Short Iron Beats Right In Hole

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Avenel was a huge success as soon as it opened, well at least for Arnold Palmer. The "King" made back-to-back aces on the par-three third hole prior to the start of the 1986 Chrysler Cup. During a practice round on Tuesday, Palmer, the captain of the U.S. team, made a hole-in-one with a five-iron on the then 182-yard hole. The next day was the pro-amateur event and Palmer, again using a five-iron, made a one -- the first time that back-to-back aces were recorded on any professional tour. Just an FYI: Palmer missed the green during the opening round of the event as he tried for three straight.

 

Beginning in 1987, the PGA Tour began its run at Avenel with the Kemper Open, where former U.S. Open champion Tom Kite was a runaway winner by seven over Chris Perry and Howard Twitty. The following year, Kite lost in a playoff to Morris Hatalsky, as Mo-Cat sank a five-foot par putt for the win. The 1980s were completed with a Tom Byrum five-shot win over three players for his first and only PGA Tour title.

 

Two shots behind Bobby Wadkins with one round to play, Mark Brooks carded his fourth straight round in the 60s to clip Wadkins and D.A. Weibring by three shots in 1994. Lee Janzen defeated Corey Pavin with a 12-foot birdie on the first extra hole to capture the 1995 tournament. Janzen, who shot four rounds in the 60s, won the last playoff in the event's storied history.

 

The 1998 title went to Stuart Appleby, who became the second International player to win at Avenel. Despite a one-over 72, Appleby defeated Scott Hoch by one shot. Appleby secured the win with a three-iron to within 15 feet on the final hole and two-putted for par. Rich Beem led, or was tied for the lead, from start to finish in 1999, as he won for the first time on the PGA Tour. Beem's total of 274 was one clear of Bill Glasson and Bradley Hughes.

 

For the second straight year, a first-time winner was crowned, as Tom Scherrer came from two behind on Sunday to post a two-shot win in 2000. Scherrer was the only player to post all four rounds in the 60s. When Frank Lickliter won in 2001, he became the ninth player in the last 19 years to make this tournament his first PGA Tour victory. The 2001 event was completed on Monday for the first time due to inclement weather.

 

Rory Sabbatini returned to the winner's circle for the first time in three years, as he closed with back-to-back 68s for a four-shot win. With his victory, Sabbatini became the fourth player in the last five years to either hold or share the 54-hole lead and go on to victory. The 2003 event changed names to the FBR Capital Open.

 

The 2006 event returned to Avenel and Ben Curtis, three years removed from his British Open title, endured six days of inclement weather to capture his second career title. Curtis' total of 264 was one shy of the tournament record and he won by five shots over four players. Rain and lightning plagued the event from start to finish, as this event was the first Tuesday climax since the 1980 Tucson Open. Curtis, who hit 83.3 percent of the fairways for the week and led from start to finish, had a chance to break the tournament mark, but a bogey-bogey finish ended his chances.

 

REVIEW: The opening hole at the TPC at Avenel is a sharp, dogleg-right par four of just 393 yards. However, don't be misled, as the tee shot plays uphill to a fairway that is protected on either side by long bunkers. A medium to short iron will remain after a successful tee ball to one of the smallest greens on the course, just 32 paces deep. Any shot offline and to the right will be gobbled up by a difficult bunker. An opening par is not a bad way to start.

 

Arnold Palmer put the third hole and the course on the map with his back-to- back aces in 1986. This monster of a par-three now plays to the tune of 239 yards. The putting surface is long and wide and features a shaved chipping area around the green. Slightly downhill, the real danger is short-right, as a creek and trees come into play. Shoot for bogey and maybe, just maybe, you might sink a short putt for par.

 

The fifth is a fun, short par four that bends to the left with a myriad of traps down both sides of the fairway. The real key here is finding the right distance to layup from the tee with either a fairway metal or a long iron. Your approach will be downhill to a difficult green that features a ridge in the center of the 33-yard deep surface. Three very deep bunkers dot the circumference of the green, along with a chipping area to the right.

 

A fairly straight par four, the eighth is difficult due to length and bunker positioning in the fairway. A draw off the tee will set up a medium iron to one of the smallest greens on the course. Just 28 paces deep, this putting surface slopes hard from back to front and possesses two deep pot bunkers in the back and one trap left and one right. With a back-left flag, just play to the center, two-putt and move on. Not a hole to take chances on.

comments

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•    @andytoots I jest, of course. Been in France with only a dog for a few days. She's unappreciative of my brilliant gags.

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•    RT @Short_Order: Today is the day! Iron Fork is tonight and Short Order Award winners will be revealed. Tix still available newtimesironfork.com

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•    @mmitchelldaviss oh and you would pic the one day I'm never at Ceasar's Creek to go there. #Fail

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•    Can't believe iron head heyward is playing short stop for the giants, unbelievably talented isn't he?

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•    Of course!! @libertyswarrior U da man! Xo!

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•    School... Its a love hate relationship. Wishing I was at a resort in Cozumel right about now :( had to much fun this weekend with my family

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•    #Nap :) ? after #TheGame ends of course

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•    ei meninas Que ficaram sem Par mande . #iNDICAdii vo indicar .

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•    #f1 10min delay!@jlegand 'surface akin to a golfer putting on marble' You know??

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•    Don't really feel like goin out. But life is short. Yoiu never know what's gon happen who u gon meet. So ima iron my shirt

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