Columnist Peter Benton: Top 50 golfers tour debuts in '99

PETER BENTONis a local golfer. His column appears Wednesdays.

REMEMBER ALL THE rhetoric a year or so ago when Greg Norman's suggestion of a world tour for the top 50 golfers was rebuffed as not feasible by not only PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem but by most of the touring professionals as well?

Well gang, guess who is laughing now? Last month the PGA Tours International Federation announced the first three World Golf Championships are to be held in 1999, and will offer purses of $5 million each.

The tournaments are:

* Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship, Feb. 24-28, La Costa Resort and Spa, Carlsbad, Calif.

* N.E.C. International, Aug. 26-29, Firestone C.C., Akron, Ohio.

* American Express Championship, Nov. 4-7, Club de Golf Valderrama, Sotogrande, Spain.

In addition to the above events, the Federation also announced a schedule for the fourth World Golf Championship. The World Cup Team event will be held in the U.S. in 2000, in South Africa in 2001, and in Japan in 2002. Details concerning eligibility and the exact format will be announced in the near future.

"We are delighted that next year we shall be able to add some championships that allow us to structure competition at the highest levels in a way that addresses the global market and the global nature of the game," Finchem said in a statement.

UNLV deadline

Deadline for entry into the UNLV Rebel Football Foundation golf tournament, scheduled Aug. 26 at the Legacy Golf Club, is Aug. 24.

The entry fee is $150 per player or $550 per foursome. For information, call Terry Cottle at 895-3454.

archive