PGA Preview: 2012 Tournament of Champions

The 2012 PGA Tour season finally gets underway this weekend from the Plantation course at Kapalua, Hawaii.  This week's tournament is special, as only players who won during the previous year are eligible to compete.  Thus, the name "Tournament of Champions."  Since the tourney is in Hawaii, the live golf broadcast hits us here in the continental USA in prime time.  The air times are below. In The Field There are 28 players in this week's field (full list below). We'll take a look at a few Frogger favorites. Johnathan Byrd punched his ticket to this year's tournament by winning it last year.  Can he defend his title and punch another ticket to the 2013 TOC? Another Johnathan in the field, but spelled differently, is Jhonattan Vegas.  Jhonny's no longer a rookie.  Will he have a case of sophomore-itis or will he shine this week/year? The Plantation course is fairly wide open, so bombers like Bubba Watson and Gary Woodland should be able to score well.  Will Bubba Watson hit another incredible driver off the deck on #18 like he did in this tournament last year, resulting in a eagle?  Come to think of it, 2011 Rookie of the Year Keegan Bradley isn't exactly short off the tee.  Put him in there too. Swing machine K.J. Choi is in the field, starting his first full season with a new caddie. NOT In The Field The story of who is not in the field is almost a bigger story than who is in. 2011 tournament winners who aren't in the field this week due to their choice in scheduling or injury: Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Luke Donald, Rory McIlory, Charl Schwartzel, Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson. Phil Mickelson doesn't typically play this tournament so that is not a surprise. Dustin Johnson would likely attend, but he is still recovering from successful knee surgery. For Donald, McIlroy and Schwartzel it is simply an understandable break in the schedule to rest.  Those players played deep into the off season in various events around the world. Full Field

Molder, Bryce	Bradley, Michael
Frazar, Harrison	Crane, Ben
Wagner, Johnson	Na, Kevin
O'Hair, Sean	Piercy, Scott
Points, D.A.	Stallings, Scott
Steele, Brendan	Vegas, Jhonattan
Kirk, Chris	Glover, Lucas
Laird, Martin	Sabbatini, Rory
Wilson, Mark	Watson, Bubba
Bradley, Keegan	Toms, David
Woodland, Gary	Stricker, Steve
Choi, K.J.	Baddeley, Aaron
Simpson, Webb	Watney, Nick
Byrd, Jonathan	Haas, Bill

TV Schedule - Golf Channel FRI: 5:30-10PM SAT: 5:30-10PM SUN: 5:30-10PM MON: 4-8PM