ON TOUR | This week's golf events
WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPSAmerican Express ChampionshipThomastown, Ireland.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.Course: Mount Juliet Conrad (7,112 yards, par 72).Purse: $7 million. Winner's share: $1.2 million.Television: Thursday-Friday ESPN (9 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-5 p.m.) and ABC (Saturday, 1-3 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30-6 p.m.)Last year: Tiger Woods successfully defended his title for his last stroke-play victory, beating Vijay Singh, Tim Herron and Stuart Appleby by two strokes at Capital City in Woodstock, Ga.Notes: Singh withdrew Monday to stay home with his family in Florida and cope with damage from Hurricane Jeanne. Phil Mickelson, John Daly, Mike Weir, Kenny Perry and Nick Price also are skipping the tournament. ... Woods won the 2002 event at Mount Juliet, beating South Africa's Retief Goosen by a stroke. Woods also took the 1999 title at Valderrama in Spain. ... European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer won the 1994 Irish Open on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Mount Juliet course. ..
PGA TOURSouthern Farm Bureau ClassicMadison, Miss.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.Course: Annandale Golf Club (7,199 yards, par 72).Purse: $3 million. Winner's share: $540,000.Television: The Golf Channel (Thursday-Saturday, 8-10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m.)Last year: John Huston won his seventh PGA Tour title at 42, beating South Africa's Brenden Pappas by a stroke.Notes: David Duval is making his seventh start of the year. He missed the cut last week in Pennsylvania after tying for 13th in the Deutsche Bank Championship and tying for 52nd in the Canadian Open.
CHAMPIONS TOURConstellation Energy ClassicHunt Valley, Md.
Schedule: Friday-Sunday.Course: Hayfields Country Club (6,983 yards, par 72).Purse: $1.6 million. Winner's share: $225,000.Television: The Golf Channel (Friday, 12:30-3 p.m.; Saturday, midnight-2:30 a.m., 2:30-5 p.m.; Sunday, midnight-2:30 a.m., 8-10:30 p.m.; Monday, 3:30-6 a.m.)Last year: Larry Nelson won his lone 2003 title, overcoming a bee sting to beat Doug Tewell and Jim Dent by two strokes.
NATIONWIDE TOURMark Christopher Charity ClassicRancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.Course: Empire Lakes Golf Course (7,017 yards, par 71).Purse: $450,000. Winner's share: $81,000.Television: The Golf Channel (Thursday, 5-7:30 p.m.; Friday, 2-4 a.m., 5-7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2:30-5 p.m., 5-7:30 p.m.; Monday, 2-3:30 a.m.)Last year: Monday qualifier James Oh became the youngest winner in Nationwide Tour history, beating Jess Daley on the third hole of a playoff. Oh won at 21 years, 5 months, 27 days. David Duval was the youngest previous winner, taking the 1993 Wichita Open at 21 years, 9 months.
Associated Press