This week's stop on the PGA Tour is a respite from bomb and gouge and favors players skilled at working the ball, controlling trajectory and hitting irons precise distances. Pete Dye's tight and twisty layout at the Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head has been the host course for the Heritage since it's inception in 1969 and features tree lined fairways, lots of doglegs and plays through a natural wetlands area to increase the penalty for failing to keep the ball in the short grass.
Given the nature of the test, I think it's hard to find a better pick for the week than Luke Donald. In five starts, Donald has a win, and three top tens (including a seventh place finish in the Masters) vs. only one missed cut. The Englishman is known as one of the premier iron players on tour and he is as hot as the pink shirts he often dons for the final round (we can only hope that the particularly egregious pairing of pink and green was a special Masters edition and won't be repeated).
One might also consider Matt Kuchar, as the Georgia Tech grad has finished in the top ten in six of nine starts this year. My sentimental pick would be Steve Elkington, if only because I like watching his swing and he gets next to no TV time these days. In all seriousness, Harbour Town is one of those tracks where you can easily see an older player winning, as distance is not at a premium.
My ill-designed for the purpose, no chance in hell pick for this week is John Daly. If ever a course and player were less suited for one another, I can't bring them to mind. Then again, I suppose Long John can't be too picky about where he plays these days. Daly is scheduled for the first tee time on Thursday, playing with Kevin Na and Jesper Parnevik. Given Na's well known penchant for playing at an evolutionary pace (unless surrounded by trees and high grass) and Daly's ability to shoot 78 quicker than anyone else on tour, I'm guessing tempers and scores will be high.
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