Fantasy Golf: TOUR Championship Primer

September 22, 2008 12:37pm CDT

The TOUR Championship East Lake Golf Club @ Atlanta, Georgia
- Dates: Thursday, September 25th – Sunday, September 28th
- FedEx Cup Points: 50,000
- 2008 Purse: $7,000,000 (Winning Share: $1,260,000)

Tournament Schedule First Round – Thursday, September 25 – 7am EST Start
Second Round - Friday, September 26 – 7am EST Start
Third Round – Saturday, September 27 – 8:30am EST Start
Final Round – Sunday, September 28 – 8am EST Start

(NOTE: The broadcast schedule has not been solidified as of print time for our article, and thus we are unable to bring it to here. The coverage thus far has spent equal time on both the Golf Channel and on CBS, thus we suggest you check your local schedules for updates.)


The Course

East Lake Golf Club Course Par Value: 70
Course Yardage: 7,154

The East Lake Golf Club has long been a regular stop for the PGA Tour, having served as the Tour’s namesake event since 1998, but also serving as the hosting course for the Ryder Cup in 1963 and the US Amateur Championship in 2001. The course celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004 and remains true to the original design that was laid a century ago.

As such, nearly all of these golfers will have worthy experience on this course and will be rather familiar with the lay of the land. Scores will be low and the golf will be as entertaining as ever.

Holes to Watch

Hole 5 (Par 4, 520 yds): This hole plays in five for the regular golfer but the professionals have to stroke it in four. However, the downslope at 300 yards gives these top-notch drivers an opportunity to go deep into the fairway. That downhill lie with a long iron is difficult, but this elite field will take advantage.

Hole 9 (Par 5, 600 yds): If you go long off the tee, you can reach this green in two when the wind pitches into your shot, giving these top golfers a chance to shine. That brings a fairway bunker into play, but clearing the beach will provide a shot at glory. The front is lined with sand at all turns, but the backside is a difficult up and down. This ample green can hold a nicely placed iron, and thus it will be a difference maker.

Hole 16 (Par 4, 481 yds): This hole is renowned for the outstanding view of the Atlanta skyline and East Lake heading down a fairway that narrows to 25 yards in width 278 yards from the tee, putting a premium on driving accuracy. A mid- to long-iron is likely on the approach to reach the green. Two large bunkers await errant approaches into a large receptive green that slopes from back to front.

Hole 18 (Par 3, 235 yds): Depending on the wind, players could use anything from a fairway wood to a long iron on this demanding par 3, one of the more daunting closers on the Tour. Deep bunkers left and right of the two-tiered green leave little room for error. Any player leaving the ball above the pin must take extra care, facing one of East Lake's most difficult putts. Sunday afternoon could become as intriguing as ever if the final scores are low and close.


2007 Review

PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Tiger Woods -23 (257)
T2 Zach Johnson -15 (265)
T2 Mark Calcavecchia -15 (265)
4 Sergio Garcia -14 (266)
T5 Scott Verplank -11 (269)
T5 Hunter Mahan -11 (269)
T7 Tim Clark -10 (270)
T7 Vijay Singh -10 (270)
T9 Camilo Villegas -9 (271)
T9 Rory Sabbatini -9 (271)
T11 Robert Allenby -8 (272)
T11 Jim Furyk -8 (272)
T11 Justin Rose -8 (272)
T11 Stewart Cink -8 (272)
T11 Padraig Harrington -8 (272)
T11 Woody Austin -8 (272)

2006 Review

PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Adam Scott -11 (269)
2 Jim Furyk -8 (272)
3 Joe Durant -7 (273)
4 Retief Goosen -6 (274)
T5 Tom Pernice, Jr. -3 (277)
T5 Luke Donald -3 (277)
T5 Trevor Immelman -3 (277)
T8 Lucas Glover -2 (278)
T8 Vijay Singh -2 (278)
T10 Ernie Els +1 (281)
T10 Stuart Appleby +1 (281)


The Field

The field of 70 from last week’s 3rd-stage playoff tourney at the BMW Championship has been trimmed to 30 for the FedEx Cup finale at the TOUR Championship, leaving an elite group of competitors filled with many of the top Tour professionals in the world.

This week’s field includes the elite few that have earned the right to compete for one of the more prestigious checks of the season, including D.J. Trahan, Brian Gay, Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman, Ernie Els, Stuart Appleby, Carl Pettersson, Hunter Mahan, Stewart Cink, Phil Mickelson, Robert Allenby, Steve Stricker, Ben Curtis, Kenny Perry, K.J. Choi, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonart, Sergio Garcia, Camilo Villegas, Jim Furyk, and leader Vijay Singh.

To view the entire field, visit this link:
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r060/field.html

Enjoy.