Only the name changes for historic Cialis Western Open

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2004 Cialis Western Open | Preview | 30 Jun 2004

The name might be new, but the Cialis Western Open remains the same historic event that has had held such a significant place in American golf, both at the professional and amateur level from more than 100 years.

As a consequence, a field befitting such an event has assembled for this week’s tournament at the Dubsdread course which forms one of the four courses at the multi golf course, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club, just south of Chicago. The courses are public access facilities.

The event was first played in 1899 and was moved between many different venues until settling initially at Butler National in 1974, then to Cog Hill in 1991. The Dubsdread course was opened in 1964 and designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee. Wilson also received recognition for such courses as the Blue Monster at Doral, Laurel Valley, La Costa and Bay Hill. He died just a year after the opening of this, the fourth course at Cog Hill.

The course measures 7320 yards and features tiered bent greens and as you would expect with a course of this age, fairways lined by tall mature vegetation.

The leading player here not otherwise exempt will gain start at the British Open as will the player fitting the same criteria at next week’s John Deere Classic. Also in with a chance of a start at Royal Troon will be the two players who lead an imaginary money list in a series of events from the Players Championship through this event, not otherwise exempt.

So there is therefore much at stake for both the leading players and others looking to move their careers to a new level.

Tiger Woods defends a title that he not only won in 2003 but also 1997 and 1999. His 17th at the US Open was hardly a bad week and his form prior to that was more than adequate, but rightly or wrongly, a question mark remains as to where he is at with his game right now. On a golf course on which he has had so much success, he has a chance to answer that very question.

While Els and Mickelson are not here, the field is still typical of the classy lineups that we have come to expect at previous Western Opens. Vijay Singh is here, coming off a 28th place at the US Open and a 4th place finish the week before at the Buick Classic. He has been second here once in 1998 behind Joe Durant and regularly placed inside the top twenty, so he will likely threaten again, especially after a week to recharge the batteries following the rigours of the US Open.

Davis Love III has been a regular placegetter, finishing runner up in 2001 and 2002 but did not play here last year amidst the drama of family concerns. In one of his few other starts in recent years he was 7th in 1997. He missed the cut at the recent US Open but we can forgive him that. After all so did Adam Scott and look what he did last week.

Mike Weir is here after his fourth place at the US Open which was somewhat of a bounce back from an ordinary few weeks where the best he had done in his eight weeks since his win at the Nissan was a second round loss at the Accenture. Weir has played very well here in recent years with two second and a third in his last five starts here.

David Toms has played well in recent weeks after an ordinary run earlier in the year. He was 20th at the US Open and of course won in Memphis. He hasn’t exactly starred at this event but has played well enough with four top twenties in his last five starts to feel comfortable about his capacity to handle the Dubsdread course.

Charles Howell III had a great week last week and did well enough here last year when 13th, to suggest he could follow his fine effort at the TPC at Avenel with another good week. That, however, has been his problem of late, making sure he follows a good week with another. He was going well at the US Open until his last round 83 but had enough faith to return and play as well as he did last week. If he can maintain that form he could well be a factor.

Surely Stephen Ames must go close to winning soon. I know we have been saying that for some time but the incredible run of good finishes this year has only been spoilt by an unusual missed cut at the Buick. He was 9th at the US Open and then prior to the Buick Classic he had recorded six top tens in seven starts. He represents good value amongst the players at longer odds. He has had a couple of top twenties here in past years, when half the player he is now, so it would not surprise if this was the event that Ames finally gets across the line on the USPGA Tour.

K.J. Choi is playing well enough to do perform here but for some reason he and Dubsbread just don’t seem to get along. If he can find a way to play this course then his game is in good enough shape to give this a shake.

Luke Donald, who looks to be such an impressive up and comer, has enjoyed this event in the few times he has been played, with a 20th and 13th in his two appearances. Not bad for a player who is much more complete now. He is having a fine year with three top tens including the recent Buick where he led early in the tournament.

Robert Allenby was 14th last week in France and has a good record here winning in 2000 and placing well since. His last round 70 at the US Open was the best of the day and if he is not suffering too much from that and the rigours of a trip to France, then he can win for the first time in three years.

Jim Furyk was thirdlast year but he may be a tournament or two away from getting back to where he was before his injury. He did well and perhaps surprised in making the cut at the US Open but perhaps it is a bit much to expect him to contend seriously just yet.

It’s a bit hard to get excited about many others given current form but there will no doubt be the occasional surprise. One of those may well be Peter Lonard who appears to be approaching somewhere near where he was a year ago following his ordinary start to the year following his rib injury. He was 5th in his first visit to Cog Hill in 2002 and has made his last six cuts on the USPGA Tour. His last round of 74 at the US Open hardly sounds impressive but it improved him 31 places.

Other Australasians entered are five time runner up here Greg Norman, Stuart Appleby, Stephen Leaney, Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley, Mark Hensby, Rod Pampling, Steve Elkington, Scott Hend, John Senden, Steve Allen, Grant Waite, Craig Perks and Andre Stolz.

The tournament is worth US$4.8 million with the winner to receive US$864,000.