Golf Extra 2006

Amateurs take their shots with the senior professionals

Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am hopes for sunshine in its field of Champion Tour players, celebs.

By BOB HARIG
Published January 26, 2006

Bad luck? The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am sure had its share last year, enough to think it deserves a second chance from Mother Nature this time.

Two rain delays in the opening round sent the Champions Tour event at the TPC of Tampa Bay into a tailspin. On Saturday more rain prevented all but a handful of players from completing their second round.

At that point it was determined the tournament would be reduced from 54 to 36 holes, but most of Sunday's round was a washout, too. It wasn't until Monday morning that Hale Irwin could wrap up his 42nd victory on the 50-and-older circuit.

First, he needed to a hole a 4-foot par putt for the victory.

"Talk about incentive," he quipped. "Get it in to get out."

This year's tournament is Feb. 24-26, the 19th Tampa Bay event and the third under Outback's sponsorship. The local restaurant chain came along when the tournament's future was in doubt, and it brought along a format change.

While the pros compete for the $240,000 first prize, amateurs are along for the fun - inside the ropes, choking or cheering along with the pros. For the first two rounds the 76 pros compete with an amateur partner, who plays off a handicap. They play a best-ball format for a team score, with the top 12 pro-am teams advancing to the final round. All pros play each of the three days.

Several celebrities are scheduled to take part in the pro-am, including actors Kevin Costner and Mark Wahlberg, Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks, former NFL quarterbacks Joe Theismann and Boomer Esiason, former Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella and former tennis star Jim Courier.

A slew of Champions Tour players have committed, including Irwin, Peter Jacobsen, Curtis Strange, Fuzzy Zoeller, Tom Kite and Lanny Wadkins. Greg Norman is expected to play.

The tournament began in 1988 at Tampa Palms with a $300,000 purse. Dale Douglass won to earn $45,000, and he is expected back for the 19th consecutive year.

WHO: 76 Champions Tour players with 76 amateurs for the first two rounds.

WHEN: Feb. 24-26.

WHERE: TPC of Tampa Bay, Lutz.

COURSE: 6,783 yards, par-71.

PURSE: $1.65-million, $240,000 to the winner.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Hale Irwin.

LAST YEAR: It took four days for Hale Irwin to play 36 holes and emerge as a one-shot winner over Morris Hatalsky and Mark McNulty. The tournament was plagued by poor weather, prompting a rare Monday finish. It was the 42nd victory of Irwin's Champions Tour career and came just a few months before his 60th birthday.

TICKETS: $25 daily, $65 for a weekly badge. The Michelob Ultra Watering Hole is a hospitality venue near the 10th and 17th greens that includes various amenities. The Coca-Cola Club is located near the 11th green, and the Cuervo Nation is located near the 16th green. An any-day pass is $85, and a tournament pass is $150.

PARKING: $5. Parking is located off of Lutz-Lake Fern Road, and signs direct spectators to lots from Dale Mabry, the Veterans Expressway and Gunn Highway.

TV: 1:30-4 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Golf Channel.

INFORMATION: Call 813-265-4653 or visit www.outbackproam.com

[Last modified January 26, 2006, 01:02:16]