Sports Notebook
Star-Bulletin staff
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MERCEDES-BENZ CHAMPIONSHIP
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Even after following up his opening-round 80 with a 78 in yesterday's second round of the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship, Hawaii's Dean Wilson was able to crack a smile.
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Almost entire field headed for Sony
KAPALUA, Maui » Australian Adam Scott and Kirk Triplett are the only two golfers in this week's Mercedes-Benz Championship field skipping next week's Sony Open in Hawaii.
It's possible Arron Oberholser will also withdraw after he injured his back in Thursday's opening round, but as of now, he's still scheduled to play in next week's first full-field event on the PGA Tour. He officially withdrew from the Mercedes yesterday after opening with an even-par 73. He will finish last in the event, but still earn $50,000.
This is the highest number of golfers in this week's winners-only event to play in the Sony Open. The field was announced yesterday and is one of the strongest in recent memory. Seven of last year's top 10 money winners are playing on Oahu. The only three not making an appearance are Scott, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Scott, the world's No. 4-ranked golfer, was originally scheduled to play, but said on Wednesday he was returning home to Australia for some much-needed rest.
"I just haven't had a break and it's time to take one," Scott said.
Someone asked if Michelle Wie being in the field had anything to do with his decision and he said, "No, I have nothing to say about that."
Sony Open defending champion David Toms finished 11th on the money list last year. Of the top 20 money winners, 16 will play next week. Retief Goosen is the only one in the second 10 not in the field.
Some of the big-name attractions playing next week are world No. 2 Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, Luke Donald, Davis Love III and Stuart Appleby.
Former Ryder Cup team captain Tom Lehman and 2008 Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger are also playing next week. Top local golfers Dean Wilson and Parker McLachlin will be at Waialae Country Club as well, giving the Sony a deep field of notable golfers.
Not the dean of Plantation: Wilson had a somewhat better round during yesterday's second trip through the challenging Plantation Course, but it's not something he will brag about to his friends.
After opening with an 80 on Thursday, the Kaneohe native came back with a 5-over 78 yesterday to find himself at 158 through 36 holes. Only Ben Curtis 159, was worse, as the two played together yesterday.
Wilson is a staggering 20 shots off the pace set by Singh with 36 holes remaining. He needed 40 putts on Thursday to complete his round and said that was the biggest problem with his game. He needed only 34 yesterday, which was an improvement, but he only hit 11 of 18 greens in regulation after finding the putting surface 14 times in the opening round.
Wilson has managed only three birdies in two days. He had one yesterday at the 18th, the second time he has birdied the par-5 closing hole. His only other birdie was at the par-5 fifth.
Inside the numbers: Five golfers in the top 10 through the first two rounds are first-time players. They are Will MacKenzie (tied for second), Trevor Immelman (T2), J.B. Holmes (T4), Chris Couch (T4) and Troy Matteson (T8). These five golfers are trying to become only the second player to win this event in his first appearance since the event moved here in 1999. Sergio Garcia turned that trick in 2002.
Garcia, at 21 years, 11 months and 28 days, is the youngest Mercedes champion. Holmes, who is 24, would be the second-youngest if he lands in the winners' circle tomorrow. On a day where the scoring average was a healthy 73.394, Holmes and Immelman managed the lowest rounds with 5-under 68s.
The most difficult hole yesterday was the par-3 second, with a scoring average of 3.303. There were 11 bogeys, 21 pars and only one birdie -- by Matteson. The easiest hole was the par-5 18th, where there were only two bogeys -- by Matteson and Joe Durant -- 18 pars, 12 birdies and one eagle -- by Jeff Maggert.
Through 36 holes, Love leads the field in par-5 scoring with a blistering average of 4.000. Love has eight birdies in eight tries on the long holes, but is 3 over on the par-3 and par-4 holes.