Tour Preview

It’s another busy week of championship golf even with the ladies’ Tours taking a break. Here’s the latest preview for this week’s worldwide tournaments.

Only two weeks after the WGC Accenture World Match Play Championship, it’s time for the Wedgwood to be brought out of the trophy cabinet once more as the second World Golf Championship event of the year, the WGC Cadillac Championship, takes place in Florida.
Befitting such a big event, there is an $8.5m purse on offer - with $1.4m and 550 FedExCup points up for grabs to the winner.
The setting is the fascinating TCP Blue Monster course at Doral. At 7,266 yards (par 72) and with 110 bunkers and 11 water hazards, this course produces golf as dramatic as its setting, with many birdie opportunities on offer.
Ernie Els will be teeing up to defend his title in a 69-strong field including the top-50 players (according to the Official World Golf Rankings) representing 18 countries.
But the ‘Big Easy’ is not among the favourites to win this year. An average of bookmakers’ odds make world number one Martin Kaymer the favourite, with six-time winner Tiger Woods and US Open champion Graeme McDowell just behind.
Elsewhere, those not ranked high enough to compete at Doral head south as the PGA Tour stages the Puerto Rico Open at the Trump International Golf Club – Rio Grande.
The Tom Kite-designed course is a par 72 at 7,569 yards. The golf club has 36 holes, including four distinct nines representing mountains, oceans, lakes and palms. The lakes and oceans holes have been combined to create the Championship course, while the mountains and palms make up the International course.
With $650,000 and 250 FedExCup points awarded to the winner, this is a great opportunity for those on the fringes to find some momentum. And the field includes six Major champions, including Stewart Cink, Mike Weir and John Daly.
Back in the USA, the Champions Tour pitches up at California’s Newport Beach Country Club for the Toshiba Classic, where Fred Couple defends his title against a strong field.
And staying with the seniors, the European Senior Tour heads for the first time to Mission Hills, China, to stage the ISPS Handa Senior World Championship. According to the Tour, the field includes “three Major champions, two winning Ryder Cup Captains and more than 20 nationalities, sharing between them 125 European Tour titles”.
Meanwhile, the European Challenge Tour resumes on the other side of the world as players tee up in Colombia for the Abierto International Copa Antioquia at Club Campestre. Colombian David Vanegas defends his title.

Phew! There's plenty to look forward to.