SBS begins intriguing PGA Tour season
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 SBS Championship | Preview | 07 Jan 2010
It may have a new name but the SBS Championship will once again be the event which brings together the exclusive group of players who won on the PGA Tour in the past twelve months. SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System) has signed on for ten years, taking over from Mercedes who were involved for a total of 16 years.
The 2010 PGA Tour gets underway with the now time honoured event, first played in 1953 in Las Vegas and since played under a number of guises and at several venues, the first of two events in Hawaii before the Tour heads to the West Coast for the Bob Hope Classic.
Much is at stake this season on the PGA Tour. With the return of Tiger Woods a complete unknown at this stage then this event provides an interesting litmus test to see just how the season might shape without him. Not that he is a regular in this event but the interest in the game might be determined to some extent by the reaction of golf fans to this season opener.
Geoff Ogilvy defends the title he won by six shots last year after leading all the way although there were occasions during the final round where the victory appeared hardly as clear-cut as the final margin suggested it might be. Anthony Kim closed within one through eight holes after Ogilvy had taken a six shot lead into the final round but when he holed a lengthy eagle putt at the 9th Ogilvy kicked clear once again and eventually cruised to victory.
In the absence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson for various and – in the case of Woods – obvious reasons, the favourite is expected to be the world number three Steve Stricker Stricker finished runner up in the event in 2008 after being beaten in a playoff by Daniel Chopra.
Like many in this field much will depend on how they have gotten over a few weeks break and the festivities of Christmas and New Year but Stricker should acquit himself well once again.
With Woods and Mickelson having won ten events between them in 2009, only 28 players will tee it up this week, seven playing the event for the first occasion after breakthrough wins on the PGA Tour in 2009.
Ogilvy turned around a rather ordinary record at Kapalua with his win last year. His form late in 2009 was a little unpredictable but few would be surprised if he was to win again. At his last start at the Australian PGA Championship he finished 7th after two starts earlier finishing 4th in Dubai.
Zach Johnson finished the 2009 season off well after a great start which saw him put together a fine weekend in this event and then a win at the Sony the following week. He has good credentials for another good start to the season this week.
Sean O’Hair finished 4th in this event last year and played well late in the season in 2009. His win at Quail Hollow last season stamped him as a player of the highest class and if he is tuned enough to play well this early in the season then he has a great chance.
Over the years Stephen Ames has shown a capacity to play well in Hawaii and Florida conditions and certainly when the wind blows. He won at his last official start when winning in Orlando late in November and with an impressive 3rd place finish at his last start in this event in 2008 he could continue his success on Bermuda greens.
Nathan Green is the only other Australian aside from Ogilvy to play the event courtesy of his great win in Canada last year. He struggled late in 2009 and much will depend on how he has enjoyed his brief break from tournament golf over New Year as to whether he can do well in his debut in this event.
Without Woods and or Mickelson the event loses a little although as mentioned earlier neither have been regular attendees in recent seasons. In their absence however, the door is open for another player to get his season off to a good start and set the early tone for 2010.
