news-record.com

GREENSBORO -- For years, Wyndham Championship officials have quietly lamented their hot August date, a week doubly cursed because it directly followed the PGA Championship.

But they also held out hope that, while the date would scare away most of the game's hottest players, it could also serve as a opportunity for others.

That happened Friday evening when Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott -- two of golf's bigger stars -- made eleventh-hour commitments to play in next week's Wyndham at Sedgefield Country Club.

Garcia, No. 6 in the latest world rankings, is the highest-ranked golfer to play here since the tournament moved from its fall slot to August three years ago. It will also be a homecoming of sorts for him. Garcia's first professional golf tournament came on the Nike Tour, now known as the Nationwide, in 1998 at Sedgefield. He was 18 years old and finished third.

Scott was No. 4 in the world as recently as two years ago before struggling this season and tumbling to No. 46. Still, he's regarded as one of the game's young guns.

To say that tournament director Mark Brazil was giddy Friday night is like saying Tiger Woods is a pretty good golfer. Both are accurate statements but fail to do each justice.

"Sergio and Adam -- that's rock-star status," Brazil said. "I couldn't be more happy. I mean, I was happy with our field before today, but now I'm ecstatic."

The additions of Garcia and Scott couldn't have come at a better time for Wyndham officials who are hoping to maintain the momentum from last year, when Zach Johnson and Vijay Singh showed up. Garcia and Scott join a field that includes four other top 50 golfers, including U.S. Open champ Lucas Glover.

Brazil has always held out hope that an August date could work to Wyndham's benefit. Golfers hoping to find their lost games could use the tournament to tune their games before the FedEx Cup playoffs, which begin in two weeks. Garcia and Scott certainly fit that bill. Both have played poorly in recent weeks and missed the cut at Hazeltine Friday.

"Sometimes the date works against us, but clearly this is a good example of it working for us," Brazil said.

Charles Howell III and 2004 U.S. Amateur champ Ryan Moore also committed Friday, the deadline for deciding.

Garcia and Scott's commitments were tempered somewhat by the intrigue swirling around the Wyndham's biggest star: Will injured John Daly play next week?

Daly, who withdrew from the PGA Championship after Thursday's first round, told Wyndham officials Friday he'll be in Greensboro and give it his best. But his best in recent weeks has left something to be desired. He suffered back spasms during his opening round at Hazeltine -- the result, he said, of shedding more than 80 pounds in the past four months.

Two weeks ago, he shot an 88 at the Buick Open, a round that included a 51 on the back nine. At the time, Daly said he was considering walking away from the game, so what he does next week at Sedgefield is anyone's guess.

"I think he's trying to find out where he is mentally and physically," Brazil said. "He told me he'll be here and give it his best. I know he'll do what he can."

Contact Robert Bell at 373-7077 or robert.bell@news-record.com