US TOUR:TWO-TIME Harbour Town champion Stewart Cink goes into today's Verizon Heritage tournament hoping again to make the most of what he calls the "anti-Augusta" feeling.
Reigning British Open champion Cink had a difficult Masters, missing the cut by five strokes after back-to-back rounds of 76.
The compensation for the American is a chance to rebound at the Harbour Town Golf Links course on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where he was victorious in 2000 and 2004.
“It’s quite special,” Cink said. “It’s always one of my favourites, if not my very favourite tournament of the year. It’s such a relaxed field. The golf course is really unique and special.
“It’s like the anti-Augusta: flat, everything is very small and closed in, whereas Augusta is so large and rolling hills. Everything here is the opposite.
“So based on my play last week, I hope that’s the opposite, too.”
Cink said he was struggling to find consistency in his game for the second season in a row, despite having come away with his maiden major victory at Turnberry last July.
“It’s been sort of a continuation of some things I did in my game last year, where I was wildly inconsistent,” he said.
“I had the British Open win and a few good tournaments, but really a lot of lacklustre play.
“Unfortunately I sort of continued that. And working like crazy, as always, but just not seeming to get much out of my rounds.
“It’s hard to put a finger on exactly what it is but I’m continuing to work hard and trying to make improvements and see how we can go the rest of the year.”
Cink joins a field at the par-71, 6,973-yard course which includes world number six Jim Furyk, England’s world number seven Paul Casey and Colombian Camilo Villegas, fourth on this year’s PGA Tour money list.
There are no Irish competing in South Carolina this year.
World number five Ian Poulter will not be competing either, having withdrawn following his Masters exertions when he finished tied for 10th.
THE HERITAGE
Course: Harbour Town Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Length: 6,973 yards.
Par: 71
Prizemoney: €4.2 million (€750,000 for the winner)
Layout: A Pete Dye design which has hosted the event since 1969. Test of accuracy over length with only three par fives; it is chiefly a test of iron play. Many of the holes are linksy in style and wind can play a big part. Sloping Bermuda greens are the smallest on tour.
Field: 132
Defending champion: Brian Gay
On TV: Sky Sports 2 (8pm-11pm)
Weather forecast: Clear and sunny
