Sep. 29, 2010
By PGATOUR.COM staff
News, notes and predictions as we get set for the first round of the Viking Classic at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Miss.
|
| TV/Radio (all times ET) |
| TV: GOLF(Thu.-Sun., 8-10 p.m.) |
|
The final stretch of the race for 2011 PGA TOUR cards begins this week at Annandale Golf Club with the return of the Viking Classic.
The top 125 on the money list after the five-week Fall Series will secure TOUR cards for next season and this week's field reflects that fact.
Of the players close to that bubble (ranked between Nos. 110 and 150 on the money list), all but three are scheduled to compete in this week's event.
The event, which has a history dating back to 1986, boasts former champions like Fred Funk (1998, 2004), Luke Donald (2002) and Heath Slocum (2005). Will MacKenzie won the last event in 2008 in a playoff against Brian Gay and Marc Turnesa.
Frequent rains leading up to the event a year ago led to its cancellation.
FALL SUCCESSES CARRY OVER TO PLAYOFS: Five players that competed at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola have captured Fall Series events during their careers: Matt Kuchar (2009 Turning Stone Resort Championship), Dustin Johnson (2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship), Martin Laird (2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open) Ryan Palmer (2008 Ginn sur Mer Classic) and Zach Johnson (2008 Valero Texas Open).
RYDER CUP REUNION: The 2010 Viking Classic could field its own Ryder Cup team with former players of the biannual event. There are 12 former Ryder Cup players in the Viking Classic field: Chad Campbell (2004, 2006, 2008), Chris DiMarco (2004, 2006), David Duval (1999, 2002), Brad Faxon (1995, 1997), Jim Gallagher, Jr. (1993), Lee Janzen (1993-97), Jeff Maggert (1995, 1997, 1999), Chris Riley (2004), Henrik Stenson (2006, 2008), David Toms (2002, 2004, 2006), Boo Weekley (2008) and Brett Wetterich (2006).
| Columnists' predictions |
| Each week, PGATOUR.COM columnists will predict the winner. Here are their picks for The Viking Classic: |
| Columnist |
Pick |
Comment |
Stan
AWTREY |
 |
D.J. Trahan: Had two top-20s in the playoffs and has a record of success in the Viking Classic. With Trahan, even more so than most other players,it all comes down to putting. |
Craig
DOLCH |
 |
Tom Gillis: I'm stepping out of the box a bit here to select Tom Gillis. The 40-year-old veteran showed some guts with his birdie-eagle finish at the Deutsche Bank Championship to get him into the BMW Championship. He has confidence and he's rested after taking the last two weeks off. |
Melanie
HAUSER |
 |
Bill Haas: He has two top-fours in two appearances here. He won earlier this year but has cooled off lately so Annandale should be good for what's ailed his game. |
John
MAGINNES |
 |
Arjun Atwal: How about a back-to-back winner? Arjun Atwal has had plenty of time to think.about win No. 1. I'll bet the winner of the Wyndham Championship is ready to back it up. |
|
|
| Did you know? |
| George McNeill is the all-time earnings leader in the three-year history of the Fall Series. He's turned his successes into three top-75 finishes in overall season earnings, keeping his TOUR card safe. |
|
|
| What the winner gets |
| A victory this week at the Viking Classic will earn the following benefits: |
| • Fully Exempt for the remainder of 2010 and all of 2011 and 2012 |
| • A spot in the following 2011 events in order of play: |
| - SBS Championship |
| - Bob Hope Classic |
| - Arnold Palmer Invitational |
| - Verizon Heritage |
| - THE PLAYERS Championship |
| - Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial |
| - The Memorial Tournament |
| - AT&T National |
| - PGA Championship |
| • If second TOUR win since the 2010 U.S. Open, entry into the 2011 U.S. Open. |
| • If a U.S. player, 648,000 points towards making the 2011 Presidents Cup team. |
|
PGATOUR.com is part of Turner Sports Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network 