It looks like moving the Buick Open from the first weekend in August to the last weekend in June isn't going to pay off this season. The move has drastically hurt the field and caused some recent winners of this event to sit it out.
The move isn't exactly to blame for Tiger Woods passing on the Buick Open this weekend. Woods, who won the Buick Open last year, was scheduled to defend his title until the birth of his daughter through a wrench into those plans. Instead of teeing off at Warwick Hills on Thursday, Woods will be at home playing with the newest addition to his family. Whoever does end up winning the Buick Open may want to send out a special thanks to Sam Alexis Woods.
Also taking a pass on Warwick Hill is three-time winner of this 2007 tournament, Vijay Singh. Singh first conquered Warwick Hills way back in 1997 and won back-to-back Buick Open titles in 2004 and 2005. His absence this weekend could be just what an unknown needs to break through and win his first title.
To do that, though, the players will still have to outplay Jim Furyk. With Woods and Singh out (and Phil Mickelson also skipping the Buick), Furyk will most likely be the favorite this weekend. Furyk won the Buick Open in 2003 and finished second to Woods last year, three strokes back, so he definitely knows the ins and outs of Warwick Hills.
Even though Woods and Singh combined to win this tournament in four of the last five years, there are still a number of former Buick Open champions returning to Warwick Hills in search of another title this weekend. Some of the former winners include 2001 champ Kenny Perry, 2000 winner Rocco Mediate, 1999 winner Tom Pernice Jr., and 1998 champ Billy Mayfair.
Other notables scheduled to play Warwick Hills this weekend include John Daly, Chris DiMarco, Brad Faxon, Justin Leonard, Scott Verplank and Brett Wetterich.
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