Major winners headed for PGA Tour Championship
BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2004 PGA Tour Championship | General | 19 Oct 2004
All four winners of the PGA TOUR’s four major championships are currently qualified for THE TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola at historic East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 4-7.
Phil Mickelson started the year by winning his first major championship in dramatic fashion with a birdie on the final hole at The Masters to defeat Ernie Els by one stroke. For the year, Mickelson has enjoyed one of his better seasons on TOUR. In addition to his victory at Augusta National, Mickelson also recorded a win at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Mickelson has missed only one cut in the 2004 season and finished in the top 10 at each of the four major championships.
Mickelson ranks second on the PGA TOUR with 13 top-10 finishes in just 20 starts. With over $5.5 million earned this season, Mickelson currently sits at No. 3 on the PGA TOUR Money List. Mickelson won here at East Lake Golf Club in 2000.
Retief Goosen took the next major edging out Mickelson at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York. Goosen’s putting carried him on a Sunday in which no player broke par. Goosen’s win was his second U.S. Open victory in four years. In 14 events played on the PGA TOUR so far, Goosen has eight top-10 finishes.
Leader in the race for PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, Todd Hamilton called on his experience playing overseas while playing on the Japan Tour to win the British Open in his first year as a member of the PGA TOUR. Hamilton, who won 11 times on the Japan Tour, made is presence known early in the PGA TOUR season with his victory at the Honda Classic. With nearly $3 million earned this season, he sits No. 12 on the PGA TOUR Money List.
No player, however, has been as consistent and dominating as Vjiay Singh in 2004. Singh has won eight times this year on the PGA TOUR including his playoff victory at the PGA Championship. With his success, Singh has been able to overtake Tiger Woods as the No. 1-ranked player in the Official World Golf Rankings. He has earned nearly $9.5 million, a PGA TOUR record for single-season earnings.
Singh returns to East Lake after having won here at the 2002 TOUR Championship. In his 10 starts at the TOUR Championship, Singh has finished in the top-10 eight times.
“It’s going to be another world-class field at THE TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola this year,” said Todd Rhinehart, Executive Director. “Fans should expect to see some of the very best that golf has to offer as players like Phil Mickelson, Todd Hamilton and Retief Goosen try to challenge Vijay Singh, who is having one of the best seasons in PGA TOUR history.”
Source – PGA Tour
