Once upon a time, only the best won the dubious privilege of wearing the tartan blazer, signifying victory at Harbour Town. “The King” set the precedent at the inaugural event in 1969, and a roll call of the game’s luminaries followed Arnold Palmer to the victory circle. I’m talking Nicklaus, Watson, Norman, Stewart, Faldo, Miller, Zoeller, Price, Langer and Love, the last no less than a five-time winner.
Then things changed. Since Glen “All” Day won what to this point remains his only Tour title in ‘99, the list of champions has become decidedly more pedestrian. Stewart Cink, whose nearest brush with a Major came when he missed an 18-inch putt that would’ve put him in a U.S. Open playoff a few years ago, has won twice. Jose Coceres, Peter Lonard, Aaron Baddely and now Boo Weekley may have added tartan to their respective wardrobes, but with just one or two victories each on Tour, there is still plenty of room in their trophy cases. All may well go on to have stellar, multiple-victory Tour careers. But at this point, with the world’s best MIA at Harbour Town in recent years (Tiger, Vijay, Phil, Retief) and up-and-comers instead of established stars tasting victory, Hilton Head’s marquee golf event is losing just a little bit of luster.
Joel Zuckerman, a.k.a. the Vagabond Golfer , has been called "one of the most respected and sought-after golf writers in the Southeast" by Golfer's Guide Magazine. His golf stories have appeared in more than 100 publications and his books include "Golf in the Lowcountry," "Golf Charms of Charleston," "Misfits on the Links," "A Hacker's Humiliations" and his latest, "Pete Dye Golf Courses - 50 Years of Visionary Design." The Dye family selected Joel to write the book and it was honored as the 2008 Book of the Year by the International Network of Golf. Visit www.vagabondgolfer.com for more information.
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