Daly's ready to tee it up in Utah

LEHI — Former British Open and PGA champion John Daly will headline the field at this year's Champions Challenge golf tournament set for Monday and Tuesday at Thanksgiving Point Golf Club.

Daly will team with PGA Tour regular Pat Perez in the annual scramble tournament begun by Johnny Miller five years ago. This year's tournament, which features nine two-man teams, is being sponsored by Trend Micro. It was rescheduled from its usual June date because of conflicts some of the participants had after the U.S. Open.

"He's a huge gallery draw, besides Tiger (Woods) I don't know who is bigger," said Miller of Daly. "He's also bringing his band to the dinner (Monday night) and should be quite entertaining."

Two top Senior Tour players who couldn't make it to the Uniting Fore Care Classic at Park City in August — Fuzzy Zoeller and Hubert Green — will be playing together. It's the second appearance for Zoeller and the first for Green, whose son lives in Utah County.

"I've told my sons to play like that guy," said Miller, referring to Zoeller. "He plays quickly and he enjoys the game."

A late addition to the tournament is former U.S. Open champion Steve Jones, who will team with Bobby Casper, who teamed with his father, Billy, to win the initial Challenge. Bobby was slated to compete with his father again, but Billy won't be able to play because of a sore hip.

Most of the rest of the golfers have played in the tournament before, including defending champions Bruce and Joseph Summerhays.

Craig and Kevin Stadler won the event in 1999, while Dave and Dave Stockton Jr. won the tournament in 2000 Rounding out the field are Hale and Steve Irwin, Andy and John Miller Jr. and host Johnny Miller and his son Scott.

Johnny Miller called the Irwins the favorites because of the way the elder Irwin has dominated the Senior Tour this year. He's coming off a win at the Turtle Bay Championship in Hawaii last week, his fourth victory of the year.

On Monday the professionals will play in a pro-am starting at 1 p.m.

Then on Tuesday, the main event will be played at 10 a.m. with the nine teams vying for the $100,000 first prize. Also on Tuesday, Johnny Miller will give a golf clinic on the Thanksgiving Point driving range at 9 a.m.

Tickets can be purchased at SmithTix or at the Thanksgiving Point clubhouse. Youth 16 and under are free.

Champions Challenge

At Thanksgiving Point Golf Club in Lehi

Monday

8 a.m. — Champions Challenge Amateur Tournament

1 p.m. — Champions Challenge Pro-Am,

7:30 p.m. — Dinner and Charity Auction, Salt Lake Marriott

Tuesday

9 a.m. — Johnny Miller Golf Clinic

10 a.m. — Champions Challenge Tournament