Tampa Bay Championship presented by EverBank (Normal spoiler alert)

[Frankensteins Monster]

 

DATE: Thursday Mar 14 – Sunday Mar 17, 2013

SITE: Innisbrook Resort - Copperhead, Palm Harbor, FL

PAR/YARDAGE: Par: 71/7,340 yards

ARCHITECT: E. Lawrence ("Larry") Packard

FORMAT: Full-field; Four-day, 72-hole stroke-play competition with cut

 

Field: http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/tampa-bay-championship/field.html

Tee-times: http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/tampa-bay-championship/tee-times.html

Leaderboard: http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/tampa-bay-championship/leaderboard.html

Charity: http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/tampa-bay-championship/charity.html

Sponsors: http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/tampa-bay-championship/sponsors.html

 

TV SCHEDULE

 

Thu, Mar 14

• 3:00-6:00p
  

Fri, Mar 15

• 3:00-6:00p
  

Sat, Mar 16

• 1:00-3:00p
  
• 3:00-6:00p
  

Sun, Mar 17

• 1:00-3:00p
  
• 3:00-6:00p
  

 

• COURSE: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead), 7,340 yards, par 71. With tree-lined fairways and rolling terrain, the 1972 Larry Packard design offers a far different visual opposed to the flatter layouts around the rest of the Florida Swing. Double doglegs await on two par-5s, putting a premium on positioning to reach the green in two. The final three holes have been dubbed the “Snake Pit,” with two bruising par-4s sandwiched around the 215-yard 17th. Innisbrook served 24 years as host of the JC Penney team event pairing PGA TOUR and LPGA pros, then became a regular stop in 2000.

 

• FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points.

 

• CHARITY: Copperhead Charities Inc., which distributes funds to more than 50 Tampa Bay-area charities. The Copperheads have raised more than $30 million since the group’s inception in 1978.

 

• FIELD WATCH: Defending champion Luke Donald is joined by six other pros among this week’s top 20 in the world rankings. The list also includes World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play champ Matt Kuchar (No.8), along with No. 5 Louis Oosthuizen and No. 7 Adam Scott. … Kuchar is among three of this season’s winners in the lineup, along with Brian Gay (Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation) and Michael Thompson (The Honda Classic). … British Open titleholder Ernie Els, who bogeyed last year’s final two holes to fall short of a playoff, makes his return after becoming a late addition.

 

• 72-HOLE RECORD: 266, Vijay Singh (2004).

 

• 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, Padraig Harrington (1st round, 2012).

 

• LAST YEAR: Donald emerged from a four-man playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole, returning to No. 1 in the world rankings after two weeks behind Rory McIlroy. Donald needed a sizzling 5-under-par 66 to get into the playoff, then disentangled himself from the rough at No. 18 with a 7-iron that stopped 6 feet below the hole. Jim Furyk, Robert Garrigus and Sang-Moon Bae shared runner-up honors on a day in which six players were tied for the lead at one point down the stretch. The biggest hurt belonged to Els, whose bogey-bogey finish cost him the lead, a playoff berth – and eventually a trip to the Masters.

 

• STORYLINES: Donald, who keeps a home in Palm Beach Gardens, tries for a third Florida victory in the past three years. He also won at Disney to end the 2011 season, locking up the PGA TOUR money title. Donald hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in his past seven Florida starts. … Garrigus, whose lone victory came at Disney in 2010, owns five runner-up finishes in the past 14 months. The Arizona pro has placed lower than 16th just once in 2013. … Furyk seeks to bounce back from a gut-wrenching 2013 that also included late stumbles at the U.S. Open, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and Ryder Cup. His 2010 victory at Innisbrook was one of three on the way to the FedExCup crown.

 

• SHORT CHIPS: Copperhead’s “Snake Pit” ranked No. 4 among last year’s toughest closing three-hole stretches, averaging .519 strokes above par. That trailed only Muirfield Village (the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance), Quail Hollow (Wells Fargo Championship) and Augusta National (Masters). … Until last year, the event had never experienced a playoff. Donald’s victory was his first PGA TOUR playoff win, following setbacks at Torrey Pines in 2004 and Hilton Head in 2011. … Tommy Gainey makes his ninth start already this season. He played each of the first seven, but has taken two of the past three weeks off. … Tampa Bay got a boost last week when EverBank signed on as a presenting sponsor.

[Jim Clark]

Some notables not in the field this week: Tiger, Rory, Phil, Sneds, GMac, Strick, Charl, Rose, Westwood, Hunter, Ian, Keegan, Bubba, Dustin.

Probably see more of them at Bay Hill, most guys won't dis Arnie without a good reason. Some of the guys who want to play both the US and Euro Tours might take a few weeks to play Euro events but that will require a lot of travel.

[Vindog]

Ball strikers course. I would hate to see these types of courses becoming out of phase.

judging from the missing list, it seems to be going that way. I think part pf the problem is that TV cameras have a hard time promoting the level of iron play at these courses (Harbour Town as well). It's much easier to pump up a 330 yard drive, than it is to pump up an accurate shot shape with a 7i.

[Jim Clark]

[quote name='Vindog' timestamp='1363010088' post='6588657']
Ball strikers course. I would hate to see these types of courses becoming out of phase.

judging from the missing list, it seems to be going that way. I think part pf the problem is that TV cameras have a hard time promoting the level of iron play at these courses (Harbour Town as well). It's much easier to pump up a 330 yard drive, than it is to pump up and accurate shot shape with a 7i.
[/quote]

I agree Vindog. The bombers don't like courses that take the driver out of their hands.

[wkbird]

I've been the last few years and always have a great time. The interesting thing about Copperhead is the elevation changes which are unusual for Florida. The downhill tee shot on the Par 5 5th is a monster when looking from the tee. #10 approach is elevated and #18 is tough with the downhill tee shot and uphill approach combined with a tight fairway.

I've been to golf tournaments on Saturdays and Wednesday Pro-Ams, but never a Tuesday practice round. I was thinking of going tomorrow, but unsure of how practice round days play out. Any tips you guys can share? Do players come and go as they please or can you expect tee times throughout the day with players somewhere on the course most of the time? I'm worried we'll be there, but only have like 2-3 groups out there scattered about.

[Frankensteins Monster]

Usually it's tee-times through out the day unless it's a pro-am day. I know some tournaments have multiple pro-am days. There won't be just two or three groups though. Anyway, you can park yourself at the range and putting greens. Those will always be active.

[wkbird]

Thanks for the input, good point on the range/practice green activity. At this point, I'm more interested in seeing their warm up and drill routines.

[teejaywhy]

At first, I was thrown off by the new title sponsor and thought this thread was about a web.com event or something. I now realize which tournament this is and recognize the long and storied history of the [s]Tampa Bay Classic[/s], [s]Tampa Bay Classic presented by Buick[/s], [s]Chrysler Championship[/s], [s]PODS Championship[/s], [s]Transitions Championship[/s], Tampa Bay Championship presented by Everbank.

[CodyKid91]

Was at this event 2 years ago...what a track. Too bad there aren't some more big names in the field this year.

[RolandofGilead]

I'm going to hit the road early Saturday morning to come down from Gainesville. I went last year as well and had a great time. I'll second (third?) the motion that this is a great course. Few par 4s actually require driver and all of the 3s and 5s are excellent, the par 5s in particular. The second one on the back side in particular is a really good hole. The course layout is very good for spectators as the holes wind back and forth around one another instead of running through a neighborhood. The practice range and putting green are both easily accessible, with nearly 360 degree viewing access around the putting green. As for the field, I believe it is actually stronger this year than last. Oosthuizen and Scott are huge additions. I hope one or both of them barely make the cut and will be easy to follow Saturday morning;-)

[Woodridge]

[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1363045457' post='6592743']
At first, I was thrown off by the new title sponsor and thought this thread was about a web.com event or something. I now realize which tournament this is and recognize the long and storied history of the [s]Tampa Bay Classic[/s], [s]Tampa Bay Classic presented by Buick[/s], [s]Chrysler Championship[/s], [s]PODS Championship[/s], [s]Transitions Championship[/s], Tampa Bay Championship presented by Everbank.
[/quote]


+1 And what was it before the Tampa bay classic?......Is this the old Jackie Gleason tourney?

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='Woodridge' timestamp='1363095360' post='6596223']
[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1363045457' post='6592743']
At first, I was thrown off by the new title sponsor and thought this thread was about a web.com event or something. I now realize which tournament this is and recognize the long and storied history of the [s]Tampa Bay Classic[/s], [s]Tampa Bay Classic presented by Buick[/s], [s]Chrysler Championship[/s], [s]PODS Championship[/s], [s]Transitions Championship[/s], Tampa Bay Championship presented by Everbank.
[/quote]


+1 And what was it before the Tampa bay classic?......Is this the old Jackie Gleason tourney?
[/quote]

Tampa Bay Classic is as far back as Wikipedia goes (2000).

The Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic (1972-1980) actually morphed into the Honda Classic.

[Woodridge]

[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1363132724' post='6600383']
[quote name='Woodridge' timestamp='1363095360' post='6596223']
[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1363045457' post='6592743']
At first, I was thrown off by the new title sponsor and thought this thread was about a web.com event or something. I now realize which tournament this is and recognize the long and storied history of the [s]Tampa Bay Classic[/s], [s]Tampa Bay Classic presented by Buick[/s], [s]Chrysler Championship[/s], [s]PODS Championship[/s], [s]Transitions Championship[/s], Tampa Bay Championship presented by Everbank.
[/quote]


+1 And what was it before the Tampa bay classic?......Is this the old Jackie Gleason tourney?
[/quote]

Tampa Bay Classic is as far back as Wikipedia goes (2000).

The Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic (1972-1980) actually morphed into the Honda Classic.
[/quote]


Thanks!

[Vindog]

So I was thinking that we had not heard anything from Vijay in the last few weeks, and that he may had got some "time off."

But I see he is in the field this week, in at -2 as well.

[imakaveli]

The course looks awesome but... what a boring field!

[Vindog]

[quote name='imakaveli' timestamp='1363294682' post='6612637']
The course looks awesome but... what a boring field!
[/quote]
I agree. The big dogs usually take this one off, because it's between the WGC and Arnol Palmer.

Plus you actually have to be able to hit shots here, and not just bomb and gauge, and some players don't like that...

[imakaveli]

[quote name='Vindog' timestamp='1363295225' post='6612677']
[quote name='imakaveli' timestamp='1363294682' post='6612637']
The course looks awesome but... what a boring field!
[/quote]
I agree. The big dogs usually take this one off, because it's between the WGC and Arnol Palmer.

Plus you actually have to be able to hit shots here, and not just bomb and gauge, and some players don't like that...
[/quote]

Yup, it really seems a tricky course! Is it hard to get to play there?

[checkswing]

Will be here next week. These greens have some movement to them, especially when they get that sheen. Do not be above the hole. Great layout for a Florida course.

[Vindog]

[quote name='imakaveli' timestamp='1363296200' post='6612761']
[quote name='Vindog' timestamp='1363295225' post='6612677']
[quote name='imakaveli' timestamp='1363294682' post='6612637']
The course looks awesome but... what a boring field!
[/quote]
I agree. The big dogs usually take this one off, because it's between the WGC and Arnol Palmer.

Plus you actually have to be able to hit shots here, and not just bomb and gauge, and some players don't like that...
[/quote]

Yup, it really seems a tricky course! Is it hard to get to play there?
[/quote]

As far as I know, no. It's a resort and you can book vacation packages there.

[Vindog]

Jim Furyk says it the best course the tour plays at in the State of Florida.

http://www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/tampa-florida-golf-resorts/

[MileHighClub]

[quote name='Vindog' timestamp='1363296962' post='6612827']
Jim Furyk says it the best course the tour plays at in the State of Florida.

http://www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/tampa-florida-golf-resorts/
[/quote]

Have heard several pros make this same comment this week. Should be a fun tournament to watch.

[Vindog]

A college friend works for Salamander (not at Innisbrook but for the parent company)

I think he's working this event this year.

I need to give him a call in the future. lol

[Samps]

Mike Weir shot 44 on the front.

There seem to be alot of short putts missed. They showed a stat that said this course has the most 3 putts inside of 5 feet!

[imakaveli]

What happened to Bud Cauley?

[Frankensteins Monster]

I love the course. I wish I got a chance to play it.

[imakaveli]

Nice to see George Coetzee getting used to play on the PGA Tour, really a nice guy and wish him the best!

[uscheese]

Daly with a 10 on a par 4...and he wasn't playing that bad.

Typical!!!

Mike Weir is done. He probably needs to find another line of work.

[Frankensteins Monster]

[quote name='uscheese' timestamp='1363371213' post='6617969']
Daly with a 10 on a par 4...and he wasn't playing that bad.

Typical!!!
[/quote]

Yep. He went stupid again it seems.

[Golfnutgalen]

[quote name='uscheese' timestamp='1363371213' post='6617969']
Daly with a 10 on a par 4...and he wasn't playing that bad.

Typical!!!

Mike Weir is done. He probably needs to find another line of work.
[/quote]

Looks like he was imitating Kevin Na:

Shot 1: 252 yards left into tree outiline, 212 to hole
Shot 2: 0 yards
Shot 3: Penalty stroke
Shot 4: 1 yard
Shot 5: Penalty stroke
Shot 6 0 yards
Shot 7: 30 yards to left rough, 184 to hole
Shot 8: 155 yards to fairway, 29 yards to hole
Shot 9: 29 yards to green, 1'2" to hole
Shot 10: in the hole!

[Barto78]

Good gracious, this thread is going to be lucky to get to 5 pages at this rate....