Top players commit to NEC Invitational

BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2004 NEC Invitational | General | 12 Aug 2004

With the start of the World Golf Championships – NEC Invitational just over one week away, the field is shaping up to include the best players in the game.

Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, John Daly and Vijay Singh are just a sample of the game’s biggest names who will travel to Akron, Ohio, at Firestone Country Club on August 16-22. Darren Clarke will try to successfully defend his championship from last year when he joined Tiger Woods as the only players who have taken home multiple World Golf Championships events.

“The field looks as strong as ever. The course is in fantastic shape. And as always, the community has shown us great support again this year,” said Tom Strong, Executive Director of the NEC Invitational. “Fans can expect to see some of the game’s best players fighting for the lead on Sunday.”

Players who are currently on the outside looking in have one week left to get themselves into the field. It won’t be easy, however, as they’ll need to either win this week’s PGA Championship, earn a place on the United States Ryder Cup team, or get themselves into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Tim Herron (No. 54), Scott Hoch (No. 55), Ian Poulter (No. 61), Justin Rose (No. 64) and Ben Curtis (No. 65) are a few of the players on the cusp who will need strong performances at Whistling Straits, site of this week’s PGA Championship, if they plan on coming to Firestone Country Club the following week.

Notable players in the field include:

Tiger Woods
Woods has been successful at many courses throughout his TOUR career, but Firestone has to rank as one of his top places to play. With victories at the NEC-Invitational in 1999, 2000 and 2001, at trip to Firestone might be just what Woods needs to get his second victory of 2004.

Phil Mickelson
Mickelson has rebounded from an off year in 2003 to a career year in 2004. With a runner-up finish at the U.S. Open, a third-place finish at the British Open and a breakthrough major championship win at this year’s Masters, Mickelson has put together a year to remember. In 16 events in 2004, Mickelson ranks No. 2 on the PGA TOUR Money List with more than $5 million.

Mickelson, who currently stands at No. 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking, 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. “I look forward to this tournament very much.”

Vijay Singh
Singh will be playing in his fifth NEC Invitational this year. After finishing 2003 atop the PGA TOUR Money List for the first time in his career, the 41-year-old Fijian finds himself in the No. 1 slot again this year while leading the TOUR with four victories so far t his season.

“Between Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, you have nine victories on the PGA TOUR in 2004 alone,” Strong said. “These types of players continue to give the NEC Invitational one of the toughest fields in golf.”

Tickets to the 2004 NEC Invitational can be purchased by calling the Championship Office at 330-664-2299, by calling toll free 1-877-942-4849, or by logging on to www.worldgolfchampionships.com.

Source – WGC