Preview: Verizon Heritage

The PGA Tour is in South Carolina this week for the Verizon Heritage. Charismatic Floridian Boo Weekley won the tournament in both of the last two seasons, he'll be looking for a hat-trick at Hilton Head.

Boo Weekley
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: Played around Pete Dye’s excellent Harbour Town Course at Hilton Head, the Verizon Heritage has been contested in the week following the Masters every year since 1983. In that time there have been some notable champions including Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Greg Norman. Langer is the only man to win the tournaments back to back. He managed the feat in 1985. The German’s record will remain intact for at least another year as Angel Cabrera is not in the field this week. Davis Love III has an incredible record in this tournament, he’s won it five times – first in 1987 and most recently in 2003. Current King of Harbour Town, however, is Boo Weekley. The 35-year-old has won here in both of the last two seasons. In 2007 he chipped in on the 17th and 18th holes to stay one ahead of Ernie Els. Things were a little more straightforward last year as he cruised home, three ahead of Aaron Baddeley and Anthony Kim.

Venue: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, South Carolina Date: April 16-19 Course stats: par 71, 6,973 yards Purse: $5,700,000 Winner: $1,026,000 Defending champion: Boo Weekley (-15)

TV coverage: Thursday 16th – Live on Setanta Golf from 8pm Friday 17th – Live on Setanta Golf from 8pm Saturday 18th - Live on Setanta Golf from 8pm Sunday 19th - Live on Setanta Golf from 8pm

Player watch: Jim Furyk – With a solid performance at Augusta last week, Furyk looks to be returning to form. He was fourth here last year and the tight course should suit his game. Boo Weekley – It’s impossible to overlook the colourful Floridian as he vies to make it three Verizon Heritage titles in a row. Paul Casey – At number seven, Casey has the best World Ranking of any player in the field. He secured his first PGA Tour victory in Houston two weeks ago and now will be looking for a second. Key hole: 17th. A par-3 of 185 yards with water everywhere. Strong crosswinds often affect the tee shot and anything that catches the breeze can end up in the lagoon.

Skills required: Course management. This isn’t a long course but careful placement from the tee and on approaches is crucial if players are to successfully negotiate Harbour Town’s numerous hazards.

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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