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Event Primer: The Greenbrier Classic
By Bryan Douglass
The 2010 Greenbrier Classic
The Old White Course @ White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
- Dates: Thursday, July 29 - Sunday, August 1
- FedEx Cup Points: 500 (Winner's Share)
- 2010 Purse: $6,000,000 (Winning Share: $1,080,000)
TV Schedule
First Round - Thursday, July 29 - The Golf Channel 3-6pm EST
Second Round - Friday, July 30 - The Golf Channel 3-6pm EST
Third Round - Saturday, July 31 - The Golf Channel 3-6pm EST
Final Round - Sunday, August 1 - The Golf Channel 3-6pm EST
The Course
The Old White Course
Course Par Value: 70
Course Yardage: 7,020
Fantasy owners will face a unique challenge this week as the Old White Course at the Greenbrier hasn't been part of the PGA schedule... ever. Built in 1914 (back then made famous when President Woodrow Wilson played the links), the club's website notes, "The course features generous fairways and challenging, undulating putting greens. Every hole has an obvious and well defined strategy that allows for either a very challenging approach to the green, or one that has less risk, and a higher chance of success."
In other words (a) we won't be as worried about driving accuracy, (b) we may be just a bit more worried about putting, and (c) the tourney may be won with the irons (i.e. greens in regulation and proximity to the hole).
Holes to Watch
~ Hole 6, Par 4, 471 yards
Ranked as the toughest hole on a not-so-tough course, the sixth is rather simple but the formation of trees around what may be the toughest fairway landing on the course as well as the obstructions guarding nearly every side of the green will present a unique challenge for those that can't go long off the tee. Placement and distance is needed to get the most from this hole where those you are daring could reach the green in two... but if they miss their mark, they'll pay for it.
~ Hole 18, Par 3, 162 yards
This is going to be an outstanding finisher for those looking to push for birdie. The approach in comes over a creek towards a tight and bumpy green guarded all along the front by sand. Not only is it short but it ranks as the easiest hole on the course per the handicap rating on the scorecard (there is no actual course tour on the websites noted... simply a downloadable scorecard as you would get if you were out there playing with friends).
You can find a brief history and hole listings for this course as offered by the PGA Tour here:
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r490/course.html
The Old White Course also maintains an informative and entertaining website with a brief-yet-interactive course tour you will find here:
http://www.thegreenbrier.com/site/golf-course-oldwhite.aspx
The Field
An unknown course is never appealing for many of the Tour's elite but sitting two weeks off the third major with a prolonged stay for Euro Tour work would normally be the end of hope for a tourney looking to attract star power.
Despite the travails of travel and schedule, some of the world's best will be in attendance in West Virginia, a list including Stephen Ames, Stuart Appleby, Ricky Barnes, Ben Crane, Ben Curtis, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Brian Gay, J.B. Holmes, Trevor Immelman, Matt Kuchar, Justin Leonard, Davis Love III, Jeff Overton, Kenny Perry, Carl Pettersson, David Toms, Nick Watney, and the always-entertaining John Daly.
Other golfers of note include Woody Austin, Aaron Baddeley, Alex Cejka, Daniel Chopra, Brendon de Jonge, Chris DiMarco, Steve Flesch, Mathew Goggin, Paul Goydos, Charley Hoffman, Charles Howell III, Ryuji Imada, Matt Jones, Steve Marino, Shaun Micheel, Kevin Na, Rod Pampling, Joe Ogilvie, Pat Perez, John Rollins, John Senden, Jeev Milkha Singh, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Sutherland, D.J. Trahan, Boo Weekley, Charlie Wi, and Mark Wilson.
Enjoy.
To view the entire field, head to this link:
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r490/field.html
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