Australian hat-trick at Verizon Heritage?
IN: News | US PGA | Verizon Heritage (2007) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 11 Apr 2007
The Verizon Heritage event plays its traditional role as the follow up tournament to the Masters over the outstanding Harbour Town Golf Links at Hilton Head Island on the south east coast of South Carolina this week.
Australians are looking for their third consecutive win in the event with Peter Lonard and Aaron Baddeley winning in each of the past two years.
The course has played host to this event since its inception back in 1969, when Arnold Palmer got the tournament off to such a great start with a three shot victory over Bert Yancey and Richard Crawford.
Small greens, tight fairways and plenty of variety, including a nice balance of doglegs either way, are features of the course. Pete Dye designed the layout in 1969 with consultation from then rookie designer, Jack Nicklaus and Dye’s wife, Alice. The course underwent a refurbishment in 2000 adding size to some of the greens, much of which had been reduced by encroachment. The greens were originally sown in Tifdwarf Bermuda when constructed but in 2000 that was replaced by a then new Bermuda strain known as Tif Eagle. It remains one of the few courses in modern day tournament golf that still measures under 7000 yards, reflecting the integrity and longevity of the original design intent.
Despite its timing so soon after such an intense major championship, the event has again attracted a fine field including Furyk, Els and Ogilvy from the top ten and a host of other top class players including two who featured in the final stages of last week’s Masters battle, Zach Johnson and Justin Rose.
The 2007 Masters Champion has perhaps surprisingly, at this stage at least, committed to playing the event at a time where he might have been excused from the back slapping and scrutiny he will be under. A wise management team may well suggest he takes a week off to reflect on his achievement and to get on top of what will be a whirlwind of activity. That might yet be the case by Thursday but as this is written he is in the field. Only one of the last eight Masters Champions have played this event the following week although when he did, Vijay Singh finished third in 2000. Johnson has made the cut at this event in the two times he has played but has finished well back on both occasions.
Ernie Els has not won at Harbour Town but has finished inside the top ten on six of the eight occasions he has played the event. He will be keen to rebound from only his second missed cut at Augusta National in 14 attempts. His form prior to an 'upside down’ Masters was good enough for him to be able to be quickly back in contention.
Jim Furyk has been runner up in each of the last two years in this event, letting slip a share of the third round lead last year to Aaron Baddeley. His effort at Augusta last week might not have been what he and others had in mind but it was not a bad week either. This is a golf course that should suit Fury’s game down to the ground.
The name Davis Love and the Heritage Classic go hand in hand. This was the venue for Love’s first of 19 PGA Tour victories to date back in 1987 and was the first of five victories at this event. He finished runner up to Peter Lonard two years ago and in finishing 27th last week comes here with his game in reasonable enough shape to extend his amazing record.
Stewart Cink is another with an excellent record at Harbour Town, winning twice in the last seven years and his last round of 70 for 17th place at Augusta suggests his game is in pretty good shape.
Stephen Ames has a great chance this week. He has top tens in each of his last two starts at this event and is approaching some very good form. He was 24th at Augusta National but prior to that was beginning to contend.
Justin Rose played beautifully last week and his breakthrough victory on the USPGA Tour must surely be not far away. He has played this event on three previous occasions and has made the cut in all three. His best was when 7th on debut in 2004 but he is a player with much more PGA Tour experience behind him now.
Trevor Immelman and Tim Clark are among others who have good chances.
The Australians are here in force and Geoff Ogilvy who fell away late in round three last week might just bounce back this week. Ogilvy has played very well on occasions at this event including when third to Davis Love in 2003.
Nick O’Hern, after his battering last week at Augusta, might perform well on a golf course that should suit his game. The tight fairways and small greens are perfect for O’Hern’s game and for the man who finished 6th at Doral a few weeks ago, this should provide an opportunity to quickly put his first missed cut at August behind him.
The in form Aaron Baddeley has the pressure of being the defending champion but was playing well prior to Augusta. Peter Lonard’s game appears to be on the verge of something better than he has shown of late, Rod Pampling and John Senden are two Queenslanders with chances, Nathan Green is looking to get things back on track after a two week break, Stephen Leaney has improved a lot of late, while Steve Elkington, Mathew Goggin and Mark Hensby are all looking for improved showings.
The tournament has prizemoney of US$5.4 million.
