Kodak Challenge on the minds of many this week

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Nicholas Thompson is among those in the hunt for the $1 million bonus in the Kodak Challenge.

RENO, Nev. -- Nicholas Thompson doesn't exactly remember where he was when he first heard about the Kodak Challenge, but the winner's share certainly caught his attention.

"I took the Challenge seriously straight from the beginning," Thompson said, moments after playing the Kodak Challenge Hole Saturday at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. "I saw a one with six zeroes after it. I like that number."

After the third round, with Kodak Challenge holes in play at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, and at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open in Nevada, Thompson is tied for third place. In his first three rounds this week, Thompson has made two pars and a bogey at the 159-yard par-3.

"They didn't pick the easiest of holes. No. 16 is a difficult one. I made my par the first two days. [Saturday] I though I hit an excellent golf shot in there," Thompson said. "The wind happened to funnel back into us right as I hit. Otherwise it would have been a perfect golf shot."

Thompson settled for a bogey, which didn't hurt him in the Challenge but, obviously, knocked him back a stroke in the tournament.

"I'm thinking of the tournament first and foremost, but I'm also thinking of the Kodak Challenge when I step on the tee," he said.

"I knew it was the hole," said J.J. Henry as he stepped to the 16th tee at Montreux Golf and Country Club, prior to making his birdie. "I played maybe a little bit of a more aggressive line and hit a great putt. I'm definitely thinking about it."

In its first year, the Kodak Challenge is a series of 30 holes played at 30 PGA TOUR events. Each week, the players take their best score on a pre-selected hole in all their rounds played that goes toward a cumulative total.

Only the best 18 scores are counted, encouraging players to play more. The winner at the end of the Kodak Challenge, which concludes at the Children's Miracle Network Classic in mid-November, receives a winner-takes-all check for $1 million.

"A million bucks is a million bucks, and I have as good a shot as anybody to win it," said Henry, who has birdied the hole both Friday and Saturday at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. "Can I count them twice?" he joked.

Henry is also tied for third and can only improve if he aces the hole Sunday.

"I think it's great. It's an awesome deal," said Chris DiMarco, tied for seventh, echoing what Henry and Thompson were saying. "I know there are a few guys who are playing a couple of extra tournaments just because of the Kodak Challenge."

And you, Chris. Any thoughts on adding tournaments to your schedule?

"For a million dollars? Absolutely."

Henry agrees. "I'm definitely thinking about it, that's for sure. So we'll see how it shakes out in the next couple of weeks. I'm going to see how it is after the FedExCup Playoffs. I may change my playing schedule accordingly. Players have grasped the idea now, and it's neat for the fans as well as the players."