Wachovia Championship

Since its inception in 2003, the Wachovia Championship has quickly been established as one of the PGA Tour schedule’s second-cut of tournaments, just behind the four majors — The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship.

Held in Charlotte, N.C., on the first weekend of May, a star-studded field always shows up ready to compete after recovering from the post-Masters Tournament hangover of late April. Players are done second-guessing what went wrong in an attempt to capture a green jacket at Augusta and can focus on winning the champion’s royal blue blazer at the Wachovia Championship.

This weekend, the event tees off for the sixth time on the 7,442-yard, Par-72 course at Quail Hollow Club. The best players in the world — excluding an injured Tiger Woods — will contend for $6.4 million, including a $1,152,000 winner’s share.

Last year, the Wachovia Championship made an early week splash by pairing Tiger with North Carolina native Michael Jordan during the pro-am competition.

“It was a no-brainer,” said Wachovia CEO Ken Thompson, of the pairing. “It was great for Charlotte and I think it was great for Wachovia. … It was sort of rarified air.”

Then, the tournament with a major championship atmosphere watched as Woods went head-to-head with rival Vijay Singh in an always entertaining pairing on Saturday. Finally, Tiger posted a 13-under 275 for a two-shot victory over Steve Stricker on Sunday — winning the crystal trophy and wearing his first royal blue blazer in Charlotte.

“Over the course of my career, I’ve won a few tournaments here and there, and it’s been nice. But this one, considering the field and the golf course and the conditions, I’m ecstatic to have won here,” said a humble Tiger, following his victory at last year’s Wachovia Championship.

Unfortunately, Woods will not be able to defend his title after undergoing successful surgery on his left knee two weeks ago.

Despite missing Tiger, this year’s field does include 19 of the top 25 players on the Official World Golf Rankings, including No. 2-ranked Phil Mickelson, who has finished in the Top-10 in three of the four Wachovia Championships he has played, including a tie for third place last year.

Former champions Jim Furyk (2006), David Toms (2003) and Singh (2005) will each attempt to become the tournament’s first two-time winner.

Singh has arguably the best track record of any player at the Wachovia Championship — with a win in 2005 and a runner-up finish in 2003. Vijay is also one of only two players, along with Kevin Sutherland, who has never missed a cut in Charlotte since 2003.

At least some of Singh’s success can be attributed to the major championship feel, which inevitably causes the world’s best to rise toward the top of the leaderboard.

“It’s incredible. I mean, the golf course is so good,” said Singh, after winning in 2005. “All they need to do is grow rough over here and it would be a U.S. Open golf course.”

The Wachovia Championship will be televised by GOLF Channel (3:00-6:00 p.m. ET) on Thursday and Friday before CBS (3:00-6:00 p.m. ET) takes over the weekend coverage.