Three will try to stop Woods' drive for five

By Bill Kwon
Special to The Advertiser

Three against one hardly seems fair. But not when that one is Tiger Woods, who will be competing against PGA champion Rich Beem, Davis Love III and Justin Leonard in the $1 million PGA Grand Slam of Golf at the Po'ipu Bay Resort next week.

Tiger Woods won his fourth consecutive PGA Grand Slam of Golf last year and will be back to defend his title starting Tuesday at the Po'ipu Bay Resort on Kaua'i. AP library photo

Woods will be trying to win the event for the fifth year in a row.

So, who says life, or golf, is fair?

Still, it's not a given that Woods will win it again, according to Michael Castillo, Po'ipu Bay Golf Course's head golf professional.

"Obviously, (Tiger) being the best player in the world and having won four in a row, you'd be dreaming if you don't think he can make it five in a row," Castillo said. "But, they're all quality players. Rich Beem is a fresh face, and Justin and Davis played well in the Tour Championship."

Leonard and Love are the alternates in the field. By winning two majors, the Masters and the U.S. Open, Woods opened the way for Leonard to receive an alternate berth. Love replaced British Open champion Ernie Els, who declined the invitation because of a scheduling conflict with the Sun City tournament in his native South Africa.

Castillo figures Love and Leonard will be fresher than Woods, who'll be flying in from Japan Sunday after playing in the Dunlop Phoenix Open. Love and Leonard will be arriving Saturday straight from home. Beem will also arrive Sunday after a tournament in Australia.

"This will be Davis' third appearance and the second time for Justin," added Castillo. After replacing U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart, who had died in a plane crash, Love lost to Woods, 3 and 2, in 1999 when the event was a match-play format and third in 1997 when it was stroke-play.

Giving chase are, from top, PGA champion Rich Beem and alternates Justin Leonard and Davis Love III. AP library photos

"Justin was spent physically. He came straight from his sister's wedding and was rushing around," Castillo said. "He should do better this time. And he's used to Bermuda (grass) and playing in the wind."

However, when it comes to "local knowledge," none in the group can touch Woods. He has won the event in all kinds of conditions and circumstances, whether the weather was calm as last year or rain squalls with 35 mph wind gusts in 1998 when he began his winning streak. In 2000, he arrived just two hours before tee-off and still won. Also, it doesn't matter if the format's stroke play or match play.

What impresses Castillo the most about Woods, though, isn't his PGA Grand Slam record — four straight victories and a runner-up finish to Els in his first appearance in 1997 after winning the first of his three Masters titles.

"Tiger hasn't missed a tournament here. He's won and successfully defended his title three times," said Castillo, pointing out that a player doesn't get to return to the PGA Grand Slam just because he's defending champion. And you don't get to play in the event, regarded as the hardest to qualify for, unless you win a major.

Count on Woods being back for the PGA Grand Slam next year when it moves to a new date — Dec. 15-17 — after being a November fixture since coming to Kaua'i in 1991.

The sponsoring PGA of America says it's to avoid a scheduling conflict with a number of golf tournaments immediately after the regular PGA Tour season. In between the lines, it means accommodating Tiger and the other major champions who're in great demand at that time.

Woods, in particular, has a heavy off-season schedule. He's playing this weekend in the Dunlop Phoenix Open, a Japanese tour event. Immediately after the PGA Grand Slam, he heads to the Skins Game Thanksgiving weekend and then his own Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., the following weekend.

In the final year of its contract, the Hyatt Regency Kaua'i Resort & Spa got a one-year extension to host the 2003 PGA Grand Slam. Castillo said negotiations are under way for a new two- or three-year contract beginning in 2004.

"We hope to make an announcement before the start of the tournament next week," he said.

Bill Kwon can be reached at kwon@aloha.net.