The Buick Open Preview & Golf Tips

The Buick Open

• June 23rd-June 29, 2008
• Warwick Hills Golf Course
• Grand Blanc, Michigan

Defending Champion: Brian Bateman

TV Coverage:

• 1st Round: Golf Channel 2-6pm
• 2nd Round: Golf Channel 3-6pm
• 3rd Round: CBS 3-6pm
• Final Round: CBS 3-6pm

Tournament History

Buick sponsors two of the best regular PGA Tour events during the year. This year’s Invitational was won in a landslide by Tiger Woods. With Tiger undergoing season ending surgery after his amazing performance at the US Open, there will be no Buick mini Slam this year. This leaves the Buick Open…well…open.

Whoever is going to take home this title will have to shoot the lights out at a Warwick Hills Course that yields low scores. Winning scores are typically in the -15 to -19 range. A couple of rounds in the mid 60s are almost a necessity to give a player a shot at winning. That was not always the case, as the winning score back in 1958 was -3. That is understandable as the course actually played longer back then than it does now. Yes…you read it right. It was 7280 yards, and this year it will play 7127. With most courses being lengthened to keep up with the modern player and technology, Warwick Hills went the other way. That is one of the reasons players must make lots of birdies to win.

This must be one of the few events that Jack Nicklaus did not win. Tony Lema won back to back Buick Open in 1964-65. He was the only back to back winner until Vijay Singh did it in 2004-2005. Can Brian Bateman be only the third player to accomplish this great feat?

Players to watch:

• Brian Bateman – defending champion
• Ryan Moore – playing well the last year
• Rocco Mediate – unforgettable performance at US Open
• Justin Leonard – major champion
• Kenny Perry – still gunning for Ryder Cup team
• Bubba Watson – could drive 3 par four’s with 3 woods

Warwick Hills

This course was shortened and now it is a shooting gallery. The par fives is reachable in two. There are two par fours on the back nine that are drivable without much danger for wayward shots. The fun begins at 12 which is the first of the drivable par fours. It is followed by a par five where the player must make birdie or he will definitely lose a shot to the field. The next hole is another drivable par 4. It is possible that a player could go 2-3-2 over this stretch for a total of 6 under par.

The home stretch does get a little tougher; however it will still take birdies to win. Pars are usually not enough at this event. It certainly will be different than the last few weeks which saw pars win golf tournaments.

I hope you enjoy the 2008 Buick Open at Warwick Hills Golf Course. Please remember to check back here for my Tour Tips of the leaders before the start of the third round.

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