PGA Tour makes a Tucson showing

Let it be known that PGA Tour sensation Phil Mickelson is recognized as public enemy No. 1 for breaking that law.

Mickelson, a 1992 graduate of ASU, and the rest of the PGA Tour are in Tucson this week for the Tucson Chrysler Classic.

Mickelson is the two-time defending champion, so he certainly holds full ownership rights to the tournament trophy. The former collegiate All-American has won the tournament three times overall. He won the tournament as an amateur in 1991.

Tournament play begins today at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa.

Mickelson said that he hopes his past success in Tucson will continue into this year's tournament.

"I guess (the victory here in) 1991 launched my career," Mickelson said. "I've got a lot of fond memories of Tucson."

The 1997 installment of the Classic should be a hotly contested event, despite the absence of some of the sports bigger names like Greg Norman and Tiger Woods, who chose to skip some of the early season tournaments in favor of rest.

The field does include a number of the top players such as John Daly, Payne Stewart, Jesper Parnevik and UA graduates Jim Furyk and David Berganio.

Berganio said that this week will be a relaxing outing on a course that he is very familiar with thanks to his time at Arizona.

"I like this course," said Berganio of the par-72, 7,148-yard layout. "I've just got to keep it loose."

The 18th hole is sure to be a focal point of all the players this weekend, since it was ranked as the toughest hole to play in last year's tournament.

The par-4, 465-yard hole has been characterized as one of the toughest finishing holes on the PGA Tour. Players must avoid water off the tee while placing themselves in good position to hit an approach shot into a green that is well-protected by bunkers.

Mickelson said that the pressure of playing the 18th hole is one of the strongest motivating factors.

"That's what makes it so much fun," he said. "You are standing on the 18th with a one shot lead, and you got water right and water left and all you can do is pipe one. You just got to hit it solid down the middle."