Woods all the rage at Buick Open
IN: News | US PGA | Buick Open (2005) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 26 Jul 2005
The USPGA Tour hits Grand Blanc in Michigan this week, and hour or so north west of Detroit and a township with a population of 30,000. Despite the small population, the venue has managed to sustain a tournament since 1958 when it was first played at the Warwick Hills Country Club, thanks mainly to the support of the local automobile manufacturer, Buick.
It is the link with Buick that will add further gloss to the event this week when Tiger Woods plays the tournament for the 7th time in his now nine season professional career. Woods turned professional not long after this event in 1996 and in his first visit here in 1997 he finished 8th and has only once been outside the top ten in those seven starts. He won the event in 2002 by four shots and the following year finished second to Jim Furyk. Woods' commitment to play here no doubt comes as a result of his commercial association with Buick but also because it fits in well with his scheduling leading into the PGA at Baltusrol in two weeks time.
The course at the Warwick Hills Country Club is originally a James Gilmore Harrison design opened in 1958, but ten years later Joe Lee set about a major redesign. Lee originally worked with the famed Dick Wilson but he completed some very well regarded courses, including this, on his own following the death of Wilson.
Woods arrives here no doubt excited following his victory at St Andrews and with an enviable record here, he is the man to beat.
Last year Vijay Singh became the first two time winner of the event since Tony Lema's back to back wins in 1964 and 1965 when he edged out John Daly. He played well for 5th at the Open and has been in amazingly consistent form prior. Surely he will challenge Tiger this week.
Jim Furyk was 6th here last year not long after returning from injury but did win in 2003. He did not have a good Open Championship but his form prior was very good and back on a course that perfectly fits the Furyk game, he should bounce back.
Scott Verplank has been all round the mark of late and his runner up placing last week indicates that he is close to picking up his first win since 2001. He has won here previously, albeit seventeen years ago, but has often played well in the interim.
Billy Mayfair has made his last ten cuts this season and is in fine form at present. Like Verplank he has won here previously and might be one for longer odds.
Chris DiMarco has been second here on two occasions of late but his recent form is not as good as it was earlier in the season.
Sean O'Hair seems capable of anything in his rookie season and now that he has won already he has no fear of doing so again. His 15th place at the Open was very good on debut.
Geoff Ogilvy was second here two years ago and has the added impetus of his great finish at the Open Championship when 5th.
Jeff Sluman seems to be approaching better form and has a good solid record here over a long period of time. He was 4th last week and was 3rd at the Memorial six weeks ago.
One for longer odds may be Woody Austin, who boasts a good record here including his win in 1995 and who is playing well enough to continue that trend this week.
Of the Australasians outside of Ogilvy, Steve Elkington looks to be getting back to his best which is of course very good. He was 5th last week, his best finish in three years.
Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby, Steve Allan, Richard Green, Rod Pampling, Brendan Jones, Stephen Leaney, Scott Hend, Paul Gow, Bradley Hughes, Euan Walters, Craig Perks and Michael Long are also here.
The tournament is worth US$4.6 million.
