Tee it up

MasterCard Championship

When: Friday-Sunday

Where: Hualalai Resort Golf Club

Defending champ: Loren Roberts

TV: The Golf Channel

ON THE PGA TOUR

Bob Hope Chrysler Classic

Site: Palm Desert, Calif.

Schedule: Today-Sunday.

Courses: The Classic Club at Northstar (7,305 yards, par 72), Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West (6,930 yards, par 72), LaQuinta Country Club (7,060 yards, par 72) and Bermuda Dunes Country Club (6,927 yards, par 72).

Purse: $5 million.

Winner's share: $900,000.

Television: Golf Channel.

Last year: Chad Campbell won his third PGA Tour title, holding off Scott Verplank and Jesper Parnevik by three strokes.

Notes: Phil Mickelson, the 2002 and 2004 winner, is making his first start since the Ryder Cup. He won in his season debut in 2004, beating Skip Kendall on the first hole of a playoff. ... The final round will be played at The Classic Club. ... David Duval shot a 59 on the Palmer course in the final round of his 1999 victory. ... Joe Durant set the PGA Tour's 90-hole record in 2001 with a 36-under 324 total. ... Arnold Palmer won the inaugural event in 1960 and added victories in 1962, '68, '71 and '73. ... Tiger Woods will make his season debut next week in the Buick Invitational in San Diego.

On the Net: http://www.pgatour.com

ON THE CHAMPIONS TOUR

MasterCard Championship

Site: Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii.

Schedule: Friday-Sunday.

Course: Hualalai Resort Golf Club (7,053 yards, par 72).

Purse: $1.7 million.

Winner's share: $290,000.

Television: Golf Channel.

Last year: Loren Roberts made a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a course-record 11-under 61 and a one-stroke victory over Don Pooley. Roberts had a 25-under 191 total to break the tour record for relation to par in a 54-hole event and tie the stroke mark. He also broke the record for birdies in a three-round tournament with 26. Roberts won the Turtle Bay Championship the following week.

Last week: Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson won the Champions Skins Game at Wailea, finishing with nine skins and $320,000 to edge Gary Player and Jay Haas by $30,000.

Notes: The season-opening event features major champions from the last five years and other tournament winners in the last two years, plus sponsor invitees Player, Ben Crenshaw, Raymond Floyd and Lanny Wadkins. ... Dana Quigley won the 2003 and 2005 tournaments. ... The Turtle Bay Championship is next week at Kahuku.

On the Net: http://www.pgatour.com

MONEY LEADERS

1. Vijay Singh	$1,126,325
2. Paul Goydos	$936,000
3. Luke Donald	$650,600
4. Adam Scott	$630,000
5. Charles Howell III	$457,600
6. Trevor Immelman	$429,760
7. K.J. Choi	$374,750
8. Jim Furyk	$284,750
9. David Toms	$259,143
10. Will MacKenzie	$279,760

SCORING AVERAGE

1. Paul Goydos	66.26
2. Charles Howell III	66.51
3. Steve Stricker	67.51
3. Doug LaBelle II	67.51
5. Robert Allenby	67.76
6. Steve Lowery	68.01
6. Craig Kanada	68.01
6. Pat Perez	68.01

DRIVING DISTANCE

1. Bubba Watson	332.0
2. Anthony Kim	315.0
3. Stephen Marino	314.9
4. Mathias Gronberg	314.8
4. Harrison Frazar	314.8
6. Kenny Perry	310.6
7. Scott Gutschewski	309.8
8. John Daly	307.8
8. Steve Lowery	307.8
10. Ryan Palmer	307.0

ALL-AROUND RANKING

1. Steve Lowery	190
2. Charles Howell III	197
3. Paul Goydos	199
4. Luke Donald	229
5. Jason Dufner	231
6. Doug LaBelle II	238
7. Pat Perez	251
8. Boo Weekley	264
9. Jesper Parnevik	285
10. Robert Allenby	290

Link up in Hawaii

JANUARY

» 21, 22: Turtle Bay Championship Qualifier, Turtle Bay Fazio Course. 593-2230.

» 26-28: Turtle Bay Championship, Turtle Bay Palmer Course. 545-1588.

FEBRUARY

» 9-11: Hawaii Pearl Open Championship, Pearl Country Club. 487-3802.

» 15-17: LPGA SBS Classic, Turtle Bay Palmer Course. 293-8574.

» 22-24: LPGA Fields Open, Ko Olina Golf Course. 676-5300.

» 23-25: Hilo Invitational Pro-Am, Hilo Municipal Course. (808)

» 23-25: HPLGA 4 Ball Tournament, Ted Makalena Course. 677-1414.

» 23-25: John Burns Intercollegiate Tournament, Leilehua Course. 656-0114.

APRIL

» 1-2: Big Island Candies Scotch 4-Ball, The Club at Hokulia. (808) 593-2230.

Source: 808golf.com

Local aces

NAME	RESIDENCE	COURSE	HOLE	YARDS	CLUB	DATE
Jerry Kalua	Nanakuli	Hawaii Country Club	17	164	7-wood	Jan. 4
Robert Hara	Kaneohe	Kaneohe Klipper	18	182	5-wood	Jan. 4
Ikuta Etsuko	Aichi, Japan	Coral Creek	10	140	6-iron	Jan. 6
Kenneth Yamato	Honolulu	Waialae Country Club	16	154	4-iron	Jan. 6
Chris Bennett	Palolo	Ala Wai	8	209	5-iron	Jan. 7
Eimi Koga	Honolulu	Ala Wai	15	145	7-wood	Jan. 9
Carol Proctor	Waianae	Makaha Valley C.C.	17	168	driver	Jan. 12
Bob Ellis	Hawaii Kai	Ala Wai	8	203	2-iron	Jan. 13
David Hamada	Honolulu	Ala Wai	2	175	4-iron	Jan. 14

Send aces to sports@starbulletin.com or call 529-4782