Event: World Series of Golf
Site: Akron, Ohio
Schedule: Today through Sunday
Course: Firestone Country Club, South Course (7,189 yards, par 70)
Purse: $2.25 million
Winner's share: $405,000
Television: USA (today, 4-6 p.m.; tomorrow, 3-6 p.m.) and CBS (Saturday-Sunday, 4-6 p.m.)
Last year: Greg Norman closed with a 3-under 67 for a four-stroke victory over 1996 winner Phil Mickelson. Norman also won in 1995.
Last week: PGA champ Vijay Singh won the Sprint International at Castle Rock.
The skinny: The tournament features the winners of PGA Tour and select international events in the past 12 months. The 1999 tournament, part of the World Golf Championships, will be limited to the members of the last Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams. They will compete for a $5 million purse. The winner will receive a three-year tour exemption, down from 10 years. British Open runner-up Brian Watts qualified by winning the Japan PGA's Philip Morris Championship. Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal set course (61) and tournament (262) records in 1990.
Event: Greater Vancouver Open
Site: Surrey, British Columbia
Schedule: Today through Sunday
Course: Northview Country Club, Ridge Course (6,789 yards, par 71)
Purse: $2 million
Winner's share: $360,000
Television: The Golf Channel (today through Saturday, 8-11 p.m.; Sunday, 9 p.m.-midnight)
Last year: Mark Calcavecchia closed with a 6-under 66 for a one-stroke victory over Andrew Magee. Calcavecchia will not defend.
The skinny: Chip Beck, a four-time PGA Tour winner and one of two players to shoot a 59 in a tour event, has failed to complete nTC tournament in 45 starts. He has missed 43 consecutive cuts, and withdrew from two events. John Daly is entered along with fellow major champions Payne Stewart, Fuzzy Zoeller and Mark Brooks.
Coming weeks:
Next week: Greater Milwaukee Open
Sept. 10-13: Bell Canadian Open, Oakville, Ontario
Sept. 17-20: B.C. Open, Endicott, N.Y.
Sept. 24-27: LaCantera Texas Open, San Antonio
Event: Rail Classic
Site: Springfield, Ill.
Schedule: Tomorrow through Sunday
Course: Rail Golf Course (6,403 yards, par 72)
Purse: $700,000
Winner's share: $105,000
Television: ESPN2 (tomorrow, 4-6 p.m.; Saturday, 2-4 p.m.; Sunday, 4-6 p.m.)
Last year: Cindy Figg-Currier won with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff with Lorie Kane and Kris Tschetter.
Last week: Japan's Hiromi Kobayashi won the Rainbow Foods Classic at Maple Grove, Minn., holing a 3-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff with Tracy Hanson.
The skinny: The tournament ends the points race for the 10 automatic spots on the U.S. Solheim Cup team. Judy Rankin has two captain's choices for the Sept. 18-20 matches at Dublin, Ohio. U.S. Junior champion Leigh Anne Hardin, 16, of Martinsville, Ind., is making her first LPGA start.
Coming weeks:
Next week: Safeway Championship, Portland, Ore.
Sept. 10-13: SAFECO Classic, Kent, Wash.
Sept. 18-20: Solheim Cup, Dublin, Ohio
Sept. 24-27: CoreStates Betsy King Classic, Kutztown, Pa.
Senior PGA Tour
Event: BankBoston Senior Classic
Site: Concord, Mass.
Schedule: Tomorrow through Sunday
Course: Nashawtuc Country Club (6,797 yards, par 72)
Purse: $1 million
Winner's share: $150,000
Television: ESPN (tomorrow, 1-3 p.m.; Saturday, 5: 30-7 p.m.; Sunday, 2: 30-4 p.m.)
Last year: Hale Irwin won the sixth of a record-tying nine 1997 titles.
Last week: South Africa's Gary Player won the Northville Long Island Classic to become the second-oldest winner in tour history to Mike Fetchick.
The skinny: Irwin, a five-time winner this year, leads the money list with $2,101,750. Gil Morgan, also a five-time winner, is skipping the tournament.
Coming weeks:
Next week: Emerald Coast Classic, Milton, Fla.
Sept. 11-13: Comfort Classic, Indianapolis
Sept. 18-20: Kroger Classic, Mason, Ohio
Sept. 25-27: Boone Valley Classic, Augusta, Mo.
Pub Date: 8/27/98