Will an Australasian make it four in a row in Vegas?

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2005 The Championship at Las Vegas | Preview | 11 Oct 2005

The Michelin Championship at Las Vegas returns to the TPC at Summerlin this week for an event won in each of the last three years by Australasians.

New Zealander Phil Tataurangi won in 2002 recording his first PGA Tour win in the process, Stuart Appleby won in 2003 and last year Andre Stolz recorded perhaps a surprise win after an indifferent rookie season to that point. For two of those players the chance to return to the scene of perhaps their most rewarding moment in the game has been denied in 2005 with both Tataurangi and Stolz out of action due to injury.

Tataurangi is working his way back to playing fitness after a break, which included some radio commentary work for the USPGA Tour. Andre Stolz has not played since the Fed Ex St Jude Classic in May having fought an injury for much of the season to that point.

Stuart Appleby has played quite well in recent weeks, in stroke play events at least, and he certainly has a chance of winning again. It is worth noting that Appleby’s love affair extends to a runner up placing here in addition to his win.

The event is played over two courses on the opening days, returning to the host course the TPC at Summerlin for the final two rounds. It became a four round event last year after having been played for several years as a 90 hole event and this year the third course in the previous roster, The Bears Best will not be used. This leaves the Bobby Weed/Fuzzy Zoeller TPC at Summerlin course and the Raymond Floyd and the PGA Tour Design services TPC at The Canyons. A Pro-am format is used with one professional and one amateur in each team, a change from previous years.

Phil Mickelson is not playing at the same level he was a few weeks ago but he does have a runner up placing to Billy Andre here a few years ago. He withdrew last year after two good opening rounds so clearly he enjoys the venue and no doubt enjoys Vegas. His last round of 68 on Sunday suggests he is not too far from it.

Jim Furyk will likely be vying for favouritism given that he is a three time winner of the event, albeit several years ago. He had a solid week last week and must be considered at a golf complex he obviously enjoys.

Davis Love III has not been here since his fourth place behind Bob Estes in 2001. While his form has been mixed in recent weeks there have been enough good finishes to give hope.

Ben Crane had a reasonable showing last week in San Francisco and prior to that was in brilliant form. He put together some good rounds here last year and should not be far away from contention this week.

Shigeki Maruyama has certainly improved in recent weeks after a run where he could do nothing right. He has played here in 2001 when he recorded a couple of solid rounds when 25th. He is certainly on the improve and that might just continue this week.

John Daly has not played here the last couple of years but in 2001 he equalled the course record of 62 at the TPC at The Canyons when 7th in the tournament. His performance last week was simply stunning and although he will be disappointed at the manner in which it finished, he will be no doubt be feeling very confident in that it took everything Tiger Woods had to beat him.

Jerry Kelly will no doubt tease us again threatening to win at various stages but struggling to go on with it. He was 9th here on his last visit in 2003.

Justin Leonard has played often in this event in recent years and there has been one or two reasonable if not great finishes. He has played well enough in recent weeks to be a consideration but perhaps a win would be a stretch of the imagination.

The Australasians are here in force as the end of the season draws close. Appleby we have already mentioned but Mark Hensby, Robert Allenby, Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling, Aaron Baddeley, Stephen Leaney, Paul Gow, Brendan Jones, Stephen Allan, John Senden, Scott Hend, Gavin Coles and Craig Perks are all lining up with Michael Long and Bradley Hughes awaiting a start.

Photo – Anthony Powter