McGladrey Classic preview

The third event of the PGA Tour's Fall Series, the McGladrey Classic, takes place this week at Sea Island Golf Club's Seaside Course in Georgia. Ben Crane is the defending champion

Ben Crane

The third event of the PGA Tour's Fall Series, the McGladrey Classic, takes place this week at Sea Island Golf Club's Seaside Course in Georgia. Ben Crane is the defending champion.

Last year, Crane surged through the field with a Sunday 63 to force a play off with 2012 US Open champion Webb Simpson, who lipped out on the second extra hole to hand his countryman the title.

The tournament - hosted by American Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III - is in its third year, with Heath Slocum wining the inaugural event in 2010.

A string of top golfers are competing this week, including Ryder Cup players Jim Furyk and Zach Johnson, Australian Jason Day, Fijian Vijay Singh and last week's winner Jonax Blixt.

Sea Island Golf Club is a par-70, 7,005-yard seaside links venue remodelled in 1998 by renowned architect Tom Fazio. In a parallel to Harbour Town Golf Links, the course isn't long, but a premium will be placed on accuracy, shot selection and putting.

Venue: Sea Island Golf Club, Georgia Date: October 18-21 Purse: $4,000,000 Winner: $720,000 Defending champion: Ben Crane

TV Coverage: Thursday 18th from 7pm, Sky Sports 3 Friday 19th from 7pm, Sky Sports 3 Saturday 20th from 7pm, Sky Sports 3 Sunday 21st from 7pm, Sky Sports 2 Player Watch:

Jonas Blixt - the 28-year-old Swede finished third two weeks ago at the JT Shriners before winning his maiden PGA Tour title last week at the Frys.com Open. He has a brilliant short game and didn't miss once from inside five feet in California.

Jason Day - Day has been uncharacteristically quiet this year, but he finished fourth two weeks ago in Las Vegas and is 10th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained - Putting.

Zach Johnson - the Ryder Cup star - who is currently sixth on the PGA Tour Money List - won three of his four matches at Medinah and should be well suited to this type of golf course. 

Key Hole: The 18th. The closing hole is a challenging par-4 and the longest on the golf course. It was the hardest hole on the course at last year's McGladrey Classic, and could be the difference between success and failure this time around.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x