Tiger Woods

The International:
Does Woods Love
Colorado That Much?

By David R. Holland, Senior Staff Writer

CASTLE ROCK, CO -- Ernie Els loves The International. He's coming back for the 10th straight year.

But on Friday, British and U.S. Open champ Tiger Woods said he won't be back when the first round of The International presented by Qwest, tees off Thursday at Castle Pines Golf Club.

Late entrants include David Duval, Notah Begay, Jose Maria Olazabal, Mark O’Meara, Tom Byrum and Gary Nicklaus.

A year ago Woods entered The International a tired golfer. The week before he had wrapped up his second major title -- the PGA Championship at Medinah, and had gone through hours of media grilling. He arrived in Colorado and went straight to a Tuesday exhibition in Aspen and by the time the first round began, he was pooped. It was apparent early that he wasn’t going to win two straight tour events.

"I maybe got two hours of sleep on Friday night and came out here to play on Saturday," Woods said last summer. "It's hard enough walking up the hills and breathing this thin air. I got a cold a couple of days ago and my body has been through a lot. I'm just worn out. In hindsight I probably shouldn't have played this week. But you have to honor your commitments."

Woods left Castle Pines on that Saturday after missing the 54-hole cut with a runny nose and cough. He has already announced he will play in the Buick Open (Buick is one of his sponsors) set for Aug. 10-13 and that’s the tournament that follows The International. In the past he has not played two straight weeks before a major, and the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, KY, follows the Buick Open.

	Ernie Els

Els, the two-time U.S. Open champ, and a winner July 16 at the Standard Life Loch Lomond Classic in Glasgow, Scotland, on the other hand, likes everything about Castle Pines.

“I think this is one of the top three courses on tour condition-wise,” said Els. “I love playing Jack Nicklaus golf courses, so I love this course and I think he is a great designer. Even at this altitude, the 7,500 yards plays somewhat short. But it ranks with Muirfield and Augusta as the courses in top condition on the tour.”

One thing you can count on -- the PGA Tour players rank The International as one of the best tour stops. They love the golf course, they love the clubhouse milkshakes (not available to the general public), they love dinner on the veranda with the view of Pike’s Peak and they love the hospitality. The locker room is opulent and its attendants are considered the best on tour.

• RockiesGolf.com's coverage of the 1999 International • Past articles by David R. Holland • Past Colorado course reviews

That hospitality will bring back last year’s wire-to-wire winner David Toms and two former British Open champs, Tom Lehman, and Texan Justin Leonard, who returns after a two-year abscence. Reigning British Open champ Paul Lawrie will be here along with the man he toppled last year in a playoff, Jean van de Velde. Sergio Garcia, who finished tied for 13th in his first try at Castle Pines last year, returns along with Nick Faldo.

Other top names slated to play are former PGA Champions Steve Elkington and Mark Brooks, Doug Barron, Ronnie Black, Eric Booker, Mike Brisky, Olin Browne, Barry Cheesman, Trevor Dodds and Bob Estes. Former International champs John Cook and Davis Love III will also be back as well as former U.S. Open champion Steve Jones.

Also announced to play are two-time International winner Phil Mickelson and 2000 Masters champion Vijay Singh, another former International champ. Mickelson has three wins on tour this year.

	Castle Pines No. 10

Castle Pines’ 10th Hole Honored by Golf Digest:

Castle Pines Golf Club’s 10th hole was recently picked by Golf Digest as one of America's 18 greatest holes.

Long-time golf writer Dan Jenkins and golf course architecture editor Ron Whitten featured the par-4, 485-yard Jack Nicklaus hole in a two-page picture article in March, and wrote:

“From the elevated tee, sweeping downhill to a green nestled right behind a pond –with Pikes Peak looming in the background – this hole looks like a brilliant par 5, and certainly can play like it is.

Sure, the ball's supposed to go farther in Colorado, but only if you get it in the air. The green mainly accepts a high fade — it's a Nicklaus, remember."

	Castle Pines No. 18

Jenkins first picked "America's Greatest 18" for Sports Illustrated in 1965. Then 35 years later he went back to choose his favorite modern 18. He then combined the list to pick the "All-Time Best," in which Castle Pines' No. 10 was selected, replacing No. 10 at Winged Foot.

The "All Time Best" list included nine new holes. No. 14 at Muirfield Village replaced Cherry Hills' No. 14, the only other Colorado representative. Among the back nine on the "All-Time" list were No. 12 at Augusta National and No. 18 at Pebble Beach.

Castle Pines Golf Club
1000 Hummingbird Dr.
Castle Rock, CO 80104

Castle Pines founder Jack Vickers gave the tournament is unique match play (Modified Stableford) format: Players are awarded points for birdies and eagles or better. Points are deducted for bogeys or worse. Par is worth nothing.

The scoring system demands assertive play, providing a change for players and plenty of excitement for the gallery. Castle Pines is a 7,559-yard, par-72 tournament course designed by Jack Nicklaus.

The International’s Former Winners:

	David Toms

David Toms, 1999. Vijay Singh, 1998. Phil Mickelson 1997 and 1993. Clarence Rose, 1996. Lee Janzen, 1995. Steve Lowery, 1994. Brad Faxon, 1992. Jose Maria Olazabal, 1991. Davis Love III, 1990. Greg Norman, 1989. Joey Sindelar, 1988. John Cook, 1987. Ken Green, 1986.

Internet Address: http://www.golfintl.com.

Ticket Information: http://www.golfintl.com/tickets/index.html.

Parking:

Parking passes are required in all lots except for the general public parking lot. A-VIP Parking: includes Sponsors' guests, media and caddies. Take exit 187 to Castle Pines security gate. B-VIP Parking: includes parking for Corporate Tent, Skybox and Fairway Club patrons. From 1-25, take exit 184 and follow the signs. Parking lot entrance located on Daniels Park Road. General Parking: Volunteers and General Public. From 1-25, take exit 184 and follow the signs.

Pro-AM: Monday, July 31 at Castle Pines -- 28 groups (4 amateurs and 1 pro). Wednesday, Aug. 2 at Castle Pines -- 54 groups (4 amateurs and 1 pro).

Purse: $3.5 million. 1st Place, $630,000. 2nd Place, $378,000. 3rd Place, $238,000. 4th Place, $168,000. 5th Place, $140,000.

Format: 144 contestants play first 36 holes, using the International (Modified Stableford) System, accumulating points. Round 1 Thursday: All 144 contestants play. Round 2 on Friday: 144 contestants play, 72 players plus ties, accumulating points for 36 holes advance to third round. Round 3 on Saturday: 72 players plus ties carry points from Rounds 1 and 2; high 36 pointmakers, plus ties, advance to Sunday's finals. Round 4 on Sunday: 36 players plus ties carry points to finals.

Television Schedule: USA Network: Thursday to Friday, 2-4 p.m., MDT. CBS: Saturday, 2-4 p.m. and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

The International Field:

List of players announced for the 2000 International presented by Qwest as of Wednesday: Fulton Allem, Stephen Ames, Billy Andrade, Tommy Armour III, Woody Austin, Craig Barlow, Doug Barron, Rich Beem, Notay Begay III, Ronnie Black, Eric Booker, Mike Brisky, Mark Brooks, Olin Browne, Tom Byrum, Angel Cabrera, Mark Calcavecchia, Jim Carter, Greg Chalmers, Brandel Chamblee, Barry Cheesman, Stewart Cink, John Cook, Robert Damron, Jay Delsing, Chris DiMarco, Trevor Dodds, David Duval, Bob Estes, Nick Faldo, Brad Faxon, Steve Flesch, Dan Forsman, Harrison Frazar, Sergio Garcia, Kelly Gibson, David Gossett, Paul Goydos, Ken Green, Scott Gump, Hunter Haas, Jay Haas, Gary Hallberg, J.P. Hayes, Brian Henninger, Gabriel Hjerstedt, Kazuhiko Hosokawa, Charles Howell, Bradley Hughes, Mike Hulbert, Peter Jacobsen, Brant Jobe, Steve Jones, Jonathan Kaye, Skip Kendall, Hank Kuehne, Franklin Langham, Paul Lawrie, Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard, J.L. Lewis, Frank Lickliter, Steve Lowery, Andrew Magee, Jeff Maggert, Billy Mayfair, Scott McCarron, Rocco Mediate, Phil Mickelson, Larry Mize, Gary Nicklaus, Frank Nobilo, Jose Maria Olazabal, Mark O'Meara, Craig Parry, Steve Pate, Carl Paulson, Tom Pernice, Chris Perry, Tom Purtzer, Charles Raulerson, Mike Reid, Chris Riley, Eduardo Romero, Clarence Rose, Tom Scherrer, Adam Scott, Joey Sindelar, Vijay Singh, Craig Stadler, Paul Stankowski, David Sutherland, Kevin Sutherland, Dave Stockton Jr., Esteban Toledo, David Toms, Kirk Triplett, Ted Tryba, Bob Tway, Jean Van de Velde, Grant Waite, Duffy Waldorf, Kevin Wentworth, Mark Wiebe.