PGA Tour heads to Florida for new look PODS event
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2007 PODS Championship | Preview | 07 Mar 2007
The USPGA Tour returns to the Tampa Bay area less than five months after it was last there for this same event, the US$5.3 million PODS Championship at the Copperhead Course at the Westin Innisbrook Resort. Now under a new naming rights sponsor, the tournament was known as the Chrysler Championship last year.
The juggling of dates to reposition the Players Championship to May and to accommodate the FedEx Cup series of events later in the year created an opening for this event in March. The new timing of the event will result in a new look golf course with much of the golf course oversown with Rye grass during the Winter months as the Bermuda grasses go through their dormant period. The greens have also been oversown with another winter grass, Poa Trivalis, to enhance the look of the regular Tifeagle. It should offer a greener looking golf course but the playing dynamics of what is already a highly regarded layout should not change too much.
The Copperhead layout was originally designed in 1972 by Chicago architect, Larry Pickard, but like so many courses of its era – especially those used for PGA Tour events – it has gone under the surgeon’s knife in recent years. It now measures 7340 yards.
The defending champion is the two time winner of the event, K.J. Choi, who won by four shots in October over Paul Goydos and Brett Wetterich. Choi also won in 2002 by seven shots so he clearly has a great feel for this layout.
Carl Pettersson won in 2005 and in 2004 Vijay Singh won by five after finishing runner up to Retief Goosen the previous year. Choi and Singh have therefore been the standouts in the event to date.
Singh has slipped to the number 9 player in the world after an indifferent start to the season. He began the year brilliantly with a fine win at the Mercedes Championship but since then he has been less than his normal consistent self. A return to Florida and a golf course he has had success on may be just the spark he needs.
Charles Howell III has not has much luck at this venue but the manner in which he has started 2007 suggests that things might improve this week.
K.J. Choi has played well enough already in 2007 for him to take up where he left off at this event five months ago. He played well on the Bermuda of Hawaii and although he has hardly been outstanding since, he has done sufficiently well for him to be a factor on a golf course he has dominated.
Trevor Immelman was 44th in this event in his only start last October and after such a good showing at the Accenture where he made the semi finals and eventually finished third he will arrive in Tampa buoyed by his recent form. Florida has not always been good to the South African but he is now amongst the elite of the game and could do well.
Camilo Villegas finished 31st in his only time in this event but it was clear when runner up last week that he loves being back in Florida where he was so successful while playing collegiate golf. He could do well once again after his near miss at Palm Beach Gardens.
Sergio Garcia will play this event for the first time in his career but as the third leading ranked player in the field he must be considered some sort of chance. He is not at his best at present however and it would be quite a surprise to turn things around from his current struggles.
Justin Rose played well at the Accenture and in several events in Florida last season. He must surely break through for a win before too long in the USA.
Stuart Appleby is one golfer who has enjoyed success in Florida and in Florida-like conditions elsewhere around the world. He played well in the Middle East earlier this year but in the two events back in the US he has struggled.
Other Australians in the field include John Senden, Peter Lonard, Nathan Green, Gavin Coles, Mathew Goggin, Mark Hensby and Stephen Leaney while Paul Gow is on the verge of making the field from an alternate position at present.
