Silvis, Sept 11: PGA winner Shaun Micheel and defending champion JP Hayes also are entered in the 3.5 million-dollar event, which features a 630,000-dollar top prize.
Hayes has just one top-10 finish in 2003 but is looking to move up the money list as he returns to the sight of one of his two tour victories. He enters the week just 96th in earnings with nearly 570,000 dollars.
"I wouldn't say I have an advantage," said Hayes, who won by four strokes last season. "I have some good memories from the tournament last year and I feel like I'm pretty comfortable on this course." Hayes established a new tournament record in relation to par when he finished at 22-under 262. He is coming off his best year money-wise with 955,271 dollars.

"Yeah, I'd take that again," he said in regards to his score. "I don't think the scores are going to be that low this year.



But rain will bring scores down, and if the greens stay soft, there won't be a place they can hide the pins."


Bureau Report