Woods' Grand success makes Po'ipu a winner

By Bill Kwon

PO'IPU, Kaua'i — Tiger Woods continued to make the Po'ipu Bay Resort his personal playground, winning the PGA Grand Slam of Golf for the fifth straight year yesterday. This time in record-smashing, near-flawless fashion.

Tiger Woods sinks a putt on the 17th hole during the first round the PGA Grand Slam of Golf Tuesday at the Po'ipu Bay Golf Course. Mark J. Terrill • Associated Press

Tiger wants to keep coming back and that is fine with the PGA of America, which sponsors the event.

"It's the ninth consecutive year we've been at this resort and I'd love to celebrate a 20th anniversary," said M.G. Orender, president of the PGA of America, who announced a new two-year contract beginning in 2004 with the Hyatt Regency Kaua'i Resort & Spa.

Next year's event is set for Dec. 16-17 and Tiger says he's already looking forward to returning to make it six in a row.

The shift to the December date won't be a problem, Woods said.

The PGA of America is moving the event from its usual Thanksgiving slot to avoid a conflict with the President's Cup, which will be played in South Africa in November for the first time.

Woods says he isn't sure if he'll play in South Africa, but Kaua'i's definitely on his must-return list.

"I love coming back. Each and every time I've been here, I've always enjoyed it," he said. "It's always been a lot of fun to come back and see the same people here. It's kind of cool.

"It's a pretty great place to come back. And it's a perfect time for me, schedule-wise," said Woods, who is usually returning from the Far East as part of his golfing-around-the-world commitment.

"I love playing all over the world. To be the world's best, you've got to play all over the world. It's a responsibility," he said.

Woods also loves to win majors. The 26-year-old has already won eight and it's a virtual lock that he'll always qualify for the PGA Grand Slam, an event in which only major winners need apply.

That, along with his appreciation of the laid-back atmosphere here, makes the PGA of America officials aware that they have a good thing going.

"Tiger's appearance, obviously, is important to the event as with all these great players," Orender said. But a lot of the success of the event is because it is in Hawai'i, he added.

"Tiger loves it here. He loves this resort and he loves coming to this island to enjoy a few days of relaxation."

So it's not simply the money. The $400,000 top prize in the $1 million event isn't exactly chump change, even for Tiger, who got $2 million just for showing in New Zealand during the week of the Sony Open in Hawaii earlier this year.

That's why the PGA of America doesn't feel a real need to increase the prize money as other tournaments do to draw Tiger and other major winners.

"The purse is significant particularly with all the other perks the players get. They get to bring their families here to a great resort, have a family week together. That makes it a very special week for the players," Orender said.

Not that Tiger's doing badly in the event. With his victory yesterday, he has now earned $2.25 million in his record six PGA Grand Slam appearances. Not a bad working vacation.

When Tiger went on and on about the great time he had, Davis Love III cracked, "Can we all use that (same) answer?"

"Ditto," added Rich Beem, who really got into the aloha spirit by wearing a flowery Hawaiian shirt, untucked, of course, and bluesy golf shoes air-brushed with paintings of a hula girl and palm trees. He used a specially factory-ordered Taylormade driver head painted a gaudy red.

"Fits my personality, outgoing," said Beem. "I just got into the spirit of coming over to Hawai'i."

"Beem ordered them specifically when he learned he was coming here," said Julius Mason, PGA of America's director of public relations. "I think it's great. It showed he was stoked about coming here."

Asked about his plans after the event, especially with Woods immediately flying off to Palm Springs, Calif., for the Skins Game this weekend, Beem replied, "I'm staying here. I might never go home."

Justin Leonard couldn't wait to get here, according to Orender.

During the week of the Tour Championship, Leonard asked Orender how the point system to pick an alternate worked and where he stood on the list.

"He knew Tiger won two majors so that was a spot available for an alternate," Orender said. "He really wanted to come and play in the event."

When British Open champion Ernie Els later withdrew, another alternate spot opened up for Love, who like Leonard, won his first major in 1997.

Leonard and Love tied for second place at 141, earning $225,000 each, while Beem ended fourth at 1-over 145 to pocket $150,000.

However, it was all Tiger Woods yesterday. He put on quite a clinic.

"I was going to take a vacation," Leonard said. "But, I think I'm going to practice."

Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net