US Bank Championship sees Perry as favourtie
IN: News | US PGA | US Bank Championship (2005) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 20 Jul 2005
The PGA Tour heads to Milwaukee this week for the US Bank Championship, with several of those who challenged at last week's Open Championship at St Andrews racing back to be in action.
The Brown Deer Park Golf Course has been the venue here since 1994 when the event moved from its long time home of Tuckaway Golf Club in Franklin, just outside Milwaukee. It is one of the few Municipal courses hosting PGA Tour events.
The course was originally built in 1929 and designed by George Hanson but underwent changes in the early 1990's when Roger Packard and Andy North were involved in preparing it for the staging of a PGA Tour event. The course now measures 6760 yards and as such is one of the shortest on the PGA Tour.
The favourite is Kenny Perry who won here in 2003 and last year finished 7th after being just one back heading into the final day. That 7th placing was his worst here in his last five starts at this venue. Perry played well at St Andrews last week when 11th and has had a good year overall in 2005. I expect him to go close to winning.
Scott Verplank started here for the first time in 12 years in 2004 and finished 11th. He made a good start last week in Scotland but faded a little on the weekend. He is good enough to win here and his form suggest he will go close.
Fred Funk was runner up here a couple of years ago and was playing well prior to an opening round 77 last week which eventually cost him the chance of making the cut.
Tim Herron has been second and third here in recent years and although there has been nothing special in recent weeks, he has nevertheless played well.
Bart Bryant has performed reasonably well here in the last two years and any player capable of winning the Memorial Tournament is capable of winning this. He had a good debut at the Open last week, especially early, and is a chance here.
Jerry Kelly has played well here in the past in fact he has missed only one cut in his last ten starts at this venue. He is not having a great year by his recent standards but this might just be the event to get things headed in the right direction.
Bo Van Pelt has been threatening for much of the year to win on the PGA Tour and although he hasn't been quite a sharp as he was in May and June he is due to win soon.
Ben Crane threatened to win last week at the BC Open before finishing second and although this is a much stronger field and he has played here just the once, he seems well and truly over the drama he experienced at the Booz Allen and might just do okay.
Brett Quigley has a fine golf swing and is playing very solidly at present. He has a fine record at this layout including his second placed finish here last year.
Carlos Franco has played well enough in the past two weeks to suggest that if he does defend successfully here it will be no real surprise. He has won here twice and is playing no worse this year then at the same stage in 2004.
Jeff Sluman is another who seems to improve around here. He started well in Scotland last week but finished poorly. He had some good form earlier in the season however and as a previous winner here he might just get into the mood to do well.
Steve Allan, Steve Elkington, Stephen Leaney, Scott Hend, Paul Gow, Brad Hughes, Euan Walters and Michael Long are also listed as starters.
The event has prizemoney of US$3.8 million.
