Goosen, Mickelson, Els qualify for WGC NEC Invitational

BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2004 NEC Invitational | General | 22 Jun 2004

The 2004 World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational will once again host the world best golfers as several players who were part of the unforgettable action this past weekend at the US Open have qualified for this year event at Firestone Country Club, Aug. 19-22.

South African Retief Goosen added his victory at the US Open to an already impressive list of qualifiers for this year event. On top of winning the Open, Goosen had already qualified by competing in last year President Cup and with victories in 2003 at the Trophee Lancome and the Chrysler Championship. Goosen won his second US Open by being one of only two players to finish under par for the tournament.

“They say the first one is the toughest,” Goosen said. “But I’ll tell you, the second one is just as tough. I don’t really believe that winning the second one is any easier. I think it’s just experience and self-belief that makes you stay in the hunt.”

In four appearances at the WGC-NEC Invitational, Goosen has never finished worse that T24.

US Open runner-up and Master champion Phil Mickelson has also qualified for this year event. Mickelson nearly won the first two legs of the PGA TOUR grand slam, being tied for the lead on the back nine on Sunday until an unfortunate double bogey on the 17th hole put him two shots behind Goosen.

Mickelson, who took over the lead on the PGA TOUR money list with his US$675,000 payday for second place, has finished in the top-10 in four of his five tournaments at the NEC Invitational.

“I think that the golf course is one of the best we play. The support from the community is some of the best that we have, and it’s a course where I played well in the past,” Mickelson said following his first round at Firestone in 2001. “I look forward to this tournament very much.”

Goosen playing partner during the final round of the US Open, and Masters runner-up, Ernie Els also brings a stellar record to this year NEC Invitational. Els, having already won on TOUR in 2004 when he defended his title at the Sony Open in Hawaii, has never finished worse than T-17 at this event. Els qualifies for this year event in several different ways having made the International Team for the 2003 Presidents Cup and with victories at the 2003 Omega European Masters, the 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii, the 2004 Heineken Classic and the 2004 Memorial Tournament.

“The US Open proved to be a true test of the game best players,” said Tom Strong, Executive Director. “We expect similar drama to unfold here at the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational.”

Tickets to the 2004 NEC Invitational can be purchased by logging on to www.worldgolfchampionships.com.