Weekley back to defend Heritage title

2008-04-15

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HILTON HEAD, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Boo Weekley returns to defend his title at the $5.5 million Verizon Heritage, whichstarts Thursday.

Weekley claimed his first PGA Tour title at this event lastyear, shooting a 14-under-par 270 to edge South African ErnieEls by one shot.

Entering the event this week, Weekley has three top-10 finishesin 11 events in 2008. He was in contention at The Masters lastweek before a final-round 5-over 77 led to a 20th-place finish.

"I think after last week, luckily I got hockey sticks the lastday, but I take that as a bonus, to finish in the top 20 in amajor for the first time actually going and seeing Augusta andlearning a little bit about the character of the golf course andthen coming here," Weekley said. "I feel like if I can putthalfway decent on them greens, when I get here maybe I can carrythat over and putt a little better here this week."

A runner-up here in 2005 and 2006, Jim Furyk indicated there isan adjustment from the courses from last week at Augusta (7,445yards) to the shorter Harbour Town Golf Links (6,913).

"It's more of a challenge to adjust than people might think,"Furyk said. "You go from Augusta National, which is such a bigplace - a lot of area, big greens, big bunkers and all - to agolf course with small greens, narrow fairways ... to changeyour game from Augusta to Hilton Head, it's not an easy thing todo. The focus is totally different."

Weekley will be trying to keep a streak intact this week as nodefending champion has missed the cut at this event since DavisLove III in 1993.

A five-time winner at the Harbour Town Golf Links, Love IIIreturns to the event this week.

Els, who missed the cut at The Masters, will try to turn thingsaround this week. He has one win this season but also hasmissed two cuts in five overall events.

"I'm excited to play again," Els said. "I've been working alittle bit with (coach) Butch Harmon. Obviously it wasn't greattiming, starting to work with him just before the Masters. ButI really kind of lost my swing a little bit after the HondaClassic and I needed to do something. I wanted to go his route."

Also in the field are Stewart Cink and Brandt Snedeker - a pairof players who were near the top of the leaderboard last week inAugusta. Cink and Snedeker tied for third, four shots behindwinner Trevor Immelman, who is not entered.

A Tennessee native, Snedeker had a chance to win his first majorlast week before a final-round 77.

"The week is obviously going to be something I remember for therest of my life," he said. "It was a great week. Obviously alot of disappointment on Sunday. I think you all kind of saw theemotions run over. I don't regret anything that happened onSunday. I don't regret how I played. I don't regret how Ihandled myself afterwards. I just felt like that's who I am.

"I left it all out on the golf course on Sunday and I was justemotionally drained from the week. The pressure finally got tome, I guess, and I hadn't really felt it all week and on Sundaywhen I got done I saw my family and let everything out."

First prize is $990,000.