Golf: Tour supporting cast get chance

Tiger Woods

With Tiger Woods and the rest of the big guns taking the week off following the US Masters, the PGA's supporting cast will have the spotlight when the Heritage Classic tees off today in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

The traditional follow-up to the year's first major, the Heritage has often suffered coming on the heels of the Masters and this year is no exception.

The US$5.2 million ($7.3m) tournament failed to attract any of the world's top 10 to the Harbour Town Golf Links and only three of the top 20, led by No 11 and champion Stewart Cink.

Masters champions Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Nick Faldo all have plaid jackets that go to the winner of the Heritage hanging in their closets.

However, after beating Chris DiMarco in a playoff at Augusta National on Sunday, Woods had no immediate interest in adding to his wardrobe.

Davis Love III has probably had the Heritage circled in his calendar since the end of last season.

The Heritage has provided Love with a regular pay packet throughout his career, the 41-year-old American having won the event five times (1987, 1991, 1992, 1998 and 2003).

A sixth victory would be worth US$900,000 to Love and would move him to joint second place behind Sam Snead for the most wins in a single event on the US PGA Tour. Snead won the Greater Greensboro Classic eight times from 1938 to 1965.

Australians Mark Hensby and Rod Pampling, who finished in a tie for fifth at Augusta, will head a strong international field that also includes Frenchman Thomas Levet, who parlayed a third round 68 into a 13th place Masters finish.

- REUTERS