In the absence of Tiger Woods, Tom Pernice captured The International at Castle Pines, Colorado, on Sunday. And when Pernice attempts to regain the Buick Open title from a field including Pβdraig Harrington at Warwick Hills this week, the world number one will be missing again.

Woods, who was originally scheduled to play the Buick, has since decided to concentrate on preparing for the defence of the USPGA Championship in Atlanta next week.

The move has raised a few eyebrows in the US, given that he competed at Warwick Hills last year, when he was tied 11th behind Rocco Mediate before going on to capture the USPGA at Valhalla, albeit after a play-off against Bob May.

Though he carries the manufacturer's name on his golfbag, Woods is not under contract to play the four annual Buick-sponsored tournaments.

Meanwhile, in an event based on a decidedly loose variation of the Stableford system, Pernice displayed admirable tenacity in hanging on for his second American tour victory. As leader of the tournament after 36 and 54 holes, he added just a point to his total in the final round, finishing with 34 points for a one-point victory.

Pernice, who will be 42 next month, had to wait until the 1999 Buick Open for his tournament breakthrough. And he will be seeking a winner's cheque for $558,000 at Warwick Hills, to add to the $720,000 be collected on Sunday.