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Practice Day (8/11)
Pre-tournament controversy
Defending
champion Tiger Woods begins the World Golf Championships - American Express
Championship at Valderrama on Thursday (November 9) as an almost unbackable
favourite. However, the controversial absence of most of his leading compatriots
has bolstered local hopes of a "home" European champion.
The absent Americans include Phil Mickelson, winner at the weekend of
the US Tour Championship, and fellow top 10 world-ranked players David
Duval, Davis Love III, Hal Sutton and Tom Lehman. Australian Greg Norman,
who won the European Skins Game at Valderrama in 1992 but who failed to
qualify for the WGC in 1999, has also chosen to miss this year's championship,
in spite of regaining a place among the top 50 in the world rankings.
The decaffeinated field means even more interest will be focused on the
battle for number one honours in this year's European Tour order of merit.
Darren Clarke took over provisional top spot after finishing second in
the Volvo Masters, but he could be overtaken by five other players: Lee
Westwood; Ernie Els (who is third on both the US and European money lists),
Thomas Bjorn, Michael Campbell and Colin Montgomerie, European number
one the past seven seasons.
The Spanish challenge will once again be led by Miguel Angel Jimenez,
who could have won the 1999 title with a par on the 18th but who lost
to Woods on the first extra hole of sudden death. He will be joined by
Jose María Olazabal, who finished fifth in the Volvo Masters, and
Sergio García, still seeking his first win of 2000.
[Pretournament Controversy][Day
1][Day 2][Day 3][Day
4]
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Tuesday,
7 November
All Day Course open to play
8:00 a.m. Practice Rounds for Professionals VGC, #1 & #10 Tees
Wednesday,
8 November
Practice Round for Professionals VGC
8:00 a.m. / #1 Tee
9:00 a.m. / #10 Tee
3:00 p.m. / Last Tee Time
Thursday,
9 November
8:15 a.m. Opening Ceremonies VGC, #1 Tee
First Round of Competition VGC
Friday, 10 November
Second Round of Competition VGC
Saturday,
11 November
Third Round of Competition VGC
Sunday,
12 November
Final Round of Competition VGC
Closing Ceremonies and Awards