Who Is Truly the `Best Player`?

A shot-showdown among `top players` without a qualifying round.

The 2001 NEC Invitational, the second tournament of the World Golf Championship Series which has been also known as the `Star Wars`, begins today its four-day contest.

Since the total prize money of five million dollars (wining prize one million) will be given away, a player who just participates can be guaranteed a prize money of around 20th place from other ordinary tournaments. The hottest issue of the tournament is whether the `emperor` Tiger Woods (U.S.A) can earn his third consecutive title. Golf fans are showing a great interest in whether he, who has failed to get in the top-ten in five recent tournaments, can make this tournament as his rebounding board to escape from a slump.

Since the tournament is held, for the third time at the same course, the west course (par 70. 7139 yards) in the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, the course is like a home course for Woods who won two previous titles consecutively. However, no one knows whether Woods, with his dispersed putting sense and swing rhythm, will be able to play with the same level of the 1999 tournament (10-under-par 270) and the 2000 tournament (21-under-par 259).

In the meantime, the `revenge fight` of Phil Mickelson, who `offered` the winner`s prize money of one million dollars to Woods at the last year`s tournament, is another interesting point.

In particular, for Mickelson, who narrowly missed a chance to win a major title at the U.S. PGA Championship ended on 20th, it will be a good opportunity to restore his honor.

The number of participating player for this tournament, only the representative players for the 2000 Presidents Cup (U.S. against world united team) and the 2001 Ryder Cup (U.S. against Europe united team), is 39. It is remarkable to see Maruyama Sigeki (Japan) standing toe-to-toe with the selected world-class players.

For this reason, Choi Kyung-Ju (Superior Co.), who is participating in the U.S. PGA Tour Reno-Tahoe Open (total prize money 3 million dollars), has seized a golden opportunities to get in the `top 10` for the fourth time in the season. It is because of that along with the NEC tournament participants, most top-players who participated the U.S. PGA Championship are not coming to the Reno-Tahoe Open to take a break.

Ahn Young-Sik ysahn@donga.com