Formerly known as the Anheuser Busch Golf Classic, this event was moved forward from July to September in 1997 and length has since played a more important role than accuracy since. The classic examples have been David Duval who moved his career to a new level in this tournament in 1997 when it was the first of three consecutive victories and then followed it with victory here again in 1998 and 8th in 1999 and Barry Cheesman whose length has been instrumental in his 3rd [1998] and 4th [1999] place finishes here. This would appear strange on a course measuring just 6,800 yards and with just 3 par-fives, reachable for most, but good and powerful ball-strikers have prospered more than most on this course in September.
The greens see a return to Bentgrass surfaces this week, so players who have competed in both the last two tournaments on the Bermuda strain may find the transition a little harder, but with the greens being particularly small this week, it will be not that decisive a factor. Notable players who have very good long-term records on this course are Ted Tryba [average 69.50 from 26 rounds], Scott Hoch [69.52 from 70 rounds], Scott Verplank [69.64 from 26 rounds] and Curtis Strange [70.09 from 77 rounds, despite an opening 82 last year]. Curtis Strange is particularly noteworthy in that he actually lives on the course and has his own equivalent to Arnie's Army, "Strange's Navy", which is almost as bad as "Funk's Punks"!
The top-ranked this week is David Duval and by a merry mile. His record on this course is exemplary - he is yet to record a round over par at Kingsmill - and it was an extremely impressive recovery from injury last week. There can be no doubts about his freshness and in a somewhat lackluster field he is certainly worth the 5/1 currently on offer. A second player to watch is Scott Hoch. Naturally, this would be an e/w play rather to win outright
but he has finished 2nd and 5th in his last two tournaments and has a great record in this event, be it in July or September: he is a former winner of this tournament and has not finished worse than 24th here since 1992.
Will wait until tee-times are known until making final choices, but two more players are worthy of note this week as well; Scott Verplank and Robert Allenby. Verplank's long-term record has already been mentioned and now that his long-term health problems have been successfully addressed, which have resulted in a series of top-10 finishes recently, he again looks good for a place finish. Robert Allenby's record on this course is also impressive - 17th and 13th in the last two years - and has two wins already this term and the best stats bar Duval in this field. With inflated odds on them both because of Duval's return to form, the place finish could be a payout. Still think Duval will win this at will.
Back tomorrow with final outright and matchup plays.
The greens see a return to Bentgrass surfaces this week, so players who have competed in both the last two tournaments on the Bermuda strain may find the transition a little harder, but with the greens being particularly small this week, it will be not that decisive a factor. Notable players who have very good long-term records on this course are Ted Tryba [average 69.50 from 26 rounds], Scott Hoch [69.52 from 70 rounds], Scott Verplank [69.64 from 26 rounds] and Curtis Strange [70.09 from 77 rounds, despite an opening 82 last year]. Curtis Strange is particularly noteworthy in that he actually lives on the course and has his own equivalent to Arnie's Army, "Strange's Navy", which is almost as bad as "Funk's Punks"!
The top-ranked this week is David Duval and by a merry mile. His record on this course is exemplary - he is yet to record a round over par at Kingsmill - and it was an extremely impressive recovery from injury last week. There can be no doubts about his freshness and in a somewhat lackluster field he is certainly worth the 5/1 currently on offer. A second player to watch is Scott Hoch. Naturally, this would be an e/w play rather to win outright
Will wait until tee-times are known until making final choices, but two more players are worthy of note this week as well; Scott Verplank and Robert Allenby. Verplank's long-term record has already been mentioned and now that his long-term health problems have been successfully addressed, which have resulted in a series of top-10 finishes recently, he again looks good for a place finish. Robert Allenby's record on this course is also impressive - 17th and 13th in the last two years - and has two wins already this term and the best stats bar Duval in this field. With inflated odds on them both because of Duval's return to form, the place finish could be a payout. Still think Duval will win this at will.
Back tomorrow with final outright and matchup plays.
