By KEVIN IOLE
Courtesy of the REVIEW-JOURNAL

The Las Vegas Founders on Monday made two major short-term fixes to the Las Vegas Invitational, cutting the event from 90 holes to 72 and changing the third course in the rotation to Bear's Best.

The Tournament Players Club at Summerlin and TPC Canyons will remain in the rotation, and Bear's Best will replace Southern Highlands. The tournament will be Oct. 7 to 10.

Players will play Bear's Best and the Canyons once each and Summerlin twice, with the final round at Summerlin.

The tournament will retain its pro-am format, and amateurs will play the first three days. The final round will be for professionals only.

Tournament chairman John Sullivan said the Founders went to a 72-hole format to accommodate PGA Tour players who are competing in the American Express Championship the previous week in Kilkenny, Ireland. If the format had remained 90 holes, many of the top players had said they may not be able to make it to Las Vegas for a Wednesday start.

Sullivan said the change, for this year only, was particularly important considering that players will have to learn a new course.

"We didn't want to discourage some of the better players from playing in our event, and by making this one-year fix, we were able to retain our format for the amateurs while doing what we can to accommodate the players who want to play here," Sullivan said.

The PGA Tour has indicated a preference for a 72-hole event and has spoken to the LVI and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic about cutting to 72 holes. But Sullivan said that preference did not factor into the decision to change the format of this year's tournament.

Sullivan said the course change came about when Southern Highlands owner Gary Goett told Founders officials that he had accomplished his goal of gaining exposure for the facility by hosting the tournament over the last three years.

Bear's Best is a collection of 18 of the best holes designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus. Sullivan said its proximity to the TPC courses is a positive for fans and players, who will be able to play a round on one in the morning and easily travel to another for practice.

Sullivan said the Founders would extend a sponsor's exemption to Nicklaus if he wanted to play in the event on the course he designed.

"It's not been discussed, but if Mr. Nicklaus ever wants to play in our tournament, we will welcome him with open arms," said Sullivan, who said he doubts that Nicklaus will play.