Fantasy Golf: Viking Classic Primer

September 8, 2008 11:37am CDT

EDITOR’S NOTE: This week the PGA Tour takes one of few breaks and will not be offering a tourney for members to attend. The following week brings the Ryder Cup, and with our desires to focus our efforts on that premier event, we will dedicate this vacant week to analysis of the secondary tourney that will be offered for those Tour members that are not lucky enough to participate in the Ryder Cup. The Viking Classic will be played next week, but we wish to present our analysis of that event this week to assist those in need of insights for the Viking, also leaving our full attentions to be focused on one of the major international sporting events of the season when we return next week.


The Viking Classic
Annadale Golf Club @ Madison, Mississippi
- Dates: Thursday, September 18th – Sunday, September 21st
- 2008 Purse: $3,600,000 (Winning Share: $648,000)

Tournament Schedule
First Round – Thursday, September 18 – 7am EST Start
Second Round - Friday, September 19 – 7am EST Start
Third Round – Saturday, September 20 – 8:30am EST Start
Final Round – Sunday, September 21 – 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 over recent weeeks has spent equal time on both the Golf Channel and on CBS, thus we suggest you check your local schedules for updates.)

The Course
Annandale Golf Club
Course Par Value: 72
Course Yardage: 7,199

While the Viking Classic carries 37 years of tradition in the making, holding a significant spot in Mississippi’s sports scene, this year’s tourney may leave fans wanting more. The once-proud member of the PGA schedule has fallen into a difficult spot, played in the same week as the 2008 Ryder Cup and residing one week before the TOUR Championship. As a result, many of the game’s elite are likely to take a pass and enjoy a week of rest.

However, for those fighting to make paychecks and earn their PGA cards for next season, this is wonderful opportunity to enjoy one of the more storied courses on the Tour. This course was designed by none other than Jack Nicklaus and offers some of the most spectacular views these golfers will see this season. The course is immaculate and lush in native features for the southern area of the country, including well-maintained swamp areas and tall, looming trees that have been rooted for centuries.

The course layout presents an intriguing but passable challenge for those that go both long and short off the tee as accuracy and ball placement take precedence for those hoping to compete for a win. With the field likely to be filled with the journeymen and lunch-pail members of the Tour, you can bet the competition for the top check will be fierce and several are likely to enjoy their best performances of the season to get in line for the big pay day.

Holes to Watch
Hole 5 (Par 5, 522 yds): The 5th hole consistently ranks, at least according to the numbers, as the easiest hole on the course. This short, downhill par-5 offering yielded 13 eagles last year. If you can drive it long and straight off the tee, you will find ample opportunity to take a swing for the fences here. Make the approach count and putting is as generous as this course will allow.

Hole 8 (Par 3, 209 yds): If you like water in your golf game, this is the hole for you. The green is bordered by water to the front, back and right, presenting a daunting view for those on the tee. You need to play the ball back in the green to employ the slope towards the wet stuff while bunkers await short shots. The green is large but can be damaging if you fail to get above the pin.

Hole 14 (Par 4, 473 yds): This hole is long and it is straight, but this par 4 plays as the most difficult hole on the course. It's out-of-bounds left, and a creek runs behind and to the right of the green. In 2000, No. 14 accounted for 90 bogeys, 13 double bogeys and 1 triple bogey. Golfers will find feast or famine at this link this season and would be wise to shoot for par and call it a gift.

Hole 18 (Par 5, 532 yds): As the PGA notes in their commentary on this closing hole, water comes into play on every shot you'll stroke to reach the green. However, there is no reason to believe the professionals will play it safe, especially if an eagle or birdie will get the win. The green is big enough to hold a 3-wood or long-iron second shot, presenting a true test of ball-control skills that will give each golfer a chance to showcase their own particular talents.


2007 Review
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Chad Campbell -13 (275)
2 Johnson Wagner -12 (276)
T3 Boo Weekley -11 (277)
T3 Bill Haas -11 (277)
T5 John Senden -10 (278)
T5 Shaun Micheel -10 (278)
T5 David Branshaw -10 (278)
T8 Bo Van Pelt -9 (280)
T8 Alex Cejka -9 (280)
T8 Kent Jones -9 (280)
T11 Ken Duke -8 (281)
T11 Harrison Frazar -8 (281)

2006 Review (Southern Farm Bureau Classic)
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 D.J. Trahan -13 (275)
2 Joe Durant -13 (275)
3 Lee Janzen -12 (276)
4 J.P. Hayes -11 (277)
T5 Glen Day -10 (278)
T5 Bo Van Pelt -10 (278)
T5 Ted Purdy -10 (278)
T8 Olin Browne -9 (279)
T8 Robert Damron -9 (279)
T8 Fred Funk -9 (279)
T8 Jason Gore -9 (279)
T8 Troy Matteson -9 (278)
T8 Nick Watney -9 (278)


The Field
This particular column is being filed nearly two weeks in advance of the Viking Classic, thus the official field has not be set or announced.

However, there are key facts to remember in reviewing this tourney for fantasy purposes. For starters, the top duffers in the world will either be playing at the Ryder Cup or will be taking the week off… the chances of a member of the World Golf Rankings top 50 taking part are extremely slim.

More than anything, this is a chance for golfers that have not played in recent weeks due to the FedEx Cup playoffs to get back in action and make some money. Remember, the bulk of the golf world has been watching for three weeks. If you failed to qualify for the playoffs, you’ve either taken it overseas or you’ve enjoyed the vacation.

As a result, you can guarantee the lower-tier options will be filling this week’s tourney at in Mississippi. There is little reason to believe Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, or Aaron Baddeley will be taking part (all left out of the Ryder Cup due to nationality). Instead, you can look for players like Nick O’Hern, Jerry Kelly, Peter Lonard, David Toms, Daniel Chopra, Bubba Watson, Billy Mayfair, Mark Calcavecchia, Mathew Goggin, Ryan Moore, Mark Wilson, Brian Gay, Johnson Wagner, Steve Elkington, John Merrick, Nathan Green, Nick Watney, and Bo Van Pelt to be filling the field.

If we are lucky, D.J. Trahan, Ryuji Imada, Trevor Immelman, Bart Bryant, Jeff Quinney, possibly Rocco Mediate or Ben Crane, and maybe even Arron Oberholser might grace the Tour with the presence and make it interesting. We won’t know until this coming Saturday until the official field is announced.

To view the entire field, visit this link:
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r054/field.html

Enjoy.