Saturday, October 25, 2003
PGA TOUR
Funai Classic
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Courses: Walt Disney World Resort, Magnolia Course (7,190 yards, par 72), Palm Course (6,957 yards, par 72), Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Purse: $4 million. Winner's share: $720,000.
Television: ESPN (Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.; Saturday, 4-6 p.m.) and ABC (Sunday, 3-6 p.m.).
Last year: Bob Burns won his first tour title, beating Chris DiMarco by a stroke. Tiger Woods shot a 63 in the final round to finish third, two strokes back.
Last week: Japan's Shigeki Maruyama won the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro by five strokes to become the fourth PGA Tour player to win at least one tournament each of the last three seasons.
Notes: Woods, the 1996 and 1999 winner, is attempting to tie the PGA Tour record of 113 consecutive cuts set by Byron Nelson in the 1940s. ... Woods' caddie, Steve Williams, is skipping the tournament to travel to his native New Zealand. Woods' childhood friend, Bryon Bell, is replacing Williams. ... The final two rounds will be played on the Magnolia Course. ... Duffy Waldorf won in 2000, closing with a 62 to beat Steve Flesch by a stroke. ... The Chrysler Championship is next week in Palm Harbor, followed by the season-ending Tour Championship at Champions in Houston.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Sonoma (Calif.) Golf Club (7,012 yards, par 72).
Purse: $2.5 million. Winner's share: $440,000.
Television: The Golf Channel (Thursday-Saturday, 5-7:30 p.m., 8-10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 5-7:30 p.m., 9-11 p.m.).
Last year: Tom Watson won at Gaillardia in Oklahoma City, beating Gil Morgan by two strokes in cold and rainy conditions.
Last week: Craig Stadler won his third Champions Tour title in 13 events, beating Bob Gilder by four strokes in the SBC Championship. Stadler also won the PGA Tour's B.C. Open in July.
Notes: The season-ending tournament is limited to the top 30 on the money list. Watson tops the list with $1,599,108, followed by Bruce Lietzke ($1,582,826), Morgan ($1,475,873), Hale Irwin ($1,463,057) and Jim Thorpe ($1,390,306). ... Watson also won the 2000 tournament at the TPC of Myrtle Beach.
-- Associated Press