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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 8:42 a.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Golf: This week's top tournaments

Associated Press

Sony Open in Hawaii

Site: Honolulu.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Waialae Country Club (7,044 yards, 6,441 meters, par 70).

Purse: $5.4 million (4 million euros). Winner's share: $972,000 (733,000 euros).

Last year: South Korea's K.J. Choi won his seventh U.S. PGA Tour title, leading start-to-finish in a three-stroke victory over Rory Sabbatini.

Last week: Australia's Geoff Ogilvy won the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua, a start-to-finish, six-stroke victory that moved him to No. 6 in the world. He finished at 24-under 268 and earned $1.12 million for his fifth US tour victory. Anthony Kim and Davis Love III tied for second.

Notes: Choi and Ogilvy are in the field along with Love, Ernie Els, Kenny Perry, Steve Stricker, Stewart Cink, Adam Scott, Boo Weekley and J.B. Holmes. ... Els, back at Waialae for the first time since 2005, won the 2003 and 2004 events and finished second in 2005. ... Paul Goydos won in 2007. ... The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic is next week, followed by the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.

On the Net: http://www.pgatour.com

PGA EUROPEAN TOUR

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

Site: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Abu Dhabi Golf Club, National Course (7,500 yards, 6,858 meters, par 72).

Purse: $2 million (1.5 million euros). Winner's share: $333,330 (251,300 euros).

Last year: Germany's Martin Kaymer won his first European Tour title, beating Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson by four strokes.

Last week: Denmark's Anders Hansen won the Joburg Open for his third European Tour title, birdieing the final hole for a one-stroke victory over South Africa's Andrew McLardy. ... Japan's Toru Taniguchi routed Niclas Fasth 7 and 6 in the deciding match in Asia's 10-6 victory over Europe in the Royal Trophy in Thailand.

Notes: Second-ranked Sergio Garcia and No. 3 Padraig Harrington top the field along with European Ryder Cup teammates Stenson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Oliver Wilson and 2007 winner Paul Casey as well as Masters champion Trevor Immelman, Robert Allenby, Aaron Baddeley, Colin Montgomerie, John Daly and Michael Campbell. ... Daly, suspended by the U.S. PGA Tour for six months, also will play the Qatar Masters and Dubai Desert Classic in the next two weeks. ... Ian Poulter withdrew to have corrective eye surgery. ... The Qatar Masters is next week, followed by the Dubai Desert Classic.

On the Net: http://www.europeantour.com

CHAMPIONS TOUR

Wendy's Champions Skins Game

Site: Kaanapali, Hawaii.

Schedule: Saturday-Sunday.

Course: Royal Kaanapali Golf Course (6,700 yards, 6,126 meters, par 71).

Purse: $770,000 (581,000 euros) (Nos. 1-6, $30,000 each; Nos. 7-12, $40,000 each; Nos. 13-17, $50,000 each; No. 18, $100,000).

Format: Skins game. Two-man teams, alternate shot.

Teams: Jack Nicklaus-Tom Watson, Greg Norman-Jay Haas, Fuzzy Zoeller-Ben Crenshaw, Gary Player-Bernhard Langer.

Last year: Zoeller and Peter Jacobsen rallied to win, taking six skins and $320,000 to beat 2007 winners Nicklaus and Watson by $50,000.

Notes: Jacobsen withdrew Monday because of a left shoulder injury. Crenshaw took Jacobsen's spot alongside Zoeller. ... Watson is returning to play following hip replacement surgery in October. ... Nicklaus has earned $2,430,000 in 18 appearances in the event. ... The Mitsubishi Electric Championship is next week at Hualalai.

On the Net: http://www.europeantour.com

OTHER TOURNAMENT

Men

SUNSHINE TOUR: Africa Open, Thursday-Sunday, East London Golf Club, East London, South Africa. On the Net: http://www.sunshinetour.com