BellSouth Classic

01 Apr 2004 - 04 Apr 2004
TPC at Sugarloaf, Duluth, GA

Mike and Brennan discuss a strategy
© Mike and Brennan discuss a strategy

We are in beautiful Duluth, Georgia this week for the Bell South Classic, at the TPC at Sugarloaf, a great course designed by Greg Norman. It is a beautiful course, and a good test for next week when Mike defends his title at the Masters. Sugarloaf and Augusta have a lot of similar qualities, such as the long, narrow fairways, and the swift, undulating greens. This will be a good practice week for all heading into the first major of the year.

The TPC at Sugarloaf is a 7,293 yard, par 72 layout that is playing very quickly right now. There was a little bit of rain overnight but it won’t be enough to soften up the course. It’s been sunny and windy lately so the course is playing very fast. It will only speed up as the week goes on.

The rough is quite short, which is very unusual for a PGA TOUR event, and will give the players a break if they miss the generous fairways. The premium this week will be to hit the ball on the right side of the large, undulating greens – whoever has the hot putter this week will be in the hunt.

Holes 8, 11, and 18 are key holes this week. The par 3’s are the strongest holes on this golf course. Number 8 is the longest par three on tour, at approximately 250 yards. Depending on the wind direction, this is either a long iron into the green, or if it is against the wind we have to hit driver on this hole. Number 11, another par 3, is around 200 yards and is a dangerous tee shot, directly over a water onto a peninsula green and a bunker guarding the back left.

Number 18, is a par 5, 576 yard hole, and is a demanding and dramatic finishing hole. A good tee shot will leave Mike with a risk/reward type of 2nd shot. It is aggressive to go for this green in two, because there is water in front of the thin green, and a bunker guarding the back of the green. The tendency for players is to hit it long into the back bunker, but it is a difficult up and down. Depending on Mike’s drive, it will leave us a long iron to a 5 wood, that demands a high, soft shot to hold the green.

Mike is ready this week to get back at it, and spent some time practicing over the weekend. He feels good about his game and really wants to use this week to prepare for defending his Masters title. Can’t believe it’s that time again already – the year has flown by!

Thanks for reading,

Brennan Little