By Greg Robertson
ESPN Golf Online
Sunday, September 24

Details
When	Thursday-Sunday
Course	LaCantera Golf Club, San Antonio, Texas
Par/Yardage	Par 70; 6,886 yards
Purse	$2.6 million (Winner: $468,000)
1999 champion	Duffy Waldorf
Tournament record	27-under 257 (Mike Souchak, 1955)
Television	Thursday-Friday: 4-6 p.m. (ESPN) Saturday: 5-7 p.m. ET (ESPN) Sunday: 5-7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

The tournament

	Hole by hole
	Hole	Par	Yards
	1	5	665
	2	4	448
	3	3	202
	4	4	444
	5	4	474
	6	3	162
	7	4	316
	8	4	361
	9	4	380
	Out	35	3452
	10	5	541
	11	4	427
	12	4	415
	13	3	142
	14	4	471
	15	4	446
	16	4	380
	17	3	186
	18	4	426
	In	35	3434
	Total	70	6886
	Key holes: The two toughest holes on the course are the par-4 12th and 15th. The 12th yielded just 45 birdies out of 454 rounds last year, while the 15th yielded just 51 birdies and 135 bogeys. Both are similar holes, with narrow fairways, long greens and big bunkers at the front left.

The trend of longer golf courses to challenge big hitters on the PGA Tour gets reversed this week at the Westin Texas Open.

LaCantera Golf Club has been reduced by 115 yards this year, taking it down to 6,886 yards and a par-70 format. Two par-5s were converted to par-4s, and for good reason.

Last year, the par-5 fifth hole was not only the easiest on the course, it was one of the easiest holes on the PGA Tour last season. The average score was slightly more than 4.2 on the hole, which yielded 245 birdies over four rounds of play.

This year, that hole has lost about 50 yards and been turned into a difficult, 474-yard par-4.

Just two par-5s remain on the course -- No. 1 and No. 10 -- keeping the big hitters from having an advantage down the stretch. The first hole is a monster at 665 yards, with nobody reaching that green in two. That leaves the 10th as the only potential eagle opportunity.

Most of the big names are staying away from this year's event, although Hal Sutton, Justin Leonard and Stewart Cink are in the field. But Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and David Duval are among those skipping the event, which last year lost the big names when it fell opposite the Ryder Cup.

The tournament is in its sixth year at LaCantera, the seventh San Antonio course to be used over the 78 years of play. Duffy Waldorf, who won in a playoff last year with Ted Tryba, will try for his third win in six years at LaCantera.

This is the last of four Texas stops this season on the PGA Tour, with Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth all hosting events in the spring. And with just six events remaining before the Tour Championship, many players in the field are trying to crack the top 30 to qualify for that field.

Other players in the field are those around No. 125 on the money list. That's the magic number players must reach to retain their playing cards and avoid Q-School in November.

Next week, the Tour heads to Georgia for the Buick Challenge, followed by a stop in Virginia for the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill.

A dozen players to watch
Stewart Cink: Playing for the first time in September, Cink has had an outstanding season. He's 13th on the money list, has a win at Harbour Town and eight top-10 finishes.

Brad Elder: The Texan had the best finish of his PGA Tour career last week with a tie for second at Pennsylvania. A two-time winner on the Nike Tour last year, Elder should carry some emotion returning to the state where he was a college standout.

Brent Geiberger: Injuries have slowed Geiberger this year, but he tied for eighth in his last start at the Air Canada and has four top-10 finishes in 2000. He was second here in 1997 and third last year.

Jay Haas: A two-time winner of this event in 1982 and 1993, Haas has played almost as well since the switch to LaCantera in 1995. He was second in both 1996 and 1998 and tied for fifth last year.

Tim Herron: The 2000 season has been a huge disappointment for Herron, but a return to the site of his second PGA Tour win in 1997 could be the medicine for his erratic game.

Jonathan Kaye: Kaye posted his best career finish last week with a tie for second at Pennsylvania. He is a streaky player, and that success last week should carry over this week. He is a birdie machine, but he makes a lot of mistakes as well with his aggressive play.

Justin Leonard: With the exception of three events, the year has been a bust for Leonard. But those three seconds have the Texas native in good position to make the Tour Championship. Second here in both 1995 and 1998.

Blaine McCallister: The Texan won this event in 1991 at Oak Hills. He has a pair of top-10 finishes this year, including a playoff loss to Carlos Franco in New Orleans.

Loren Roberts: The Boss of the Moss is coming off his eighth top-10 finish at Pennsylvania and his 12th consecutive cut. His chances at LaCantera are enhanced by the shorter course.

Hal Sutton: The 1998 champion is the biggest name in the field. He has top-10 finishes in half of his starts this year, including his past two events at the NEC and Canadian Open.

David Toms: Toms has played just five times since the first of July, but he has three top-10 finishes in that stretch -- including a tie for fourth at the British Open. Still searching for a win this year.

Duffy Waldorf: The season has been a bust for Waldorf, but he's won this event two of the five years it has been at LaCantera, including a playoff victory last year over Ted Tryba.