LOOKING IN ON: GOLF

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006 | 7:34 a.m.

What: Frys.com Open

When: Thursday through Sunday

Where: TPC at Summerlin and TPC at The Canyons (TPC at Summerlin only Saturday and Sunday)

Tee times: Begin at 7 a.m. Thursday and Friday and 7:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday

Tickets: $15 and up; 242-3000

As a lifelong resident of Henderson, Craig Barlow is no stranger to the two courses that will play host to this week's Frys.com Open.

In fact, Barlow has had intimate knowledge of every course that has been used in the rotation of the local PGA Tour stop since he first played in the tournament - then known as the Las Vegas Invitational - in 1998.

Although Barlow's local knowledge has produced a couple of spectacular rounds in the seven tournaments in which he has played, it hasn't produced the results he has sought. His best finish in his hometown tournament was a tie for 19th place in 1999.

The reason for his lack of success in the PGA Tour stop in Las Vegas is not lost on Barlow.

"I look back at this tournament and I always feel like I try a little too hard here," he said. "This is a tournament I enjoy every year, obviously. It's exciting for me to have all my friends and family following me.

"I've had some great rounds at this tournament, but I've never really had a good tournament. I think I've ultimately forced the issue a little bit too much here, which is something that players fight when they want to do well, and I obviously want to do well here."

Barlow, a Basic High graduate who used to serve as a standard bearer in this tournament when he was growing up, has missed the cut in four of his seven starts in Las Vegas, including last year. In addition to his 19th-place tie in 1999, Barlow tied for 47th in 2003 and 45th in 2004.

Barlow, 34, comes into this year's Frys.com Open having already secured his playing privileges for next season - he's ranked 84th on the PGA Tour money list - and was playing well at the end of the summer with three top-20 finishes in August.

"Like anything else, there are certain things that I'm happy with and there are certain things that I want to improve," he said of his ninth full season on the PGA Tour. "I got off to a good start, in the middle of the year fought a little bit of a back injury and played nicely at the end of the summer."

Barlow, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and still is in search of his first PGA Tour victory, has been limited to 20 tournaments this year because of the back injury.

"The back's just a little sensitive again; so I haven't been playing as much as I would want to," he said. "It's more fatigue than anything else right now.

"I haven't played as much as I would like, ultimately, but I haven't missed many cuts this year. As far as that stat goes, it was my best year percentagewise. I only missed five cuts; so that's an improvement, for sure."

Barlow said he will try to approach this week's tournament, which begins Thursday morning at the TPC at Summerlin and TPC at The Canyons, as if it were just another stop on tour.

"I'm just going into it this year just trying to execute and trying to more or less play how I am capable of playing and no more.

"It's natural to try to step it up a gear and I don't need to step it up a gear. I know that to give myself the best possible chance of playing good golf, I have to stay patient and not force anything."

Which, Barlow conceded, may be easier said than done this week.

UNLV well represented

More than half a dozen former UNLV golfers, including 2004 NCAA national champion Ryan Moore, will be among the 144 professionals competing in the Frys.com Open.

Other former Rebels in the field include Chad Campbell, Bobby Elliott, Andres Gonzales, Charley Hoffman, Skip Kendall and Chris Riley.

Also, Las Vegas natives Robert Gamez and Scott Piercy join Henderson native Barlow as Southern Nevada products in the field for the 72-hole event.

Number of players who have earned their first PGA Tour victory in the Frys.com Open.

Number of times the Frys.com Open has been decided by a playoff.