Tiger Woods

Inside the Ropes:
Will Tiger Sprint to Colorado?

By Joe E. Cervi, Rockiesgolf.com Columnist

Officials at the SPRINT International are wondering, aloud, if Tiger Woods will make a pilgrimage to Colorado later this month.

Sources say that Woods, the No. 1 player in the world, has penciled Castle Pines in, though he probably won't officially commit until Aug. 13 -- the last possible date he can do so.

"We've been told that he wants to play here if his schedule permits," said Jonna Busack, assistant media director for the tournament. "Tiger didn't commit to us until 2 p.m. the Friday before last year's tournament either. While we'd love to have him here, our field is strong once again already."

Woods' go-for-broke game, and the International's Modified Stableford scoring system in which birdies and eagles are handsomely rewarded, were a match made in golf heaven. Woods played a year ago and was successful in just his first trip to Douglas County.

International executive director Larry Thiel remains confident that the 1999 field will be one of the strongest ever.

"My conversations have been very positive with the players," Thiel said. "Most of them have already made arrangements for their accommodations in Colorado. Unfortunately, Tour policies today don't require players to officially sign up prior to the Friday before the tournament.

"It benefits the superstars because they are not forced to make early commitments. From the standpoint of the individual tournaments, they lose the advance promotion associated with these players coming to the events."

Among the top 10 ranked players in the world, three have committed to Castle Pines. They are defending champ Vijay Singh (No. 4), Lee Westwood (6) and Ernie Els (7).

Sources say that David Duval, who is ranked second and lost to Woods in a made-for-TV match play event Aug. 2 in Thousand Oaks, Calif., has already made housing arrangements in Colorado. Duval, sources added, is also scheduled to attend the Rockin' the Greens concert Aug. 18 at Fiddler's Green featuring Hootie and the Blowfish and Eagles member Glenn Frey.

Davis Love III, the 1990 champ and third-ranked player in the world, and Phil Mickelson, ranked No. 10 and two-time winner of this event, haven't committed as of yet.

RIDDLE ME THIS

Bill Riddle, a Fort Collins native who played collegiately at the University of Colorado, needed one extra hole to win the 1999 FDC Colorado Open at Saddle Rock Golf Course in Aurora.

Riddle, 32, made a birdie on the first extra hole to defeat Parker's Scott Mendelsohn and claim the $31,500 first-place check.

Riddle hit an unforgettable approach shot to No. 18 -- the first hole in sudden death -- and that was all he needed. That, and a 6-foot birdie putt of course.

"I won't forget that approach shot," Riddle said. He hit a 4-iron into the teeth of a gusting wind to 6-feet and calmly sank the winning putt.

Said Mendelsohn: "It's pretty disappointing. I kind of feel it was in my hands and I lost it. I thought a 4 (par) on 18 would have been good enough."

Mendelsohn could have avoided the playoff with a par on his 72nd hole but made bogey.Riddle and Mendelsohn finished 72 holes in 6-under-par 282. This was the first playoff to determine the Colorado Open champion since Bill Loeffler beat Steve Schneiter in 1991.

Littleton's Brian Guetz, who won the Colorado Open in 1994 as an amateur, tied Gary Blevins of Farmington, N.M. for third place at 283, each winning $10,150. Arvada's Rick DeWitt tied for seventh at 285 and claimed the low-amateur trophy.

THE NEW EWE

Colorado State University athletic director Tim Weiser recently announced that Jamie Bermel has been named the school's men's golf coach. Bermel replaced successful coach Mark Crabtree, who took a similar position at the University of Louisville.

Bermel has served as the head golf coach at Iowa State University the past two years. Prior to that, he was the head golf coach at Drake University.

"We're excited that Jamie will be joining our staff," Weiser said. "Jaime is an individual who has a great deal of experience as a head coach at the college level. He has succeeded wherever he has been and we expect that our program will continue to grow under his leadership and direction."

Bermel will take over early this month.

CGA GOLF MOGUL

A leading golf industry magazine, Crittenden GolfInc, recently identified Colorado Golf Association President M.J. Mastalir as one of the 25 most influential people in the golf industry. The list is dubbed the GolfInc Power 25, and it was published in the July, 1999, issue. Mastalir was recognized as a longtime leader in the financing of golf courses nationwide as president of Real Estate Capital Corporation.

A 1971 graduate of the University of Colorado Law School, Mastalir has compiled an impressive golf resume. As a player, he has qualified for two U.S. Amateurs, three British Amateurs, and one U.S. Mid-Amateur. He was a member of the USGA Executive Committee from 1986 to 1994, where he served as Vice-President for his final two years.

Since retiring from the USGA Executive Committee, Mastalir has turned his attention to the CGA and Colorado Junior Golf Association. He was instrumental in establishing the City of Denver's Harvard Gulch "Learn to Play" program which introduced junior boys and girls to the game of golf. He also initiated discussions between the CGA and the Lowry Redevelopment Authority regarding the golf course property on the closed Air Force Base.

He subsequently spearheaded the CGA's presentation to the LRA, which led to the association's current partnership with LRA in operating the existing Mira Vista Golf Course and redeveloping 575 acres in the southeast corner of the base.

Crittenden GolfInc focuses on the businesses that drive the golf industry. The GolfInc Power 25 identifies the people who have "the power to impact golf courses through wisdom, prestige, wealth, ability or position." The list identifies those industry leaders who impact the industry individually and who will have an influence on the future of the game.

The list includes some familiar names like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus whose transitions from outstanding players to powerful businessmen in the golf course design and development arenas are well documented. Also included on the list are David Price and Robert Dedman, Jr., respective CEO's of American Golf Corporation and ClubCorp, whose companies control nearly 500 courses nationwide.

BYE, BYE JULY

Jason Allen is sad to see the month go. The 25-year-old Pueblo West Golf Course teaching instructor won both the Wyoming and Kansas state opens, and finished respectably in the Colorado Open.

"It's been a good month," said Allen, who made more than $25,000 in those 31 days. While that isn't a ton of money compared to what players on the professional tours are making, the sum is more than Allen has made in his entire life.

"Not only that, I got my first two wins as a professional and that's more important than the money," Allen said.