Compaq Classic Preview

Carlos Franco defends his first PGA Tour
title at the Compaq Classic of New Orleans,
fully expecting to improve upon his first Tour
season. Heading into this week, Franco has
four top-10 finishes in 10 starts, as well as
earnings of $565,717, 25th on the money list.

When Franco arrived in Louisiana last year,
he had two top-10 finishes to show for his eight
previous starts. His two-stroke victory over
Steve Flesch and Harrison Frazar gave the 33-
year-old rookie a variety of additional things
he can point to with pride:

First rookie to win on Tour since Gabriel
Hjertstedt of Sweden (1997 B.C. Open).

Lowest winning score – 269 – recorded at
English Turn G&CC, topping Brad Faxon’s 272 in 1997.

First South American to win on Tour since Roberto De Vicenzo in Houston
in 1968.

His Compaq Classic victory had the Paraguayan well on his way to an 11th-place money-list finish (featuring another victory at the Greater Milwaukee Open) worth $1,864,584. For all his efforts, Franco was named 1999 Rookie of the Year by his peers.

English Turn course designer Jack Nicklaus, who last played in New Orleans in 1991 (when he tied for 14th in the USF&G Classic), joins son Gary in this week’s field.

The 62nd Compaq Classic of
New Orleans will be played this week at English Turn G&CC. The
first of the New Orleans PGA Tour events was held in 1938, when
Harry Cooper defeated Harold McSpaden by four strokes at City
Park GC.

CARLOS GOES DOUBLE: Not only did Carlos Franco win the
1999 Compaq Classic of New Orleans, he went on to capture the
Greater Milwaukee Open. With the two victories, Franco became
only the eighth rookie to win twice since 1960 and the first since
Tiger Woods won two in 1996. For his efforts, Franco was voted
Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour by his peers.

CHARITY: The Classic Foundation has donated more than $3
million to charity, including a record $1 million in 1999. The main
benefactor for charitable funds raised by the Compaq Classic of
New Orleans is the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Dennis Paulson shot
a 10-under-par 62 in the second round in 1994,
the lowest 18-hole score at the PGA Tour
event. Chip Beck’s 132 total in 1992 is the
lowest 36-hole score. Scott McCarron had a
202 total in 1996 for the 54-hole record. Beck’s
262 in 1988 at Lakewood CC is the tournament
record, while Carlos Franco’s 269 in 1999 is
the lowest winning score at English Turn.

LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: v When
Scott McCarron won the 1996 Compaq Clas-sic
of New Orleans by five strokes, it was the
largest margin of victory in the history of the
PGA Tour event.

PLAYOFFS: There have been seven playoffs to
decide a champion of the Compaq Classic of
New Orleans. Since the PGA Tour event moved
to English Turn in 1989, two playoffs have been needed. In 1991,
Ian Woosnam defeated Jim Hallet on the second extra hole. In
1995, Davis Love III defeated Mike Heinen on the second extra
hole.

HIGHEST WINNING SCORE: The highest winning score in
tournament history is 281 by Mike Standly in 1993.

BECK GOES REAL LOW: When Chip Beck won the Compaq
Classic of New Orleans in 1988, he shot a 26-under-par 262. The
26-under-par ranks as third among PGA Tour records for the
most strokes under par.

A PERFECT TREVINO: The last
player to win a PGA Tour event
with no bogeys over 72 holes
was Lee Trevino, when he won
the 1974 Greater New Orleans
Classic with a score of 267.

HONOUR ROLL OF CHAMPIONS: Eight of the last 10 champions
of the Compaq Classic of New Orleans have been a member of
either a Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup team. The eight are David
Frost, Ian Woosnam, Chip Beck, Ben Crenshaw, Davis Love III,
Brad Faxon, Lee Westwood and Carlos Franco.