Meanwhile, Woods is in the entertainment business.

Earl Woods, Tiger’s father, said the tournament is a natural . . . make that a natural gold mine.

“How can you beat having one chance in 12 of winning a million dollars?” Earl Woods said. “And you don’t even have to play a quarter to get the chance. Last year, Tom Lehman hit the jackpot.”

Lehman won the inaugural tournament at Grayhawk at Scottsdale, Ariz., when his invitation came in the form of a sponsor’s exemption.

The rules for admittance come from the top 10 available players in the official world ranking, then two sponsor’s exemptions. Lehman and Mark O’Meara are special exemptions in this year’s field, which includes five of the top 10 ranked players--Woods, David Duval, Love, Hal Sutton and Singh.

Garcia, ranked No. 14, said it was an easy decision to play this week. Part of the reason is in deference to Woods.

“First of all, I think it’ a great tournament and if it’s Tiger’s tournament, it has to be great,” Garcia said. “Second of all, I played the Skins Game last week, so it was perfect timing and I didn’t have to travel too far. And, well, I think that two reasons are good enough.”

Some players who were eligible to play turned down invitations, such as Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Nick Price. They are all playing the NedBank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa--a $4-million event with $2 million going to the winner.

The most noticeable player conspicuous by his absence is No. 3-ranked Phil Mickelson, who sent word that he was tied up. Mickelson, scheduled to play the Hyundai Team Matches in two weeks at Pelican Hill, is busy testing his new Titleist clubs. He also had an outing for Rolex and shot a “Sign Boy” commercial for Titleist.

There was speculation that Mickelson’s absence could be traced to lingering bad feelings between the tournament and the Thunderbirds, who run the Phoenix Open at the TPC of Scottsdale. But a spokesman for Mickelson and tournament director Greg McLaughlin said they were not aware of any conflict.

The tournament has a three-year deal with Sherwood, which might be undergoing a change. Jack Nicklaus, who designed the course, is considering adding a third nine holes at Sherwood and will conduct a site check in the next couple of weeks.

Sherwood hosted the Shark Shootout for 11 years, from 1989-1999. The Shootout, another special event, was plagued by poor attendance, due to some degree by a $200 ticket price for the week. No single-day tickets at a lesser price were sold. At Woods’ event, passes for Monday through Wednesday were $10, Thursday and Friday’s tickets are $20 and tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $30. A badge for the week is $65.

A portion of the revenue from the tournament benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, which has given out more than $500,000 to more than 65 youth programs. Other charities that benefit are the Target House, the First Tee and the Ventura County Autism Society.

Woods said he doesn’t want the tournament to evolve into a full-field event, although there is a chance that more than 12 players will be invited in the future.

For now, a limited field works just fine, Woods said.

“Just look at the numbers,” he said. “Last is $120,000. That’s not too shabby.”