Mercedes: Not exactly golf paradise apparently

It must be a bummer to have to go to Hawaii. Either that, or there really is such a thing as having too much money.

Imagine going to a tournament with no cut and a guarantee share of a $5.6 million purse among 35 players or so. The fact that it’s at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii isn’t a bad deal either, but apparently not good enough for the top four players in the world to play in the invitation-only Mercedes-Benz Championship this week (Jan. 8-11).

OK, I’ll give Tiger a pass on this one so he can further rehabilitate his knee. But he passed on the Mercedes last year, too, to spend more time with his young family. But No. 2 Sergio Garcia, third-ranked Phil Mickelson and No. 4 Padraig Harrington ? what gives?

Harrington and Garcia are Euros, so maybe I get that, although they routinely play all over the world. Phil’s just a four-hour plane ride (in his own plane) away. Only thing I can figure is that these guys just didn’t want to go back to work this week like the rest of us. They’re all skipping the Sony next week, too, by the way. We probably won’t be seeing any of these guys until the FBR Open at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course Jan. 26-Feb. 1. So far, Mickelson’s the only commitment among the top four for that one.