Buick Invitational wide open without Woods

2009-02-03

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LA JOLLA, California (Ticker) - Tiger Woods is not going to win the Buick Invitational, but only because he isn’t playing it.

With Woods still working his way back from knee surgery, the $5.3 million event will be wide open when it starts Thursday at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

It has reached the point that if Woods was in the field, the only drama would be has margin of victory. Woods had won this event six times, including the last four. Last year, the world No. 1 posted an eight-stroke victory to set a tournament record.

Woods returned in June to win the U.S. Open in memorable fashion, playing with a torn knee ligament and microfractures in the same leg en route to capturing a 19-hole playoff over Rocco Mediate.

Mediate would have likely been a crowd favorite here after his gutty performance against Woods last season, but he withdrew on Monday.

With Woods and Mediate absent, Padraig Harrington and Phil Mickelson will draw the early attention. Harrington will make his PGA Tour season debut and Mickelson is trying to rebound from a missed cut at the FBR Open.

Mickelson has won this event three times, while Harrington - the 2008 PGA Tour Player of the Year - is making his first appearance.

Luke Donald and Charles Howell III, a pair of players who have finished second here twice, also are entered.

The South Course at Torrey Pines will play at 7,568 yards and par-72.

First prize is $954,000.