Champions Tour is on the Big Island in Hawaii

The Champions TOUR starts this Friday in Hawaii and this year we have a Canuck to cheer for Rod Spittle..

Mitsubishi Electric Championship
Site: Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii.
Schedule: Friday-Sunday.
Course: Hualalai Resort Golf Club (7,107 yards, par 72).

Purse: $1.8-million.
Winner’s share: $305,000.
Canadians: Rod Spittle

While I've been writing about Abu Dhabi and the Hope  I haven't forgotten the old guys as the Champions Tour kicks of 2011 in Hawaii on the Big Island this Friday with another of those select fields, this year 42 of them, tour winners from the last 2 years including our own Rod Spittle, and a slew of sponsor invitees and past majors winners, like Tom Watson who defends his title.

Remember last year when Freddie burst onto the scene winning 2 of the first 3 events and just losing this one to Watson who birdied the last 2 holes, and Bernhard Langer was the player of the year winning back to back majors, 5 titles and his 3rd consecutive Player of the Year award as well as the Charles Schwab Cup, incredible !!

Expect him to be the man to beat again this year..

Here is the full field

1. Michael Allen
2. Phil Blackmar
3. Brad Bryant 
4. Russ Cochran 
5. John Cook
6. Fred Couples
7. Allen Doyle
8. David Eger
9. Keith Fergus
10. Dan Forsman
11. David Frost
12. Fred Funk
13. Mike Goodes
14. Jay Haas
15. Gary Hallberg
16. Bernhard Langer 
17. Tom Lehman
18. Mark McNulty
19. Larry Mize
20. Lonnie Nielsen
21. Mark O'Meara
22. Tom Pernice Jr.
23. Nick Price 
24. Mike Reid  
25. Loren Roberts
26. Eduardo Romero
27. Ted Schulz
28. Jeff Sluman
29. Rod Spittle
30. Bruce Vaughan
31. Bobby Wadkins
32. Denis Watson
33. Tom Watson
34. D.A. Weibring
 
Sponsor Exemptions

35. Ben Crenshaw
36. Hale Irwin
37. Tom Kite
38. Bruce Lietzke
39. Corey Pavin
40. Craig Stadler
41. Curtis Strange
42. Fuzzy Zoeller

CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME

The following week 8 of the guys move over to Ka'anapali on Maui to play in the Champions Skins game where Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson will defend their title..

For the sixth consecutive year, the players will compete in the alternate-shot, team format which has produced memorable shots, a sprinkle of intrigue and a bundle of player commentary. The players will play nine holes each day, with Golf Channel televising the Ka'anapali Champions Skins Game on a tape-delayed basis from 6-8:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Jan. 29 and from 6-8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 30 (Times vary in different areas; check your local listings). The broadcast will also be available on Golf Channel

Nicklaus and Watson, who are paired for the sixth consecutive time, return to the Royal Ka'anapali Golf Course to defend their title against 2009 champions Crenshaw and Zoeller. Couples and Price will team for the second consecutive year, while Langer and O'Meara are paired together for the first time


Bryan Angus