Hyundai Tournament of Champions Preview
The 2011 PGA TOUR opens today with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. The 34 player field tees off at 10:20am local time, lead by Rocco Mediate and Arjun Atwal.
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Although the field is smaller than the usual PGA TOUR field, you'll see some of the best names in golf tee it up. The winner of this event the past two years, Geoff Ogilvy, is scheduled to tee off at 1pm with 2010 PGA TOUR Player of the Year, Jim Furyk. Ogilvy suffered a cut on his right index finger which caused him to miss the Pro-AM on Wednesday. The cut occurred while swimming and required 12 stitches.
Three Groups to Watch
As the first PGA TOUR event of 2011 is set to get underway, here are three groups to watch:
- Hunter Mahan & Graeme McDowell (12:10). Graeme McDowell won the US Open last year and impressed the entire golf world even more at the Chevron World Challenge in December. Sinking two long putts on the 72nd hole and first playoff hole to out-duel Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell will be a focal point of every tournament this year. Hunter Mahan was hot last year winning two events and finishing in 5th place at the Chevron World Challenge. With three top 10's in 2010, don't be surprised to see him play late Sunday.
- Steve Stricker & Dustin Johnson (12:40). Dustin Johnson is a young exciting player who can hit the ball a mile off the tee. Sadly, right now, he is remembered for grounding his club in a bunker on the 72nd hole of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Don't be fooled, two wins and 7 top 10's in 2010. Steve Stricker can win any event he plays in. He is always poised and had a chance to be take over the top spot in the World Golf Rankings. He had two wins and 9 top 10's in 2010.
- Geoff Ogilvy & jim Furyk (1pm). Two-time winner of this event Geoff Ogilvy had him as the player to watch but a he received 12 stitches to close a cut on his right index finger. I'll be surprised if he makes it through the event. Jim Furyk, as I mentioned above, was named 2010 POTY on the PGA TOUR and won the FedEx Cup. He is a competitor and knows how to win.
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