Tiger Woods committed on Friday to play the Valspar Championship for the first time in his career. But it’s not the first time he’s competed at Innisbrook Resort.
A 20-year-old Woods teamed with 19-year-old Kelli Kuehne in the 1996 JCPenney Classic, a mixed-team event, on the Copperhead Course. The two shot 66-64-68 to finish third (Mike Hulbert and Donna Andrews won).
The format was: Four-balls (better-ball) in Rounds 1 and 3; foursomes (alternate shot) in Rounds 2 and 4. The third round was canceled so they played only one better-ball session.
Kuehne, at 5 feet, 3 inches, was the two-time reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, while Woods, at 6 feet, 1 inch, had recently turned professional and already notched two PGA Tour victories. Woods defeated Kelli’s brother, Trip, in the 1994 U.S. Amateur finals.
Here’s a full-length view of the above photo:
