Frys.com Open Preview

The PGA Tour’s “Fall Series” continues this week with the Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, California. Troy Matteson defends the title.

Troy Matteson defends
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: The PGA Tour's "Fall Series" continues this week with the Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, California. Troy Matteson defends the title. In the 2009 Frys.com Open, Troy Matteson fired two consecutive rounds of 61 to take the lead into the final round. He looked to have the tournament sewn up but then bogeyed the final two holes to drop back into a tie with Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark. Matteson came through to take the playoff, however, with a birdie at the second extra hole. There's a new venue for this year's Frys.com Open. The tournament has moved from the Greyhawk Golf Club in Arizona to the CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, California. It's a Robert Trent Jones Jnr layout and the designer feels it to be one of his best creations. It's a pleasantly undulating track set through an attractive valley. There's an elevation change of some 150 feet out on the course so club selection is often challenging.

Venue: CordeValle Golf Club, California Date: Oct 14-17 Course stats: par 72, 7,169 yards Purse: $5,000,000 Winner: $900,000 Defending Champion: Troy Matteson (-18)

TV Coverage: Thursday 14 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 9pm Friday 15 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 9pm Saturday 16 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 9pm Sunday 17 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 9pm

Player Watch: Bo Van Pelt - He's been the most consistent player on this year's PGA Tour not to secure a victory. This could be his week.

Arjun Atwal - After a third place finish in the McGladrey Classic, Atwal is on good form. He already has a victory to his name this year and will be looking to get another under his belt.

Rickie Fowler - After a great Ryder Cup debut, Fowler will look to take momentum into this event. He was in a playoff for this title last season. Key hole: 17th. A driveable par 4 with teeing options from 295 to 325 yards, the green will be receptive to a good drive but it must carry all the way to the surface over water. There's a chance of an eagle here if a player is chasing coming down the stretch. Skills required: Greens in regulation. The putting surfaces are large and receptive so the GIR stats should be pretty high. Look for a low winning score in this one.

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?

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