2008 Buick Open field overflowing with champions

By Michael Selecky
Posted Thursday, June 26, 2008

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By Michael Selecky
VIEW Sports Writer
GRAND BLANC TWP. — After a 2007 tournament in which the game’s biggest attraction, Tiger Woods, was conspicuously absent from the June 25 event because of the June 22 birth of his daughter, Sam Alexis, Woods’ upcoming knee surgery also will keep him from competing in the 2008 Open

Last Thursday, Woods also cancelled his June 24 golf clinic at Comerica Park, dashing all hopes he would still be in attendance for the tournament. Despite Woods’ absence, this year’s Buick Open still features a veritable who’s who of the Professional Golf Association’s biggest names, including 2007 runner-up Woody Austin and 2006 runner-up Jim Furyk.

Austin took the 1995 Buick Open title over second-place finisher Mike Brisky, and his second-place finish at the 2007 event was a time to remember for those in attendance.

Coming into the third day of play, Austin was a stroke behind eventual winner Brian Bateman at 136. The pair then both shot 69s for each of the final two days, which was highlighted by Austin’s bogey on the 15th hole of day four.

Had Austin made the shot, he and Bateman would’ve gone to overtime to decide the tournaments winner. Instead, Austin brought home a second-place prize of $365,867 while Bateman garnered $882,000 for the victory.

Since joining the pro tour in 1986, Austin has won five tournaments, including the 1993 Waterloo Open and the 2007 Stanford St. Jude Championships. The University of Miami graduate has pulled in more than $12 million in career earnings. At the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, CA, June 9-15, Austin came in tied for 71st by carding a 16-over 300 for the four day event.

Since turning pro in 1992, Furyk, whose trademark golf swing involves a distinctive looping motion, has won 13 tournaments and has career winnings of more than $37 million. This year Furyk is 18th on the PGA money list, winning a little more than $1.6 million over the course of the 16 events he’s entered this season. At the U.S. Open June 9-15, Furyk tied for 36th place with a nine-over 293.

En route to taking the 2003 title, Furyk scored a 267 to edge out Tiger Woods, Chris DiMarco, Geoff Ogilvy and Briny Baird, all who carded a 269 for the event. In 2006, Furyk scored 267 to finish in second place at the Buick Open behind Tiger Woods, who won the event with a score of 264.

Another former Buick Open champion playing in the 2008 event is Justin Leonard, who took the 1996 title by five strokes with a score of 266 over runner-up Chip Beck.

This year, Leonard recently made a jump up the leader board from 13th to third with his June 8 victory at the Stanford St. Jude Championship. He has won a little over $2.9 million in 16 events this season. Leonard also carded a 293 to finish tied for 36th place at the recent U.S. Open.

One fan favorite who was a late addition to the 2008 Buick Open line-up is John Daly, who entered the 2007 PGA Tour season without full exempt status for the first time since his 1991 PGA Championship victory, which carried a 10-year PGA Tour exemption. Another such exemption was earned with his 1995 British Open win.

When Daly won the 2004 Buick Invitational, he earned a 2-year exemption, which expired at the end of 2006. Finishing 193rd on the 2006 PGA Tour Official Money List, Daly thereby lost his full exempt status for 2007.

Since turning pro in 1987, Daly has won 18 events. This season the 42-year old has earned $29,091, placing him 226th on the 2008 PGA money list.