Posted on: Thursday, January 1, 2004
GOLF BRIEFS
7 of top 10 money winners set for Sony
| • | Wies are planning another busy year |
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| • | 'Golf Hawai'i' back for 9th season |
| • | Holes in One |
Advertiser Staff
Seven of last year's Top 10 money winners will play in the 2004 Sony Open in Hawai'i. The first full-field event will be Jan. 15 to 18 at Waialae Country Club.
The PGA Tour season officially opens next week (Jan. 8 to 11) on Maui, when 2003's winners play in the Mercedes Championships at Kapalua's Plantation Course.
Ernie Els, who won Mercedes and Sony last year, will defend both championships. Vijay Singh, a four-time winner in 2003, will also be at Waialae along with U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk, Davis Love III, Kenny Perry, Chad Campbell and Retief Goosen.
Those seven combined to win 17 events and more than $33 million last year. The only Top 10 golfers who have not committed to play at Sony are Tiger Woods, Masters champion Mike Weir and David Toms, who recently had surgery.
Brad Faxon, the 2001 Sony champion, also will be missing because of injury. Former Sony champions Jeff Sluman, Paul Azinger and Jerry Kelly will play, and Tom Lehman, Craig Stadler, Ben Crane, Steve Flesch and Darren Clarke also have committed.
Singh, Azinger, Sluman, Kelly, Lehman and Chris Riley will participate in First Hawaiian Bank's Pro Junior Golf Challenge on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The six-hole event pairs the pros with Hawai'i juniors Allen Baab, Mari Chun, Stephanie Kono, Kellen Watabu, Michelle Wie and Travis Toyama, who won the Challenge with Lehman last year.
Sony has given Wie, a Punahou freshman, a sponsor's exemption to play in the PGA Tour event.
There is no charge to watch practice rounds and the Challenge Monday and Tuesday. Tickets can be bought in advance, for $10 a day, at First Hawaiian Banks. Cost is $15 at the gate. A pass for all four days is $35 in advance or $50 at the gate.
For more information, call 523-7888.
