Hyundai Team Matches: Event was created with Pelican Hill in mind

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT COAST - Since 1994, when the Diners Clubs Matches were

first played, forming a fitting conclusion to the golf year with all

three major tours represented, television producers had their yardage

sights focused on Pelican Hill Golf Club.

“We targeted Pelican Hill from the beginning,” said Terry Jastrow,

whose company produces the made-for-television event for ABC Sports.

“At the time, Pelican Hill (owned by the Irvine Co.) didn’t have an

appetite for it, so we moved it to PGA West (in La Quinta) and brought it

back last year and we’re glad we did.”

Jastrow, former president of Jack Nicklaus Productions, which was

purchased this year by Gaylord Entertainment, is a winner of seven Emmy

Awards, having produced some of the most popular events in golf,

including the relaunch of Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf.

But the creme de la creme of golf’s postseason, Jastrow felt, was the

two-player Ryder Cup format of the former Diners Club Matches, now the

Hyundai Team Matches. And the perfect setting was Pelican Hill, which

Jastrow called last year “Southern California’s version of Pebble Beach.”

And, now, after a title sponsorship change and one year under his belt

at Newport Coast, Jastrow is convinced the “three-ring circus” is here to

stay with the PGA Tour, Senior PGA Tour and LPGA Tour.

Whether it’s called a “silly season” event (by some in the media) or a

“second season” event (Jastrow and other producers), the Hyundai Team

Matches is “healthy and well,” Jastrow said Thursday in an exclusive

interview, before leaving for his Santa Monica office.

“Team match play is the best format in golf,” Jastrow said. “The whole

idea of calling it the silly season depends functionally on who you talk

to. Fred Couples has played terrifically in the second season (including

$2 million in the Skins Game) and always has great fun, as do many of the

others. You look at who plays in the events and you tell me there isn’t a

role for (a postseason).

“The fact is, there are a lot of people who enjoy it and have an

appetite for it among fans and players.”

In ‘94, Jastrow talked to renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio,

who designed Pelican Hill’s Ocean North and Ocean South courses and

introduced Jastrow to the land. Jastrow instantly became a believer in

the panoramic Pacific Ocean views and good December weekend television.

“As we were creating (the Diners Club Matches with the PGA Tour and

Jack Nicklaus), we wanted Pelican Hill from the beginning,” Jastrow said.

“Why? Because it’s a fabulous golf course and it can accommodate players

on all three tours. The event has a totally unique format, and, with the

PGA Tour, Senior PGA Tour and LPGA Tour all here, it’s like a three-ring

circus.”

The Hyundai Team Matches feature four, two-player teams from each of

the three major tours competing in three separate tournaments with a

total purse of $1.2 million (the same as last year, despite 2000 purse

increases across the board on the PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour).

There are 24 pros from the PGA Tour, Senior PGA Tour and LPGA Tour.

Defending Senior Tour champions Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson are the

event’s top headliners, while Annika Sorenstam (with partner Lori Kane)

and defending champions Juli Inkster and Dottie Pepper are the ladies’

marquee names. For tickets: call Ticketmaster at (877) 484-3014.

The weekend forecast includes temperatures in the 70s and no rain. ABC

isn’t scheduled to go on the air until 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for the

live, two-hour telecast, when the sun usually shines bright in Newport.

Looking to break away from the office and make an impetuous decision

this morning?

You might still make it for today’s Hyundai Pro-Am, which will start

at 9 a.m. Amateur spots are $6,000. You play with one of the 24 pros in

the Hyundai Team Matches.

Tickets for the Hyundai Matches are $25 for today’s pro-am, $35 for

competition Saturday and Sunday or $65 for a three-day pass.

About half of the pros were in town Thursday and played a practice

round at Pelican Hill.