ON TOUR | This week's pro golf events
PGA TOURBuick Championship, Cromwell, Conn.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.Course: TPC at River Highlands (6,820 yards, par 70)Purse: $4 million. Winner's share: $720,000Television: USA (Thursday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.) and CBS (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m.)Last year: Peter Jacobsen won at age 49, holding off Chris Riley by two strokes. Jacobsen also won the 1984 tournament.Notes: Jacobsen, the U.S. Senior Open winner, is skipping his title defense to play in the Champions Tour's JELD-WEN Tradition near his home in Oregon. ... Phil Mickelson, the 2001 and 2002 winner, is taking the week off. ... Kenny Perry (13th) and Fred Couples (24th) are the only players in the top 30 in the world rankings in the field. ... Notah Begay III won in 2000 with a River Highlands-record 20-under 260 total. ... Buick is in its first year as the title sponsor of the event previously called the Greater Hartford Open. ... The Deutsche Bank Championship is next week in Norton, Mass., followed by the Canadian Open in Oakville, Ontario.
CHAMPIONS TOURJELD-WEN Tradition, Aloha, Ore.
Schedule: Thursday-SundayCourse: The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club (7,212 yards, par 72)Purse: $2.3 million. Winner's share: $345,000Television: The Golf Channel (Thursday-Sunday, 6-9 p.m., 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m.)Last year: Tom Watson won his second straight senior major title, beating Tom Kite, Gil Morgan and Jim Ahern by a stroke.Notes: Peter Jacobsen, the U.S. Senior Open winner, is skipping his title defense in the PGA Tour's Buick Championship to play in his hometown event. ... The tournament -- in its second year in Oregon after 14 seasons in the Phoenix area -- is the final senior major of the year. ... Three of final four holes are par 5s. ... The First Tee Open is next week at Pebble Beach, followed by the Kroger Classic in Maineville, Ohio.
LPGA TOURWachovia LPGA Classic, Kutztown, Pa.
Schedule: Thursday-SundayCourse: Berkleigh Country Club (6,197 yards, par 72)Purse: $1 million. Winner's share: $150,000Television: The Golf Channel (Thursday, 3-5:30 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 3-4:30 a.m., 3-5:30 p.m.; Monday, 2:30-4:30 a.m.)Last year: Candie Kung won the second of her three 2003 titles, beating Se Ri Pak and Meg Mallon by two strokes.Notes: Tournament host Betsy King has 34 victories in her Hall of Fame career. ... Annika Sorenstam, the 1996 and 1997 winner, is skipping the tournament. ... South Korea's Se Ri Pak won the 2002 event, setting tournament records with her closing 63 and 21-under 267 total. ... The State Farm Classic is next week in Springfield, Ill., followed by the John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic in Tulsa, Okla.
Associated Press