Fantasy Golf: US Bank Championship Primer

July 13, 2009 12:35pm CDT

The 2009 US Bank Championship in Milwaukee
Brown Deer Park Golf Course @ Milwaukee, WI
- Dates: Thursday, July 16 - Sunday, July 19
- FedEx Cup Points: 250 (Winner's Share)
- 2009 Purse: $4,000,000 ($720,000 Winning Share)

TV Schedule
First Round - Thursday, July 16 - Golf Channel 4-7pm EST
Second Round - Friday, July 17 - Golf Channel 4-pm EST
Third Round - Saturday, July 18 - Golf Channel 4-pm EST
Final Round - Sunday, July 19 - Golf Channel 4-pm EST


The Course

Brown Deer Park Golf Course
Course Par Value: 70
Course Yardage: 6,759

Celebrating the club's 75th anniversary this season, the Brown Deer Park Golf Club was formed in 1934 and would soon evolve into the Milwaukee County Public Links Association. The course is designed to challenge golfers of all skill levels. The 1934 club president John Drake was quoted as saying "Whether a man shoots 75 or 125 makes no difference. Everyone not only is welcome, but has an equal opportunity for enjoyment and sharing in the prize awards. All Club events are designed to care for the high handicap players as well as the better shooters."

Tiger Woods played his first event as a professional golfer on this course. Other greats have put their cleats on these links as well. In 2007 the event was added to the PGA Tour FedEx Cup competition. It has served as the secondary tourney of choice, scheduled during the same week as the Open Championship (a.k.a. the British Open), for some time, giving the PGA professionals that fail to earn a spot in the major an alternative option for keeping the season alive and well.

In general, putting is the focus of this tourney. The approach shots can be brutal as greens are often presented as favorable landing areas but lack the depth needed to hold longer irons. The rough is mild, thus driving accuracy can be forgiven, but golfers cannot miss opportunities to go long and seek opportune landing areas that present positive views of the green. The golfers that sit among the top-ranked duffers in terms of driving distance could, if they hit their spots, find an edge. However, putting is the key to the game as these greens are demanding.

~ Holes to Watch ~
Hole 7 (Par 3, 215 yds): The toughest of the short holes at Brown Deer, the golfers are forced to target a lean landing area with little room for error. Carrying that shot 215 yards makes the ability to hold that green rather difficult, especially during the later rounds when pin placements tend to be found towards the back of the green. Most wayward shots find the sand as bunkers line three sides of the green, swallowing shots that fail to account for prevailing winds or spin.

Hole 18 (Par 5, 557 yds): The elite forces of the Tour will be happy to miss this closer, one of the tougher scenes you will find on the 18th this season. The drive must carry a crossing creek that can be reached by those that go long, giving an optimal view of the green in two. However, if you come up short and you'll suffer. Hit short of the water and you have no shot at the green, a test made much more daunting by five front-side bunkers guarding the green. This hole could prove fatal if the championship is close on Sunday.


2008 Leaderboard
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Richard S. Johnson -16 (264)
2 Ken Duke -15 (265)
T3 Dean Wilson -13 (267)
T3 Chad Campbell -13 (267)
T3 Chris Riley -13 (267)
T6 Kenny Perry -12 (268)
T6 Troy Matteson -12 (268)
T6 Joe Ogilvie -12 (268)
T6 Patrick Sheehan -12 (268)
T6 George McNeill -12 (268)
T11 Omar Uresti -11 (269)
T11 Ryan Palmer -11 (269)
T11 Chad Collins -11 (269)
T11 Jason Dufner -11 (269)
T11 Brandt Jobe -11 (269)
T11 Jason Gore -11 (269)
T11 Gavin Coles -11 (269)
T11 Nick Flanagan -11 (269)

2007 Leaderboard
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Joe Ogilvie -14 (266)
T2 Charlie Wi -10 (270)
T2 Tim Clark -10 (270)
T2 Tim Herron -10 (270)
T5 Steve Flesch -8 (272)
T5 Bob Heintz -8 (272)
T5 Jeff Maggert -8 (272)
T5 Kenny Perry -8 (272)
T9 Craig Bowden -7 (273)
T9 Mark Wilson -7 (273)
T9 Billy Mayfair -7 (273)
T9 Jeff Sluman -7 (273)
T13 Chris Couch -6 (274)
T13 Tom Byrum -6 (274)
T13 Jay Delsing -6 (274)
T13 John Mallinger -6 (274)
T13 Steve Allan -6 (274)

2006 Leaderboard
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Corey Pavin -20 (260)
2 Jerry Kelly -18 (262)
3 Jeff Sluman -17 (263)
T4 D.J. Trahan -15 (265)
T4 Frank Lickliter II -15 (265)
T6 Woody Austin -14 (266)
T6 Joey Sindelar -14 (266)
T6 Billy Andrade -14 (266)
T9 Dicky Pride -13 (267)
T9 Dean Wilson -13 (267)
T9 K.J. Choi -13 (267)
T9 Nathan Green -13 (267)
T13 Jason Day -12 (268)
T13 Shaun Micheel -12 (268)


The Field

Set in a week when the golf world's elite will be engaged in battle overseas, the US Bank Championship is a landing spot for the rest. If you failed to qualify for the Open Championship (or if you are Kenny Perry in 2008 when you don't want to put your bag on the majors), you hit the links at the US Bank Championship and attempt to take advantage of a limited field.

This is not to say the folks in Milwaukee will be looking at a lackluster event. You don't get a PGA card unless you can destroy a golf course, and more than a few of the Tour's best will be on hand and swinging. For fantasy owners the challenge will be steep as the list of clear-cut options is best described as "abbreviated" (we are going to help you with this on Wednesday), but there are more than a few names to consider.

Among the noteworthy entries: Brett Quigley, Brian Davis, Jeff Maggert, Bart Bryant, Brendon de Jonge, Scott Piercy, Cliff Kresge, Kevin Streelman, Rich Beem, Heath Slocum, Jeff Quinney, Jerry Kelly, Scott Hoch, Peter Lonard, John Rollins, Frank Lickliter II, Webb Simpson, Cameron Beckman, J.P. Hayes, Jeff Klauk, John Mallinger, Mark Wilson, Steve Flesch, Bill Haas, Corey Pavin, Johnson Wagner, Kevin Na, Dean Wilson, Marc Turnesa, Troy Matteson, Chris DiMarco, Steve Elkington, James Nitties, Tom Pernice, Jr., Bo Van Pelt, Harrison Frazar, Tim Petrovic, Jason Gore, Jay Williamson, Nathan Green, Jesper Parnevik, and Jay Williamson.

To view the entire field:
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r029/field.html

Enjoy.