Lack of sponsor may lead to LVI’s demise

Adam Candee

Monday, Oct. 6, 2003 | 9:51 a.m.

It might look a bit like a car dealership around the TPC Summerlin course this week as the Las Vegas Invitational markets itself to potential title sponsors.

Three shiny like-new golf courses, the salesman offers, backdropped by one of the country's most enticing tourist destinations. Tell you what -- right now, we'll even throw in some name-brand quality parts like Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson.

What, you want Tiger Woods? We're gonna have to talk to our manager about that one.

Ultimately, tournament director Charlie Baron will come back to the table with one question for the possible buyers: What can I do to put you into this tournament today?

"They'll be here and we hope one can make it happen for the future," Baron said.

Finding a title sponsor for Las Vegas' PGA Tour stop, which runs from Wednesday through Sunday at TPC Summerlin, TPC at the Canyons, and Southern Highlands, became one of Baron's top priorities last year when Invensys ended its three-year commitment to the tournament. Coming up with the $4 million purse -- down from last year's $5 million pot backed by Invensys -- is a heavy task for the longtime Las Vegas golf producer.

Baron said the Invitational can financially survive going this year without a title sponsor. Going farther than that without a main backer, however, is not something that anyone within the Las Vegas Founders -- who operate the tournament -- wants to consider.

"If we are not successful (in finding a sponsor), it's going to be something that will affect a lot more than just the PGA Tour coming to town," Baron said. "If we are not successful, it's going to be a long time before we see the PGA in town again."

Desperate for the tournament to be a public success after years of low fan turnout, the Founders are even offering free admission this year. Packages of four complimentary day passes are available through any Stations Casino.

Golf fans will find a strong field at the Invitational, headlined by Garcia and Mickelson. The field will feature 16 of the top 30 players on the money list, including Invitational favorite Jim Furyk.

Tiger Woods, who won the American Express Championship to vault back into the money lead Sunday, will again skip the tournament. Defending champion Phil Tataurangi will not play this year after back problems sidelined him for the season.

"We have names that we haven't had before," said Gary Fry, tournament chairman. "This is probably one of our strongest fields. This time of year, it's hard."

Fry's last point is one of the difficult pieces of attracting a title sponsor.

What the sticker on the tournament does not reveal is that it occurs in golf's slow season after the majors, a difficult time to attract name players already set on the money list and to draw TV audiences already wrapped up in football and playoff baseball.

It also does not mention that Woods and the world's top players often balk at the five-day grind featuring 54 pro-am holes on courses set up to at least accomodate the amateurs.

Still, even given those inherent challenges, Baron is surprised that a year has passed without a resolution.

"I didn't believe we were going to be in the position that we are today," Baron said.

All Baron and the Founders group can do is attempt to make this year's version of the tournament a spectacular one. More than 1,000 volunteers will help out across the three courses. Nearly everything -- from the scaffolding, to the portable restrooms, and so on -- is in place, the product of an even longer year of planning than normal.

"All that preparation over 12 months begins to show," Baron said

That preparation now moves into a different phase, one that is mostly logistics. Tournament officials must get pro players, golf equipment, to the right places at the right times over five days. While the TPC courses are relatively close together, Southern Highlands is a drive down Interstate 215 away, forcing across-town communication and coordination.

"That's quite a challenge," Fry said.

Players are already beginning to check in and practice rounds were scheduled to begin today at the three courses.