Hefty purse draws top players

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2001 | 11:52 a.m.

As they say on Broadway, "The show must go on."

And in this case, the PGA Tour's Invensys Classic at Las Vegas must go on.

It has been a month since the terrorist attacks on the U.S. and for the most part, sporting events everywhere have resumed.

Starting Wednesday, 144 PGA Tour professionals will be playing in the $4.5 million Invensys Classic at the TPC at Summerlin, TPC at the Canyons and Southern Highlands.

At press time, eight of the top 20 professionals on the PGA Tour's money list and 14 of the top 30 have committed to play.

But whether the attacks will keep others from joining the field, or affect the number of spectators, is still an unknown.

"I was at the United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis and the attendance was down," Invensys Classic tournament manager Charlie Baron said. "I think everybody is trying to get back to a normal way of life.

"There is still some apprehension out there of what's going to happen next and it has affected the sports world so we're going to have to feel our way through. We've got to wait and see."

Baron said he he didn't think fear of flying would keep players at home.

"I don't think it's a travel thing; players being afraid to travel," he said. "I think it's the anticipation of if something happens, where are you going to be? Are you going to be stranded or close to your family? That's the concern of most people."

Those who are scheduled to play here include former British Open and Tour Championship winner Tom Lehman, two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, European Ryder Cup member Jesper Parnevik and former British Open and former American Ryder Cup member Justin Leonard.

One player who won't be here is Phil Mickelson, who has 19 career victories on tour.

Mickelson opted to stay at home with his wife, Amy, as the couple recently welcomed the birth of their second child.

Baron said the amateur field is full and only one company, which was directly affected by the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, pulled out.

Other top players in the field are American Ryder Cup team members Jim Furyk (a three-time Invensys Classic champion), Mark Calcavecchia, Scott Verplank, Davis Love III and Stewart Cink.

The total prize money has increased from $4.25 million last year to $4.5 million with the winner pocketing $810,000.

Players such as Parnevik, Kenny Perry, Rocco Mediate, Scott McCarron, Tom Lehman and defending champion Billy Andrade will be here hoping to secure a spot in the top 30 of the money list.

Others such as Las Vegans John Riegger, Robert Gamez and Jeremy Anderson and Ian Leggatt, Joe Ogilvie, Tom Byrum and Russ Cochran will be playing to keep their PGA Tour cards for next year.

Prior to the attacks, Baron said the PGA Tour had mandated tournaments bolster security.

"There will be an increased security presence," Baron said. "Things such as check points, and security will make sure ticket badges are being worn.

"People carrying in backpacks are going to be reviewed. But there won't be any helicopters or anything extreme."