Preview: Mercedes-Benz Championship

The 2009 PGA Tour schedule kicks off with the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua in Hawaii. Tournament winners from the 2008 Tour battle it out for the $1.1 million first prize.

Kapalua
Fergus Bisset
By Fergus Bisset
published

Lowdown:

The 2009 PGA Tour schedule kicks off, as always, with the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua in Hawaii. The field for the event is made up of players who won a tournament on the 2008 PGA Tour. This means some big names will be absent from the start sheet. Those who failed to score a win in 2008 include Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan. Those who are participating will aim to make the most of their head start – There are 3,513 FedEx Cup points up for grabs as well as a winner’s cheque for over $1 million.

Venue: Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii Date: January 8-11 Course stats: par 73, 7,411 yards Purse: $5,600,000 Winner: $1,200,000 Defending champion: Daniel Chopra (-18)

TV coverage: Thursday 8 – Live on Setanta Golf from 11pm Friday 9 – Live on Setanta Golf from 11pm Saturday 10 – Live on Setanta Golf from 11pm Sunday 11 – Live on Setanta Golf from 11pm

Gallery: Race to Dubai favourites

Player watch: Anthony Kim – The young American is expected to go from strength to strength in 2009. A victory here would give him the perfect springboard. Ernie Els – A former champion, the big South African would love a confidence booster going into his last season as a thirty something. Vijay Singh – The winner here in 2007, Singh enjoyed a superb end to the 2008 season with three victories in a five tournament stretch. He won just before Christmas in the Chevron World Challenge so clearly has good form. Key hole: 18th. The closing hole at Kapalua is a striking downhill par-5 measuring 663 yards. Despite its length, it’s reachable in two because of the slope and the prevailing wind. Expect some enormous drives on this one. Skills required: Making birdies. In 2003 Ernie Els finished the event at an amazing -31. The winning total at Kapalua always tends to be well into double figures under par.

Remember to log on tomorrow for Paul Krishnamurty's betting guide

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 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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