Children’s Miracle Network preview

It's the last event of the PGA Tour's Fall Series this week. The players have gathered at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.

Walt Disney World Resort - Magnolia Course (Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: It's the last event of the PGA Tour's Fall Series this week. The players have gathered at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.

The tournament is contested over the Palm and Magnolia golf courses at the Walt Disney World Resort. It's one round on each layout before the leading pros go on to play two further rounds of the Magnolia Course.

It's an important week for those fighting to retain their playing rights for 2013. At the end of this event, the top 125 on the money list - entitled to a tour card next year - will be finalised.

Many will be trying to secure their spot, while others will be aiming to make it into the top-80 or top-70. Doing so will earn players invites to big-money events in 2013.

This tournament began life in 1971 as the Walt Disney World Open Invitational and the great Jack Nicklaus won the first three. Since then, other famous names like Payne Stewart, Ray Floyd, Mark O'Meara and Tiger Woods have lifted the trophy.

Last year Luke Donald produced a phenomenal final round of 64 to win the event and secure the 2011 PGA Tour money list, ahead of Webb Simpson.

Venue: Magnolia GC, Lake Buena Vista, Florida Date: Nov 8-11 Course stats: Magnolia - par 72, 7,156 yards; Palm - par 72, 6,957 yards Purse: $4,700,000 Winner: $846,000 Defending Champion: Luke Donald (-17)

TV Coverage: Thursday 8 - Sky Sports 3 from 6pm Friday 9 - Sky Sports 4 from 6pm Saturday 10 - Sky Sports 4 from 6pm Sunday 11 - Sky Sports 4 from 8pm

Player Watch:

Robert Garrigus - A form player on the PGA Tour right now and a former winner of this event. He's ben runner-up three times in 2012.

Blake Adams - He's been playing extremely consistently in recent weeks and had top-15 finishes in three of his last six starts.

Justin Leonard - Needs a good performance here to secure his card for next year. He's been second in this event twice and was tied for sixth in 2007. Key hole: 17th - Magnolia Course. A long par 4 of some 485 yards, it's generally considered the toughest hole on the Magnolia Course. The drive is over water then they'll be left with a mid or long iron into a tight green. This is a difficult hole to par if the pressure's on coming down the stretch. Where next? European Tour - Barclays Singapore Open preview

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

Latest