MJMANDALAY
02-08-2007, 05:17 PM
PEBBLE BEACH, California (Reuters) - The International, a PGA Tour event since 1986 which uniquely used a modified Stableford scoring system, has lost its place on the tournament schedule due to lack of sponsorship.
Tournament founder Jack Vickers said the absence of world number one Tiger Woods from the event since 1999 had been a significant factor.
"There is an outstanding player in the form of Tiger Woods. When he is playing, the (television) ratings are great and when he is not playing the ratings are not so hot," Vickers said during a teleconference call.
"When we talk to potential sponsors, they call their advertising people and the next thing we know we are talking about ratings, and that makes it tough. The International just hasn't fitted into Tiger's schedule," he said.
Staged at one of the PGA Tour's most beautiful venues, the International was scheduled to be held at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, for the 22nd time from July 5-8.
The PGA Tour announced on Wednesday it had been removed from the schedule, effective immediately.
Dean Wilson won last year's International after edging out fellow American Tom Lehman at the second extra hole.
Greg Norman, Davis Love III (twice), Jose Maria Olazabal, Phil Mickelson (twice), Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen are among previous winners.
Tournament founder Jack Vickers said the absence of world number one Tiger Woods from the event since 1999 had been a significant factor.
"There is an outstanding player in the form of Tiger Woods. When he is playing, the (television) ratings are great and when he is not playing the ratings are not so hot," Vickers said during a teleconference call.
"When we talk to potential sponsors, they call their advertising people and the next thing we know we are talking about ratings, and that makes it tough. The International just hasn't fitted into Tiger's schedule," he said.
Staged at one of the PGA Tour's most beautiful venues, the International was scheduled to be held at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, for the 22nd time from July 5-8.
The PGA Tour announced on Wednesday it had been removed from the schedule, effective immediately.
Dean Wilson won last year's International after edging out fellow American Tom Lehman at the second extra hole.
Greg Norman, Davis Love III (twice), Jose Maria Olazabal, Phil Mickelson (twice), Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen are among previous winners.