PGA Tour pulls the plug on The International

Pebble Beach, California - Lack of sponsorship and the absence of Tiger Woods has caused The International to lose its place on the PGA Tour schedule, tournament founder Jack Vickers said on Thursday.

A PGA Tour event since 1986, The International uniquely used a modified Stableford scoring system. Woods has skipped the event since 1999.

"We're now into an era where the marketplace out there is not the same," Vickers told a teleconference.

"It's been influenced by one outstanding, unbelievable player in the form of Tiger Woods. When he's playing, the (television) ratings are great, and when he isn't playing, the ratings aren't so hot.

"When we talk to potential sponsors, they call their advertising people and the next thing we know we are talking about ratings, and that makes it tough.

"The International just hasn't fitted into Tiger's schedule. But I have a theory on that. If we run the best show on the road in the future, he will be back."

Staged at one of the PGA Tour's most beautiful venues, the International was scheduled to be held at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, for the 22nd time from July 5-8.

Although Vickers was happy with that date, the timing was unlikely to attract several European players who have supported the tournament in the past.

The high-profile European Open takes place at the K Club in Ireland the same week, followed by the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and the British Open at Carnoustie.

"The European Tour scheduling had some effect," PGA Tour commissioner Tom Finchem said during the teleconference.

"The International has enjoyed the participation of the European players over the years, and the speculation that maybe there would be fewer of them certainly wasn't a positive.

"I'm not so sure it was a major factor, but it certainly wasn't a positive."

Dean Wilson won last year's International after edging out fellow American Tom Lehman at the second extra hole.

Greg Norman, Davis Love III (twice), Jose Maria Olazabal, Phil Mickelson (twice), Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen are among previous winners of the event.