Heritage Sports

The PGA tees it up at the Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina Thursday, one week after the Green Jacket was handed out at Augusta during the Masters. Most tournaments wouldn’t produce a very big turnout after a prestigious event with the quality of the Masters, but that’s just not the case with the Heritage. The Heritage has always drawn big names and it does again this season with the likes of Jim Furyk, Ernie Els and Geoff Ogilvy signed up to play.

Aaron Baddeley, the defending champion of this event, returns after winning by a single stroke over Jim Furyk and Billy Mayfair last year. Baddeley already has a win under his belt this season with a nice performance at the FBR Open in February. He has looked great in other tournaments as well, missing just one cut while posting three Top 15 finishes.

If Baddeley doesn’t repeat this year, there is a long list of former Heritage Champions that would be glad to take his place. The chances of a former champion winning again are through the roof. Out of the last 10 tournament winners, eight are set to come back and take their chances in the Heritage of 2007. The list of former winners includes Davis Love III, the all-time leader in wins at the Heritage. Love III last won in 2003, which was his 5th total win in Harbour Town. Love has not fared well in his last two tournaments, so his chances of putting up a 6th win are pretty slim in 2007. Other former winners to keep your eye on would be Peter Lonard, the 2006 Champion, Stewart Cink (2000 & 2004) and Justin Leonard (2002).

Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters Champion, is giving the Heritage a shot this weekend. The chances of him winning back-to-back weekends do not look very good. Only once in the history of the Heritage has the winner of the Masters won the Heritage tournament the following weekend. That player was Bernhard Langer back in 1985. Johnson is listed as at 28/1 odds to win the 2007 Verizon Heritage.

Here are a couple notables incase you want a little action on the golf tournament this weekend. Jim Furyk is listed as the favorite to win after his 2nd place finish last season with 10/1 odds. Ernie Els, who hasn’t won in ages, is listed with 12/1 odds. In 3rd place comes Geoff Ogilvy, listed with 16/1 odds, and this guy has the ability to run away with any tournament as he reeks of confidence. A few other players that I think might have a shot are Love III at 20/1 odds, Justin Rose at 22/1 odds, Aaron Baddeley at 33/1 odds. A couple long shots to look at would be Chad Campbell at 50/1, Brett Wetterich at 66/1 and Camillo Villegas with 80/1 odds to win. Looks like the Heritage will be another exciting PGA event to follow up last week’s Masters tournament filled with drama.

Larry Cook is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Larry_Cook.htm Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cook

Author: Larry Cook