February 11-14, 1999 Defending Champion: Scott Simpson Purse: $2.6 million Host course: Torrey Pines CC Where: San Diego, California

Simpson set for title defence at Buick Invitational

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego native Scott Simpson is back to defend his title at the $2.7 million Buick Invitational, which starts Thursday at the Torrey Pines Country Club.

In addition to a $486,000 first prize, the tournament also offers a final chance for players to qualify for the upcoming Match Play Championship, the first event in the World Golf Championships series.

Simpson became the third golfer from his home city in six years to capture this event last season when he beat Skip Kendall with a birdie on the first playoff hole. The stellar performance was one of only eight tournaments out of 20 in which Simpson made the cut and the victory was his first in five years.

Last year's event was not an average one for Simpson or any other golfer as San Diego suffered a rare plague of rain that shortened the tournament to 54 holes before the playoff. Simpson and Kendall finished at 12-under-par 204.

Simpson rallied from eight strokes back in the final round, matching the PGA's largest comeback since 1970. At age 42, he also became the oldest player to win this tournament since Paul Harney in 1972.

San Diego natives Phil Mickelson and Craig Stadler won this event in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Mickelson, who finished second to Davis Love III in 1996, failed to defend his title at last weekend's rain-shortened Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, finishing tied for 21st. Stadler finished third last week and is in search of his first PGA title since the 1996 Nissan Open.

The Tour's hottest player, money leader David Duval, is skipping the tournament. Duval tops the PGA money list with $1,091,900, well ahead of Jeff Sluman, who has picked up $624,270. But Sluman could pass Duval by winning the tournament.

Players will split the first two rounds over Torrey Pines' 7,000-yard South Course and the 6,592 North Course, both of which are par-72 layouts. The third and final rounds will be played on the South Course.

The top 64 players in the Official World Golf Rankings released next Monday will qualify for the $5 million Match Play Championship, which features a $1 million payout to the winner and $25,000 for first-round losers. Among those on the bubble are No. 60 Paul Azinger, who is sitting out this week, No. 61 Steve Pate and No. 63 Michael Bradley. Both Pate and Bradley will be competing at Torrey Pines.

Three other events being played this week will count toward the world rankings. Eduardo Romero, ranked 62nd, No. 65 Nick Faldo, No. 66 Robert Karlsson and No. 67 Per-Ulrik Johansson all are playing in the Dubai Desert Classic on the European PGA Tour. Other events counting this week are the Ericsson Masters in Melbourne, Australia and the South African Masters.