Nick Watney back to defend his title in Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana near New Orleans

From WorldGolf.com News Services

After winning his first PGA Tour event last year in the Zurich Classic, Nick Watney said he figured his next victory would come much easier. Now, he's not quite as sure.

As Watney prepares to defend his title Thursday at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., he said he might have been trying a little too hard to get into the winner's circle again over the past year.

"I liked it so much I was really wanting to do it again really soon and definitely started pressing maybe," Watney told reporters Wednesday. "People say trying too hard, trying to force things, so the second half of the year was a little disappointing, but I feel like I'm on the right track and improving."

Watney has made the cut in five of the seven PGA Tour events he's played in 2008 with three top-25 finishes, including a tie for fifth in the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship. Since then, his best effort was a tie for 21st in his last outing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

Watney enters the week ranked No. 73 in the FedEx Cup points standings.

Last season, Watney finished 35th in the FedEx Cup chase. He also won a career-best $1.83 million and had three top-10 finishes, including his Zurich Classic win.

"Everything that's happened, I would never trade it," Watney said. "It's been a great year. Coming back here - it hasn't been quite a year yet, but I still have some great memories."

Watney said his success in 2007 inspired him to strive for more.

"I kind of took a step back in the off-season and worked with Butch Harmon and we had it planned what we wanted to do physically, but also I definitely need to get better mentally," Watney said. "I think that's my biggest weakness right now."

With the Masters two weeks away, several top players are skipping the Zurich Classic. The field is headlined by defending Masters champion Zach Johnson, 2007 British Open champion Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker and Retief Goosen.

Johnson said the greens at the Pete Dye-designed TPC Louisiana are the best he's seen this year for a regular PGA Tour event.

"I know there's some rain in the forecast and that could soften them up, but the beauty is they run pretty true," Johnson told reporters. "They're probably at least 11 on the (stimp meter) ... maybe a little more at times, but the beauty is that they're still fair and they still hold a little bit.

"You hit a long iron in there, you've got to play for release, clearly, but this golf course is one that you feel like that front yardage is pretty important. I like that golf."

Watney agreed that the course conditions are very good.

"I think it's in really, really good shape," he said. "Hitting into the greens, especially, is going to be difficult because they're firm and fast, so you've got to be pretty precise with your irons. I like how the course is set up."

Zurich Classic

SCHEDULE: Thursday-Sunday
SITE: Avondale, La.
COURSE: TPC Louisiana (7,341 yards, par 72)
PURSE: $6.2 million (winner's share: $1,116,000)
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. EDT) and NBC (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. EDT)

March 27, 2008