Senior leadership looking
to extend stay in Hawaii
KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii >> As many of the world's top senior golfers prepare for today's opening round of the MasterCard Championship, talks are under way of moving the fall event at Turtle Bay Resort to January, beginning next year.
While the discussions are preliminary, it makes sense for the tourney on Oahu to benefit from having all of the world's top Champions Tour players competing the previous week on the Big Island. On their way home, the seniors could take part in the first full-field event on the Champions Tour.
It would be a similar arrangement to the one the Mercedes Championships and the Sony Open in Hawaii have on the PGA Tour. This year, 23 of the 30 PGA golfers taking part in the winners-only tourney on Maui to come over to Oahu to play in the first full-field tournament on Oahu.
As for this weekend event, Dana Quigley is having too much fun to take a break from golf -- even in the offseason.
"I'm through the first 18 by 10:30 and then you got the whole day in front of you. What else would you do?" said Quigley, who tries to play at least 36 holes seven days a week.
The Champions Tour ironman is among the record 39 players set to begin play today in the 54-hole event, the first of 30 officials tourneys on the 50 and over tour.
Last year, Quigley birdied two of the last three holes to finish at 18-under 198 and defeat Larry Nelson by two strokes. It was the eighth tour win for Quigley.
The 56-year-old player is making his record 233rd consecutive start for which he has been eligible and his 219th straight start overall. He was the only player to appear in all 31 events last year.
While Quigley had a golf-filled break, Hale Irwin was the exact opposite.
"I tried not only to give my golf game a rest, but also my back," Irwin said. "So I'm a little bit rusty, so I might hit all the peaks and valley in the early stages just trying to find my game. But I feel good."
Besides Irwin, the $1.6 million MasterCard also features five other members of the World Golf Hall of Fame -- Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson.
2004 MasterCard Championship
When: Today through SundayWhere: Hualalai Golf Club, Ka'upulehu, Hawaii
Format: 54-Hole - Stroke Play Competition
Purse: $1.5 million
Defending Champion: Dana Quigley
Charities: Kona Rotary Youth Scholarship, Hulihee Museum, the Onizuka Space Center and Kealakehe High School
Television: Golf Channel (Round 1 Only) CNBC (Rounds 2 & 3)
Tickets: - Advance Purchase - Call 1-800-417-2770 or at the Gate Tournament Week
$10.00 One Day Pass / $25.00 Tournament Pass