Under-ranked Perry favourite at US Bank Championship
IN: News | US PGA | US Bank Championship (2007) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 18 Jul 2007
The US Bank Championship is the USPGA Tour’s back up event this week. As their leading players compete on the other side of the Atlantic, the remainder of the PGA Tour or at least those interested in playing in Milwaukee, take to the fairways of the Brown Deer Park Golf Course.
Brown Deer Park is an original George Hanson design built in 1929 but re-developed in 1993 by Andy North and Roger Packard. The tournament has been played here since 1994 when it 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 and is recognised as one of the leading public courses in the USA.
The defending champion is the great golfing craftsman Corey Pavin, who found a way to bring his shotmaking skills to the fore last year on a golf course that has typically reward his style of play. Interestingly Pavin is playing at a similar level to when he arrived here twelve months ago and a repeat performance would not be a complete surprise.
Kenny Perry is not playing the Open Championship this year as he is not qualified due to his world ranking of 108. As most would appreciate this is a ranking well below the quality player that Perry is and he has found the sort of form in recent weeks to suggest he will be a big factor this week. Importantly Perry has won on this golf course and given that he is closing in on winning form he is a great bet to win this week.
Tim Clark has suffered this year from injury issues and like Perry he will miss the Open Championship for the first time in several years. Clark showed last week at the John Deere that he is close to winning form and on a golf course that should suit his game he has a good chance to finally win his first USPGA Tour event.
Brian Gay appears to be close to a win after several good weeks. He has put together some very good rounds at this course and like Clark is on the verge of his first USPGA Tour win.
Troy Matteson is playing well in recent weeks and the 27-year-old showed on the Nationwide Tour that once he finds form, he retains it. It will be Matteson’s first time at this event but his chances in this weakened field appear good especially following his third placed finish last week.
Nathan Green returned from a break from the PGA Tour to lead the John Deere Classic into the final round last week before finishing third. Green played this event last year for the first time and finished 9th and on that basis must be some sort of chance this week.
Other Australasians in the field include Stephen Leaney, Andrew Buckle, Matthew Goggin, Steve Elkington, Gavin Coles, the talented and improving Michael Sim, Paul Gow, Steve Allan, Jarrod Lyle and New Zealander Craig Perks.
