Boo Weekley returns to defend title in Verizon Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links

From WorldGolf.com News Services

While most players aren't likely to ever forget their first career PGA Tour victory, Boo Weekley's first trip to the winner's circle in last year's Verizon Heritage was particularly memorable.

Weekley chipped in on holes 17 and 18 in the final round at Harbour Town Golf Links in 2007 to beat Ernie Els by one shot. One year later, the Florida native said he's still having a hard time figuring out how he pulled off the feat.

"I played the back side (Tuesday) - just nine holes - and we got around there to 16, 17 and 18 and, of course, I went around there and had to try those chip shots," Weekley told reporters. "There was no way. I still don't see how that went in, but it was very memorable."

Returning to defend his title at Hilton Head, S.C., Weekley said plenty of great memories came rushing back.

"When I teed it up, I was still thinking, 'All right, here we are again, right back where we started from,'" Weekley said. "With it being my first win, it's a great place to come back to."

Weekley is coming off a 20th-place performance last weekend in the Masters. He was poised for a better finish - the top 16 placers and ties earned an automatic invitation to return to Augusta National in 2009 - but he carded a 40 on the back nine at Augusta National Golf Club and shot a 5-over-par 77 in the final round.

"I got hockey sticks the last day, but I take that as a bonus to finish in the top 20 in a major for the first time actually going and seeing Augusta and learning a little bit about the character of the golf course and then coming here," Weekley said. "I feel like if I can putt halfway decent on those greens, when I get here maybe I can carry that over and putt a little better here this week."

Weekley enters Thursday's first round of the Verizon Heritage ranked No. 37 on the PGA Tour money list with $778,985 in earnings. He has made eight of 10 cuts and has three top-10 finishes, including a season-best tie for eighth place in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

In a first time returning to a tournament as a defending champion, Weekley said it has been an honor to represent the tournament, returning previously for sponsor day and media day.

"That's big," Weekley said. "I didn't come to do it just for them. I came to show them I'm just as much proud to be a part of this as the next person is."

Ernie Els back on track?

Despite the disappointment last year, Els said he's excited about returning to Hilton Head and continuing to work on some swing adjustments. Els missed the cut at the Masters and has struggled since winning the Honda Classic on March 2.

"I've been working a little bit with Butch Harmon," Els said. "Obviously, it wasn't great timing, starting to work with him just before the Masters, but I really kind of lost my swing a little bit after the Honda Classic and I needed to do something.

"So I'm looking forward to seeing how these changes in my swing are coming around. Last week it didn't work too great, but it's a little early, as I say, but I feel like I can really work on something now that's going to help me."

Verizon Heritage

SCHEDULE: Thursday-Sunday
SITE: Hilton Head Island, S.C.
COURSE: Harbour Town Golf Links (6,973 yards, par 71)
PURSE: $5.5 million (winner's share: $990,000)
FEDEX CUP POINTS: 25,000 (winner's share: 4,500).
TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m., 8:30-11:30 p.m. CDT) and CBS (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. CDT).

April 17, 2008