Teeing up for a big season on the links // Tournaments, new courses combine to make it special

By Chicago standards, the 1998 golf season wasn't anythingspecial. The lack of the usual big events made it the quietest yearfor golfers here since 1987.

That's not the case this year. One of the world's biggestchampionships is coming, a number of new course openings are on theschedule, and the old standby tournaments and courses haveextraordinary seasons ahead.

Here are 18 things you should know about the golf season that'sabout to unfold in and around Chicago:1. The 81st annual PGA Championship promises to be will be, byfar, the highlight of the year. The Aug. 12-15 event at MedinahCountry Club will be the last major golf championship of the century,and it …