posted April 9, 2007 at 15:13 EST in Golf Articles

April 12-15, 2007

One week removed from the exhausting challenge of a bitter cold August National course that refused to surrender low scores, the Tour heads to its traditional post-Masters destination of the Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Previously-unknown golfer Zach Johnson, whom PGATOUR.com notes has a tour-wide reputation as being one of its great gentlemen, recorded his second tour win (’04 BellSouth Classic was his first), and first victory in a major, last weekend at The Masters.

Before last weekend, Johnson’s best finish in 2007 was 14th at the PODS Championship. He battled at the Masters, though, and won thanks to the low round of the final day. Johnson will certainly ride the momentum of his Masters’ success into nearby South Carolina this weekend.

 

Outstanding Masters performances last weekend could propel the games of some lesser-known golfers at the Heritage. Golfers such as Jerry Kelly, Justin Rose, Zach Johnson and Johnson’s closest friend on tour, Vaughn Taylor. There have been worse motivators than having endured and nearly beaten the Augusta ’s siren song.

Aaron Baddeley won last year’s Heritage tournament by one-stroke over Jim Furyk, who was, likewise, a one-stroke runner-up in 2005. Baddeley is in the top-10 of the FedEx Cup race this season so it would be wise to keep an eye on him this weekend.

Vaughn Taylor and Billy Mayfair finished two strokes off of Baddeley’s score last year, while Brett Quigley finished fourth at11-under par. Of the three, Taylor is the best threat based on 2007 results. He is ranked 35th in the FedEx Cup race so far, after having finished 3rd at Orlando ’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and having tied for 10th last week at The Masters. Mayfair finished 5th at the FBR in Scottsdale , but has missed six of nine cuts this season.

 

Davis Love III has five victories at Harbour Town (2003 and 1998, 1992, 1991, 1989) and was one of the 2005 runner-ups along with Furyk, Billy Andrade and Darren Clarke.

With two consecutive runner-up results in the last two tournaments held at Harbour Town , Jim Furyk has to be considered a great shot to claim this season’s win.

Peter Lonard won the 2005 tournament, while Stewart Cink claimed the win in 2004. Both are entered this weekend.

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