It has long been one of golf's most unique tournaments. This weekend, the International has morphed into something even more.
Call it a golf marathon: Today, 63 players will compete in a one-day, 36-hole endurance test through the tall pines, thin air and steep hills of the Rocky Mountains in Castle Rock, Colo., with a $900,000 check waiting for the winner.
Cameron Beckman was in the best position after the second round Saturday, making five birdies and an eagle to hold the lead with 23 points.
Just one point back were Billy Mayfair, Charles Howell and Brandt Jobe.
But with two rounds to go, and the modified Stableford scoring system able to change things dramatically in the span of one swing, it's hard to say who's in the best position.
Most likely, it will be the players who are in the best shape.
"We're not out there hitting people and tackling people, but walking 36 holes on this golf course is not easy," Howell said. "I think it's just as important to physically stay strong as it is mentally."
Also in the hunt were David Toms, who scored 12 points to bring his total to 18; Retief Goosen, who scored 12 points to get to 17; and Phil Mickelson, who had a 5-footer for eagle on 17, but three-putted to wind up with par. He still scored 14 points to finish with 17.
"I'm actually going to go get a workout in, and try to build up some stamina for tomorrow," Mickelson said before he left the course.
Under the Stableford system, players get eight points for a double eagle — there have been three in the 20-year history of the tournament — five for eagles, two for birdies, none for pars and lose one point for a bogey.
"I love the format, and I'm going to try to make a run tomorrow," said Mickelson, who won three tournaments before the Masters, but has been slumping since.
The last time a PGA Tour event ended with a 36-hole finish on Sunday was in September 2003, at the 84 Lumber Classic, when Beckman held the lead going into the last day. He finished fifth.
"My back was killing me," Beckman said.
He knows that course was an easy stroll compared to Castle Pines, a 7,619-yard layout at an elevation of 6,300 feet. Rain washed out play Thursday, forcing PGA Tour officials to try to cram four rounds into three days. To do it, they reduced the cut to 60 players — counting ties, the final number was 63 — and decided to play 36 holes today.
3M CHAMPIONSHIP: At Blaine, Minn., Tom Purtzer shot a 3-under 69 to take a three-stroke after two rounds of the 3M Championship at the TPC of the Twin Cities. Purtzer, who opened with tournament record-tying 9-under 63, moved to 12-under 132 in chasing his second Champions Tour victory in 17 months.
Five players are tied for second at 9 under: Lonnie Nielsen (68), Bruce Lietzke (71), Craig Stadler (67), David Eger (68) and Hajime Meshiai (66). Defending champion Tom Kite is in a five-player logjam at 8 under after a second-round 69.
U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR: At Roswell, Ga., Morgan Pressel and Venezuela's Maru Martinez won semifinal matches to reach the final round of U.S. Women's Amateur Championship. The finalists face 36 holes of match play today at Settindown Creek Course. Pressel, 17, beat Angela Park, a high school senior from Torrance, Calif., 3 and 1. Pressel, who has asked the LPGA to allow her to turn pro before her 18th birthday next May, played the two back-nine par-5s at 3 under.