Fantasy Golf: 2008 Buick Open Primer

June 23, 2008 10:00am CDT

The 2008 Buick Open
Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club @ Grand Blanc, Michigan
- Dates: Thursday, June 26 – Sunday, June 29
- FedEx Cup Points: 25,000
- 2008 Purse: $5,000,000 ($900,000/Buick Automobile Winning Share)

TV Schedule
First Round – Thursday, June 26 – Golf Channel 3-6pm EST
Second Round - Friday, June 27 – Golf Channel 3-6pm EST
Third Round – Saturday, June 28 – CBS, 3-6pm EST
Final Round – Sunday, June 29 – CBS, 3-6pm EST


The Course

Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club
Course Par Value: 72
Course Yardage: 7,127

Designed by James Gilmore Harrison in 1957, Warwick Hills has long served as one of the short list of country clubs the Tour hits each season. In 1968 the course was fully remodeled, though several holes have seen change since (including the adding of substantial length to several holes in 2001, specifically designed to lure the PGA's top golfers). Traditional grasses, namely Kentucky Blue in the rough cuts and Bent on the short stuff, are found throughout and often are cut to conditions that will benefit low scores. From the tourney tees, the course rates at 74.1 with a slope of 132.

In general, the par-5 offerings tend to be long but are also very rewarding for those with accuracy off long irons, and the greens on those longer links also offer supreme putting conditions. The par-3 holes are a bit more difficult but will also bring reward to strong putters with accurate short irons off the tee.

It is the par 4 these golfers must beware. They are set into challenging locations and tend to offer obstacles much more difficult to overcome if the hole is started on the fairway.

Hole 3 (Par 3, 187 yds): The first par 3 on the course prepresents several opportunities for error. Medium in length and, more often than not, played into the wind, the three bunkers and severe back-to-front slope of the greeen can make for some difficult pin placements. The key is to keep the ball left and below the hole. A pin in the front right brings the front right bunker into play.

Hole 9 (Par 4, 434 yds): Played against the prevailing wind, this hole is extremely difficult considering the length. The fairway bunkers on the right become a factor, catching drives that stray from the fairway. The ideal location would be one that approaches a downward slope in the fairway, splitting the bunkers on the right and left, leaving a middle to short iron to the flag. Depending on pin placements, the two front bunkers and the trap behind the green will see more than a few visitors. Once on the green, subtle undulations and a north slope make putting a challenge.

Hole 15 (Par 4, 457 yds): Traditionally rated as the most difficult hole at Warwick Hills, the out-of-bound trees on the left force the tee shots right, leaving a long to middle iron into a green protected by numerous bunkers. Missing the green all but ruins an opportunity for par, especially shots going beyond the green and down the severe slope.

Hole 17 (Par 3, 197 yds): The 17th is one of the more famous holes on the course and serves as one of the most difficult par threes in the tourney. The front bunker is long, capturing shots that come up short of the green. From the tee, the player must hit a middle iron to a green that slopes toward the water. Missing the green left is particularly bad as the ball will often bounce into the woods if you fail to land in the sand.


2007 Review

~ 2007 Results
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Brian Bateman -15 (273)
T2 Jason Gore -14 (274)
T2 Justin Leonard -14 (274)
T2 Woody Austin -14 (274)
T5 Steve Elkington -13 (275)
T5 John Rollins -13 (275)
T5 Marco Dawson -13 (275)
T5 Jim Furyk -13 (275)
T5 Scott Verplank -13 (275)
T10 Steve Marino -12 (276)
T10 Lucas Glover -12 (276)
T10 Gavin Coles -12 (276)
T10 Brandt Snedeker -12 (276)
T10 Kenny Perry -12 (276)
T10 Fredrik Jacobson -12 (276)


2006 Review

~ 2006 Results
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Tiger Woods -24 (264)
2 Jim Furyk -21 (267)
3 Joe Durant -20 (268)
T4 Sean O'Hair -19 (269)
T4 Vaughn Taylor -19 (269)
T4 Scott Verplank -19 (269)
T7 Tom Pernice, Jr. -18 (270)
T7 Harrison Frazar -18 (270)
T7 Brett Quigley -18 (270)
T7 Woody Austin -18 (270)
T11 Kenny Perry -17 (271)
T11 Craig Barlow -17 (271)
T11 Camilo Villegas -17 (271)
T11 Vijay Singh -17 (271)


The Field

This season's field at the Buick Open is as hampered as can be imagined, for one reason and one reason only: Tiger Woods is injured.

Buick puts more than a few dollars into Tiger's coffer to insure these tourneys have, at the very least, the biggest name in the game in the field. His presence alone will attract more than a few of the world's top ten to jump in and compete as well.

This season, that has not happened and the field suffers as a result, touting just three of the world's top 30 (Kenny Perry, Justin Leonard, Jim Furyk), only one ranking in the top 20 (Furyk), none ranking in the top 10.

If you stretch out to the top 50 you add a handful of competitors representing in this week's field, thus the competition is not horrendous, but the lack of star power clearly pushes those top names to the head of the prognostication pack.

Names to watch include Jason Day, Kevin Streelman, Nathan Green, Paul Goydos, Briny Baird, Cliff Kresge, Charles Howell III, Pat Perez, Vaughn Taylor, Matt Jones, Mathew Goggin, Steve Marino, Nick Watney, Peter Lonard, Steve Flesch, Brian Gay, Brandt Snedeker, Rocco Mediate, Ben Crane, Ryuji Imada, Kenny Perry, Woody Austin, Justin Leonard, Daniel Chopra, John Rollins, defending champion Brian Bateman, Jim Furyk, and the always entertaining John Daly.

Enjoy.

To view the entire field:
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r035/field.html