BC Open opens doors for lesser-known players

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2003 BC Open | Preview | 16 Jul 2003

The staging of the BC Open opposite the British Open may not necessarily be ideal for ensuring a high quality field, but it does offer many of the players outside the elite group on tour, the opportunity of a week without having to contend with the top fifty or so players.

Traditionally staged at this time of year, the tournament has developed a niche in the USPGA Tour schedule that makes it a favourite stop for many of the players struggling to get their year going. Although several of the more successful players in recent years are in England this week, the event is sure to provide a desperately close finish, as has typically been the case in past years.

Spike McRoy won the title here last year, his first win on the PGA Tour, after edging out Fred Funk by just one shot. McRoy’s 10th place finish at the Greater Milwaukee Open last week, suggests that an ordinary start to the year may be about to turn around. He will no doubt be inspired by a return to a venue that means so much to him.

The En Joie Golf Club’s current course was built in 1980 and has been the home of the event since that time. The course has undergone several alterations since Ernie Smith did the original work in 1980. Pete Dye and David Postelthwaite had a go in 1984 and then in William Mitchell and Michael Hurdzan in 1998.

Leading players include Robert Gamez, who was third here last year, David Gossett, Brett Quigley, Carlos Franco, Steve Lowery, Hank Keuhne and Jeff Maggert, who is in the field at this stage despite missing out on qualifying for the British Open on Monday. Brad Faxon did a similar thing three years ago when he rushed back from Britain after failing to qualify for the British Open to gain a start and won.

The Australasians lining up this week are last week’s runner-up Steve Allan, Rod Pampling, Grant Waite, Steve Alker, Chris Downes, Paul Gow, Anthony Painter, James McLean, Gavin Coles and Bradley Hughes.