Heritage Preview: Tussle for Tartan Jacket is Wide Open

Reigning British Open champion Stewart Cink called it the "Anti-Augusta." Matt Kuchar literally let out a sigh of relief saying he was much more relaxed minus the Tiger heat and unrelenting stress of the Masters. Two-time Heritage champion Boo Weekley appears more energized under the Carolina blue skies, saying he's got a "little itch" and is now finally healthy and ready to compete.

The post-Masters period of the PGA Tour schedule begins Thursday with the 42nd edition of the Verizon Heritage on a golf course that couldn't be more different than Augusta National, and with an atmosphere closer to a cocktail party than a constant pressure cooker.

"I don't think it's tough to come here," said Cink, who won the Heritage in 2000 and 2004. "When you gear up and play a major like Augusta or any of the big tournaments, it makes it a bit more relaxing and easier the next week because your game is already prepared.

"You've already done the preparations," continued Cink. "The one thing that's hard to prepare for at the majors is that intensity of the golf course and the competition and what it means. When you come here (Hilton Head) the intensity just seems to melt away and enables you to really relax and be at your best."

Seven players who finished in the top 25 at The Masters are in Hilton Head this week to battle for a different kind of sport jacket - a plaid-patterned Tartan coat that will be awarded to the winner on the 18th green late Sunday afternoon. World No. 5 Ian Poulter was scheduled to play, but withdrew Tuesday.

Kuchar and South Korea's K.J. Choi, who were both paired with Tiger Woods in the first two rounds of The Masters, are at Harbour Town last week. Choi, who hasn't played in Hilton Head since 2001, was in contention at Augusta until late in Sunday's round. He finished 11-under-par and tied Woods for fourth.

Having played in six of the past seven Heritage tournaments, Kuchar is quite familiar with Harbour Town. Last week the former standout at Georgia Tech finished T24 in his first Masters appearance since 2002. He's hoping to use the momentum and the preparation from Augusta this week.

"I worked on working the ball a little more last week, especially off the tee, hitting draws off the tee," Kuchar said. "There are a few holes that really set up well out here if you can hit the draw. I'm excited to have that a little more dialed up.

"In the past I've been kind of a straight ball hitter off the tee and I worked it with my irons," he added. "Now I feel better about working my driver. You have to shape shots around here. Any time you are just off a major championship, you're competitively sharp and hopefully that sharpness carries into this week."

Defending champion Brian Gay is back to defend his title. In 2009, Gay demoralized the field with a final round 64, his best of the tournament, and won by 10 strokes. It was the largest margin of victory since Phil Mickelson's 13-shot win at the 2006 Bell South Classic. The soft-spoken two-time Tour winner says he can't rely on last year's success this time around.

"I think that the challenge this year is not live up to last year, just go out and do the best I can and hit the shots that I hit last year," Gay said. "Not put too much pressure on myself or too many expectations and compare it to last year."

Popular past champions are also looking to regain their form this week in Hilton Head. Weekley, who won at Harbour Town in '07 and '08, has been dealing with the effects of a torn labrum since the Players Championship in May 2009. His last top 10 finish on the PGA Tour came at the 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii. Weekley said he is finally pain free and that he hopes to rejuvinate his game on one of his favorite courses.

"I've got the feeling that this week is the week I come back," he said. "I feel like I can do something. I've been working hard at home. The last two weeks I've been off, I've actually played golf when I was at home, instead of going fishing all the time or hunting all the time. So I'm ready. I'm curious. I'm ready to get out there and get back."

Five-time Heritage champion Davis Love III is also eager to play again after watching The Masters on television for the third consecutive year. Love said winning for him isn't just about getting back to Augusta, and he'll attempt to have fun like Phil Mickelson did last week and just let the other things happen.

"You've got to block all those things out," he said. "I've always told younger players, everybody has their distractions, whether it's trying to make a cut or make the 125 or win the Grand Slam. "Everybody has some distraction that keeps them from playing well, and that's the challenge for me - not trying to make the Ryder Cup team, not trying to get in the top 50 or top 20 in rankings or win to get in The Masters, it's just to go play. And I think that's where my erratic play has come from lately, the last couple of years, is just trying too hard to get back to where I expect to be, rather than going out and playing."

Last year Love III finished T21 and Weekley wound up T13.

Other notable names in the field include Sergio Garcia, Jim Furyk, Lucas Glover, Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Ricky Barnes, John Daly, J.B. Holmes, Jerry Kelly, Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Camilo Villegas and Mike Weir.

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The event will be broadcast on Golf Channel on Thurs. and Friday, and CBS Sports will have coverage over the weekend. For more tournament information, visit www.verizonheritage.com.

Five to Watch

Vaughn Taylor

The Masters is fresh in the mind of Augusta native Vaughn Taylor, who narrowly missed playing in this year's first major when he lost in a playoff to Anthony Kim in Houston. Taylor has played well at Harbour Town in the past, posting a T3 in 2006 and a T4 in 2007.

K.J. Choi

Choi was hanging with eventual champion Phil Mickelson until his bogey at the par-3 12th in the middle of Amen Corner. It's clear that Choi is playing much better after a forgettable 2009, but does he have enough left in the tank to contend at Harbour Town?

Brian Gay

How can you bet against Brian Gay after the tremendous scoring display he put on in Hilton Head last year? It's his Heritage to lose.

Rickie Fowler

Even with two Top 5 showings this season, celebrated rookie Rickie Fowler is beginning to fade as the PGA Tour schedule progresses. Fowler played well on the West Coast and during last year's Fall Series, but he needs a solid performance in the heart of the calendar to show that's he's arrived.

Lucas Glover

The former Clemson Tiger returns home for the first time since his unexpected victory at the 2009 U.S. Open. He has three Top 20 finishes seven appearances at Harbour Town.