For the primary time for the reason that introduction of the World Golf Championship occasions, the NEC Invitational will likely be performed aside from on the Firestone Nation Membership when the sphere takes their place on the Sahalee Nation Membership in Washington State this week. The sphere is made up of members of the final named US and European Ryder Cup groups and the final named US and Worldwide Presidents Cup Groups. The ultimate quantity within the subject will complete round seventy eight with the stability, aside from these outlined above, made up from the highest fifty within the World rankings and winners of chosen occasions across the World through the previous twelve months. This week’s PGA Championship affords the ultimate alternative for somebody, aside from these already certified, to achieve a spot both by profitable the occasion or being inside the highest fifty in World rankings following the occasion. Tiger Woods is seeking to grow to be solely the third participant to win an occasion on the US Tour for the fourth consecutive time following within the footsteps of Walter Hagen (PGA 1924 by way of 1927) and Gene Sarazen when he received the Miami Open in 1926, 28, 29 and 30. The Miami Open was topic to a schedule change in 1927 and was not performed that yr. Different gamers have achieved that feat internationally together with Laura Davies (Customary Register Ping occasion 1994 by way of 1998) and the New Zealander John Lister (the Backyard Metropolis Traditional in Christchurch, New Zealand from 1972 by way of 1975) and Karrie Webb in her nice run at Royal Pines in Australia. It’s nonetheless a uncommon feat, extra particularly given the depth of the USPGA Tour. Woods had an opportunity this yr to realize the milestone on the Memorial, however was unable to take action and subsequent yr he could have yet one more probability when he performs the Bay Hill occasion having received it the final three years.
The Sahalee Golf Membership, an unique non-public golf membership in Sammamish Washington simply East of Seattle, got here to prominence when it hosted the 1998 PGA Championship received by Vijay Singh from Steve Stricker. Opened in 1968 and designed by Ted Robinson the course measures simply 6,960 yards and carries a par of 72 however 4.5 inch tough will guarantee accuracy is at a premium this week. For the file Woods was tenth when the PGA was performed right here in 1998. Australians seemingly at this stage embrace Allenby, Appleby, Lonard, Elkington, Norman and Parry with Michael Campbell and Craig Perks the seemingly New Zealanders. An occasion that’s value $US5,000,000 with $US1,000,000 to the winner