Week 3 Approach Shots: The 50th Bob Hope Classic
By PGATOUR.COM Staff
THE KING IS BACK: Arnold Palmer returns this week as the host for the 50th Bob Hope Classic. Arnie won the inaugural Bob Hope Classic in 1960 and over the years made 42 of 50 starts in the desert, winning a record five times.
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Last year, D.J. Trahan validated his 2006 Southern Farm Bureau Classic with his second PGA TOUR victory, winning the 2008 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic by three strokes over Justin Leonard. Trahan shot a final-round 65 to finish the event at 26 under. At the time, the win moved Trahan into third place in the FedExCup standings. He eventually finished 24th last year, with 52 percent of his total Regular Season points coming from his victory.
The 50th Bob Hope Classic Hosted by Arnold Palmer is the only 90-hole event on the PGA TOUR, with action beginning at three courses on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
PLAYER NOTES: In winning the 1999 Bob Hope Classic, David Duval became only the third player in PGA TOUR history to record a 59, joining Al Geiberger (1977) and Chip Beck (1991). Duval accomplished his 59 during the final round on the Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West.
Harrison Frazar is playing this week -- two months after he shot a fourth-round 59 at the PGA TOUR National Qualifying Tournament, which he went on to win. Frazar's 59 came at the Jack Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West. Frazar has played in the Bob Hope Classic nine times and has three top-10 finishes. He shot a 62 in 2003 to tie for eighth, his best performance.
Anthony Kim, who attended La Quinta High School, had to withdraw from the Bob Hope Classic because of a shoulder injury. "I'm very disappointed to have to miss the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, especially considering it's played in Palm Springs, where I live, and I had so many friends and family coming to watch," said Kim.
D.J. Trahan will look to defend his Bob Hope Classic title after coming off his best PGA TOUR season. Trahan earned $2.3 million in 2008, which is more than twice as much as he made in any of his previous three seasons on TOUR. Johnny Miller is the only player to win back-to-back titles at this event (1975 and 1976). In all, winners of the Bob Hope Classic have posted 12 top-10 finishes in their title defenses but just five in the past 32 years.
Trahan was 27 years, 1 month, 2 days old when he joined David Duval (1999) as the only players in their 20s to win the tournament since 1988. The youngest winner of the Bob Hope Classic was Jack Nicklaus in 1963. The World Golf Hall of Famer was 23 years, 13 days at the time of his victory.
ON-COURSE OBSERVATIONS: PGA TOUR Network correspondent Brett Wright is on the scene at Kapalua for this week's satellite radio coverage (XM 146/SIRIUS 209). Reports Wright:
"The PGA West Palmer Private Course exhibits an incredible contrast of every color in the spectrum, with flowers, blooming trees and lush green fairways set under the craggy, rock-strewn Santa Rosa Mountains, where you can watch wild big-horn sheep curiously staring at the golfers.
"The course and mountains are divided only by a narrow canal -- the all-American canal -- which hydrates the beautiful golf community and provides a habitat for fish big enough to attract Boo Weekley's attention -- 30 and 40 pounders are common. The fairways are unbelievably lush and moist; the tee balls will not be rolling out very much early in the week. The fairways also shape the ball equally well for a draw or fade ball flight.
"The rough is moist and short; however, the ball tends to sit up in it because it's so dense. The greens are very receptive here at the Palmer Course and rolling true, so look for extremely low scores from the professionals early in the week. However, look for the amateurs to struggle with all the water and rocks in the layout."
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KODAK CHALLENGE: The first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players continues at the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer.
The Kodak Challenge celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR. The Kodak Challenge offers $1 million to the winner There will be one designated Kodak Challenge Hole at 24 different PGA TOUR tournaments in 2008, with this week's featured hole the 130-yard 17th hole.
Players, who must play at least 18 of the holes during the season to be eligible, will count their lowest score relative to par on the Kodak Challenge Hole made during an official competition round. The player, with the lowest cumulative score in relation to par at the end of the challenge, wins.
For more on the Kodak Challenge, click here.
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