Bob Hope Chrysler Classic

22 Jan 2004 - 25 Jan 2004
LaQuinta, California

Mike Weir Celebrates a Birdie at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
© Mark J. Terrill/AP

It feels great to come back to defend Mike’s first championship of 2003. We both have a lot of good memories from last year to draw on and hopefully get ourselves in contention again this year. Mike has been working very hard on his game the past week with his coach, Mike Wilson and is feeling really good about his game.

The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic is a 90-hole, 5-day tournament played at four courses in Palm Springs, California. I arrived here on the weekend to start preparing, so the extra few days will help in familiarizing ourselves with any changes that were made from last year. The Arnold Palmer Private Course is the host course for this event. The other courses in the rotation are Bermuda Dunes Country Club, Indian Wells Country Club and La Quinta Country Club. All four courses are in immaculate condition.

Generally out here in the desert, the courses tend to be old-fashioned, flat, and quite short. The par 5s are easily reachable and the par 4s are all short irons in for second shots. This sets up well for the many professionals, who tend to shoot 30-under-par at least over the five-day period. Mike finished at 30-under last year to win by two shots over Jay Haas.

The Bermuda Dunes and Indian Wells Country Club are beautiful, trouble-free courses. Assuming that the wind isn’t a factor, almost every hole sets up for a birdie. La Quinta Country Club is the most challenging course out of the three, with its tight, tree-lined fairways. The design of this course makes it important to hit the fairway, as it will be easy to get lost amidst the trees.

The PGA West Arnold Palmer Private Course is the host course and the one we will play two out of five rounds. This is a very good golf course, but with perfect conditions it also plays fairly easy, as evidenced by David Duval’s winning score of 59 in the final round in 1999.

For the first four rounds the professionals play with three amateurs each, which can be a very enjoyable experience and one that I am especially looking forward to this year. We are scheduled to play with a few of my all time favorite athletes. Roger Clemens the first round and Dallas Cowboys great, Troy Aikman on Thursday and tennis star, Michael Chang on Friday. It should be fun getting to know them after watching them compete in their respective sports for so many years. One thing the professionals will need to do is stay focused and be patient, as they are playing with celebrities and there will be some non golf fans in the gallery.

This is the start of three tournaments in a row for us, then taking a week off before Mike will be defending his 2003 Nissan Open Championship at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.

Thanks for reading.
Brennan