| Vienna, Austria 05.23.2006 | | | | betting fans to track the progress of |
| Although Austria did not qualify for | | | | their favorite teams. |
| the FIFA World Cup in Germany, the | | | | Â |
| National Team is still playing friendly | | | | Â |
| matches to give continuity to the | | | | Cialis Western Open |
| National squad and give opportunity to | | | | July 6th- 9th |
| young players to demonstrate their | | | | Cog Hill G&CC, Lemont, Illinois |
| skills in the international scenario. | | | | Live on XM 146/USA/ABC |
| One of those friendly matches will take | | | | Purse: $5,000,000 |
| place on May 23rd when they face Croatia | | | | Last Champion: Jim Furyk |
| in home soil, as part of the programmed | | | | The Cialis Western Open, conducted by |
| FIFA dates for the teams to prepare for | | | | the Western Golf Association, has a |
| the World Cup. | | | | history unparalleled by all but one golf |
| Austria was in group 6 of the European | | | | championship in the United States. First |
| zone, a very hard group that counted | | | | held in 1899, the Western Open is the |
| with the presence of England and | | | | oldest championship on the PGA TOUR and |
| Poland, which were the two, teams that | | | | the second oldest professional golf |
| qualified to Germany 2006. | | | | championship in the nation. Only the |
| Austria has a great canter of young | | | | U.S. Open, first conducted in 1895 by |
| players that given the continuity needed | | | | the United States Golf Association, is |
| might accomplish great things in the | | | | older. |
| future for their country. | | | | When the PGA TOUR professionals come to |
| Now other story awaits for Croatia a | | | | Chicago each year to compete in the |
| team that is qualified to the World Cup | | | | Cialis Western Open, they are following |
| and will use this match up against | | | | in the hallowed footsteps of golf's |
| Austria to give the final tune up to | | | | all-time greats. Past champions include |
| their squad before the World Cup Starts. | | | | golf's greatest legends, including Chick |
| This will be their third successive | | | | Evans, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Byron |
| appearance to the final stage of the | | | | Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold |
| tournament since they are an | | | | Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. The past two |
| independent country. Croatia finished | | | | decades have seen Tom Watson, Hale |
| on top of the qualifying round in group | | | | Irwin, Tom Weiskopf, Ben Crenshaw, Nick |
| 8 from the Europe zone. | | | | Price and Tiger Woods add their names to |
| In teams news Croatia’s coach | | | | the Western Open's J. K. Wadley Cup's |
| Zlatko Kranjcar announced on Friday an | | | | impressive roster of champions. |
| expected 24-man squad for the FIFA World | | | | Today, the Western Open is considered |
| Cup in Germany next month where he said | | | | the founding event of the PGA TOUR. Much |
| he hoped his team would reach the second | | | | has changed since 1899, including the |
| round at least. | | | | prize money. This year's 102nd Western |
| "I earlier said I would pick the players | | | | Open purse totals $5 million, with the |
| who carried the burden of qualifying so | | | | winner earning $900,000. In the Western |
| I've had a pretty clear picture of who | | | | Open's initial year, the total purse was |
| to choose for some time," Kranjcar told | | | | $150, with the winner earning $50. |
| a news conference. | | | | On last year's tournament Furyk , after |
| In the group stage Croatia faces Brazil, | | | | finishing second three times last year, |
| Australia and Japan and Kranjcar said | | | | including a devastating loss the |
| he saw his team progressing. "I can feel | | | | previous weekend, Furyk against all |
| a great team spirit in the squad and I | | | | Sportsbook odds answered Woods' charge |
| think we're well capable of doing it," | | | | with three straight birdies and hung on |
| he said. As we see the Croatian team is | | | | to win the Cialis Western Open. It was |
| very motivated toward the start of the | | | | his 10th PGA TOUR victory and the first |
| World Cup and is a team that can give | | | | since the 2003 Buick Open. |
| big surprises if they keep playing like | | | | After tapping in for a birdie, Furyk |
| they did in the qualifying round. | | | | took off his cap and shook hands with |
| Most sports books will have lines for | | | | third round co-leader Ben Curtis. Furyk |
| these friendly matches that might not be | | | | then turned and pumped his fists to the |
| as exciting as the World Cup matches | | | | cheering crowd before sharing a long hug |
| but still is a chance for the sports | | | | with caddie Fluff Cowan. |