Champions Challenge: Weir, Furyk boost field

By Kurt Kragthorpe
The Salt Lake Tribune

Like every professional golf event in Utah, the Champions Challenge has experienced its share of sponsorship issues and questions. Yet the tournament keeps growing -- and not just when measured by the number of Millers and Nicklauses in the field.

In the middle of a three-year sponsorship agreement with Trend Micro, the Champions Challenge has expanded from 10 to 12 two-man teams for the sixth annual event this week at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. Nine of the 24 players are named "Miller" or "Nicklaus," but Johnny and Jack are hardly the only big names in the field.

A pro-am is scheduled at 1 p.m. Monday, followed by the official scramble competition beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, with the winning team sharing $100,000.

Besides being bigger than ever, the field is stronger. Part of that is simply good fortune, thanks to Mike Weir's Masters victory and Jim Furyk's U.S. Open triumph this year.

Furyk's commitment came last fall, after the 2002 Champions Challenge was moved from June to October because of scheduling problems involving several players. Furyk could not come in October, either, but signed a two-year agreement. He will make his second appearance in the Champions Challenge, again joining his father/teacher, Mike.

Weir was booked to play before the Masters. The Draper resident's victory not only helped the Championship Challenge, but aided Dean Wilson, his former Brigham Young teammate. Tournament organizers originally hoped that Weir would bring a high-profile partner for his second appearance in the event, but decided after the Masters that his credentials were more than sufficient and allowed him to choose Wilson, who's having a good season as a PGA Tour rookie.

The Furyk-Furyk and Weir-Wilson teams will play together Tuesday. The scramble format calls for teams to select the best result of each two shots; the winning score is usually about 11-under-par 61.

Last year, PGA Tour players John Daly and Pat Perez became the Champions Challenge's first winning team that was not a father-son pairing. Three of those former winning teams are in the field this week: Billy Casper-Bobby Casper, Craig Stadler-Kevin Stadler and Dave Stockton-Dave Stockton Jr.

Craig Stadler is one of the hottest players in the game, having recently won the Ford Senior Players Championship and the B.C. Open on the regular tour. Champions Challenge host Johnny Miller will have all four of his sons in the field, which he describes as his "little perk" for his involvement. He will play with Todd Miller. Andy Miller -- a PGA Tour rookie -- will play with Ty Tryon and brothers Scott and John Miller Jr. will play together.

Champions Tour veteran Hale Irwin will again play with his son, Steve. That leaves the Nicklauses. Jack is back, playing again with son Mike. For the first time, two other Nicklaus brothers will team up: Gary and Jack Jr.

This family reunion comes after all four Nicklauses competed in a Nationwide Tour event in May.

Tuesday's events will begin with Johnny Miller's 9 a.m. clinic, involving several of the Utah Junior Association's top players: Robbie Fillmore, David Scott, Heidi Kim, Jenteal Jackson, Patrick Fishburn, Travis Norseth and Katie De Santis.