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Golf Extra 2006
Other Florida Tournaments
By BOB HARIG
Published January 26, 2006
CHAMPIONS TOUR: ACE GROUP CLASSIC
DATE: Feb. 17-19.
WHERE: Naples.
COURSE: The Club at TwinEagles.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Mark James.
PURSE: $1.6-million, $240,000 winner.
LAST YEAR: James took a one-stroke lead with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 17th then made another birdie putt at the final hole to seal a two-shot win over Hale Irwin and Tom Largo.
TV: 1:30-4 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Golf Channel. TICKETS: 1-239-593-3900 or www.theacegroupclassic.com
PGA TOUR: FORD CHAMPIONSHIP AT DORAL
DATE: March 2-5.
WHERE: Miami.
COURSE: Doral Golf Resort & Spa (Blue Course).
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Tiger Woods.
PURSE: $5.5-million, $990,000 winner.
LAST YEAR: Woods dueled Phil Mickelson in the final round, shooting 66 to overcome a 2-shot deficit and win by a stroke. Woods made a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to take a one-shot lead, then saw Mickelson narrowly miss a chip for birdie at the final hole. The victory put Woods back at No. 1 for the first time since September, 2004.
TV: 3-6 p.m. Thursday-Friday, USA; 3-6 p.m, Saturday-Sunday, Ch. 8. TICKETS: 1-888-939-4653 or www.fordchampionship.com
PGA TOUR: HONDA CLASSIC
DATE: March 9-12.
WHERE: Palm Beach Gardens.
COURSE: Country Club at Mirasol (Sunrise Course).
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Padraig Harrington.
PURSE: $5.5-million, $990,000 winner.
LAST YEAR: Harrington, a longtime member of the PGA European Tour, scored his first PGA Tour victory in a playoff over Vijay Singh, who botched a short par putt on the second extra hole. Harrington shot a final-round 63 to tie Singh and Joe Ogilvie.
TV: 4-6 p.m. Thursday-Friday, USA; 3-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Ch. 8. TICKETS: 1-866-846-6328.
PGA TOUR: BAY HILL INVITATIONAL
DATE: March 16-19.
WHERE: Orlando.
COURSE: Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Kenny Perry.
PURSE: $5.5-million, $990,000 winner.
LAST YEAR: Perry lost a three-shot lead over the final three holes but came out on top when Vijay Singh's 7-iron approach to the 18th green landed in the water, allowing Perry to clinch with par. Despite finishing second, Singh moved to No. 1 in the world.
TV: 3-6 p.m. Thursday-Friday, USA; 2:30-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Ch. 8. TICKETS: 1-866-764-4843.
PGA TOUR: PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
DATE: March 23-26.
WHERE: Ponte Vedra Beach.
COURSE: TPC-Sawgrass (Stadium Course).
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Fred Funk.
PURSE: $8-million, $1.44-million.
LAST YEAR: Funk posted the biggest victory of his career in difficult conditions as the tournament concluded on Monday because of weekend weather problems. On a day when 16 players did not break 80, Funk shot 71 to defeat Luke Donald, Joe Durant and Tom Lehman by a stroke.
TV: 12-6 p.m. Thursday, ESPN; 12-6 p.m. Friday, Ch. 8; 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 8; 1:30-6:30 p.m. Sunday, Ch. 8. TICKETS: 1-800-741-3161.
LPGA TOUR: GINN CLUBS & RESORTS OPEN
DATE: April 27-30.
WHERE: Orlando.
COURSE: Reunion Resort & Club.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: First-year event.
PURSE: $2.5-million, $375,000 winner.
INFO: For the first time in five years, the LPGA Tour will have a full-field event in Florida, and it will offer the biggest purse of any regular event. Annika Sorenstam, who has an endorsement deal with the Ginn Co., is expected to headline a strong field. Palm Harbor's Dakoda Dowd, who will be 13 at the time of the tournament, has been offered a sponsor's exemption.
TV: 1:30-3 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, Ch. 10.
TICKETS: 1-888-324-5742 or www.ginnopen.com.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: THE BOEING CHAMPIONSHIP AT SANDESTIN
DATE: May 12-14.
WHERE: Sandestin.
COURSE: Raven Golf Club.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Jim Thorpe.
PURSE: $1.6-million, $240,000 winner.
LAST YEAR: Thorpe birdied the third playoff hole to defeat Morris Hatalsky for his second straight victory at the Blue Angels Classic, which was played near Pensacola but has moved about an hour and a half east to Sandestin under new sponsorship.
TV: 6-8:30 p.m., Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Golf Channel. TICKETS: 1-850-837-2637.
PGA TOUR: FUNAI CLASSIC AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
DATE: Oct. 19-22.
WHERE: Lake Buena Visa
COURSES: Walt Disney World Resort (Magnolia and Palm courses).
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Lucas Glover.
PURSE: $4.6-million, $792,000 winner.
LAST YEAR: Glover shot a final-round 65, holing a long bunker shot for birdie on the final hole to capture his first PGA Tour title and beat Tom Pernice by a stroke.
TV: 3-6 p.m., Thursday-Friday, ESPN; 4-6 p.m., Saturday, ESPN; 3-6 p.m., Sunday, Ch. 28. TICKETS: (407) 835-2525.
LPGA TOUR: LPGA PLAYOFFS AT THE ADT
DATE: Nov. 16-19.
WHERE: West Palm Beach.
COURSE: Trump International Golf Club.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Annika Sorenstam.
PURSE: $1.55-million, $1-million winner.
LAST YEAR: At what was then known as the ADT Championship, Sorenstam defended her title for her 10th victory of the year on the tour. This year's event will be different in that it will bring together 32 players based on a year-long qualifying process. The winner receives $1-million, the largest prize in women's golf.
TV: TBA.
TICKETS 561 656-4400 or www.adtchampionship.com.
NATIONWIDE TOUR: MICCOSUKEE CHAMPIONSHIP
DATE: Oct. 26-29. WHERE: Miami.
COURSE: Miccosukee Golf & Country Club.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: 2005 event canceled due to threat of Hurricane Wilma. D.J. Trahan won in 2004.
TV: 1:30-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, Golf Channel.
TICKETS: (305) 477-4653.
[Last modified January 26, 2006, 12:43:34]
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