PREVIEW: 84 Lumber Classic - Tuesday, September 12, 2006
FARMINGTON, Pa. -- Start with a chocolate cake. Add some Indian fry bread at the New Mexico State Fair. Then, finish it off with a trip to the horse track to, as Notah Begay III puts it, "try to cash in on a little birthday luck."
That's how the Albuquerque native traditionally spends his birthday, which is this Thursday. However, this year, Notah will celebrate his special day at the 84 Lumber Classic on the Mystic Rock Golf Course attempting to win his fifth PGA Tour victory.
"My birthday always falls during the month of the New Mexico State Fair," Notah said on Tuesday. "So it's been a tradition to go out to the fairgrounds, enjoy some Indian fry bread and take in a few of the outrageous attractions. Invariably, we run into someone that we haven't seen awhile and it's fun to visit."
Last weekend, at the New Mexico Open, Notah visited his home state and earned 2nd-place - his highest professional finish since winning the 2000 Canon Greater Hartford Open.
"I'm very excited for the end of the year," Notah said. "My health has improved dramatically and my game is not too far behind. My practice sessions are great and this past week's finish at the New Mexico Open has given me a needed boost of momentum. I plan to play hard every hole and enjoy the battle."
The Pete Dye-designed Mystic Rock course will certainly provide a battle for this week's field as it is the third-longest par-72 course on the 2006 PGA Tour. Players will need to be long and accurate as the greens are well-bunkered and the links measure 7,516 yards.
"My general game plan doesn't change from course to course," Notah said. "I find that the more difficult the course, the better my game holds up. I prefer the course to be challenging enough so that the best golfer is identified at week's end. If this week's course happens to be long then I'll just have to hit more club's plain and simple."
A 3-time All-American at Stanford, Notah will tee it up with 3-time Central Florida All-American Robert Damron and Australian Nathan Green this Thursday at 7:24 am (ET).
Be sure to check back with Notah.com to follow NB3 in his quest for win No. 5 on the PGA Tour.
THIS WEEK'S BREAKDOWN
Notah's History at the 84 Lumber Classic (0-1 vs. the cut)
2002 - SEI Pennsylvania Classic - cut (75, 72) = 147 (5)
Course
Mystic Rock Golf Course, Farmington, Pa.
Notah's Group (Rounds 1 & 2)
Robert Damron (Pikeville, Ky.)
Nathan Green (Toronto, New South Wales, Australia)
Notah's Tee Times (ET)
Th - 7:24 am (10th tee)
Fr - 12:09 pm (1st tee)
TV Times (ET)
Thu 4-6 pm (ESPN)
Fri 4-6 pm (ESPN)
Sat 4-6 pm (ESPN)
Sun 3-6 pm (ESPN)
