Fowler's Kodak Challenge lead in jeopardy during Fall Series

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Rookie Rickie Fowler takes his Kodak Challenge lead into the Fall Series ... but will he be able to stay there?

Since early January at the par-5 18th at Kapalua Resort at the SBS Championship in Hawaii, and most recently visiting hole No. 17 at Ridgewood Country Club as part of The Barclays, the Kodak Challenge has appeared at 25 of the PGA TOUR's greatest holes in 2010. Now entering its final homestretch, the $1 million winner-takes-all Kodak Challenge competition is gearing up for another exciting "photo finish."

After a brief September rest, the final 5-hole segment of the Kodak Challenge competition begins on the par-5 No. 18 at the Viking Classic on September 31-October 3. The 2010 Kodak Challenge season concludes at Disney World on November 11-14 on hole No. 17 at the Children's Miracle Network Classic.

PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year contender Rickie Fowler, currently leads the Kodak Challenge at 14 under. Fowler has held the top position on the Kodak Challenge leaderboard since the final round of the Verizon Heritage tournament at Harbour Town Links in Hilton Head, S.C. on April 18. The Ryder Cup team member leads a strong field of contenders into the final stages of the Kodak Challenge.

Now in its second year, the Kodak Challenge celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR, challenging players to perform their best on 30 designated Kodak Challenge holes. The player with the lowest cumulative score on his best 18 Kodak Challenge holes will win $1 million. Kevin Streelman claimed the first Kodak Challenge title at the PGA TOUR's final event of the 2009 season, the Children's Miracle Network Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Twenty-nine PGA TOUR players are currently within four strokes of Rickie Fowler's field-leading pace. Troy Merritt sits just two shots behind Fowler at 12 under, while Tim Petrovic, Brandt Snedeker, Carl Pettersson, Jimmy Walker, Lee Janzen and John Senden are only three strokes off the lead at 11 under.

With two par-5s and three par-4s in the final five holes, players within striking distance of Fowler have plenty of chances to make a run at the $1 million Kodak Challenge prize. Here's a quick look at the remaining five holes in the 2010 Kodak Challenge:

• Viking Classic (Sept. 31 -- Oct. 3) -- Annandale Golf Club, 523-yard, par 5 No. 18
• McGladrey Classic (Oct. 7--10) -- Seaside Course, 408-yard, par 4 No. 13
• Frys.com Open (Oct. 14-17) -- CordValle C.C., 358-yard, par 4 No. 17
• Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital (Oct. 21-24) - TPC Summerlin, 560-yard par 5 No. 17
• Children's Miracle Network Classic (Nov. 11-14) -- Disney's Magnolia GC, par 4 No. 17

Scorecard Rules Provide Opportunity
Since the Kodak Challenge records a player's best 18 Kodak Challenge holes scores, pros with a full Kodak Challenge scorecard can move up the leaderboard quickly. Once a player reaches 18 holes, subsequent holes (beyond 18) provide the opportunity to replace bogeys and pars on their Kodak Challenge scorecards with birdies (or even eagles). This can create a one, two, or even three-shot swing in a player's score on just one hole.

For the players, the math is easy; the more holes they play, the better their chances. For players with bogeys on their card, the incentive is even greater. There are currently six players within striking distance of Fowler that have bogeys to replace, including Jimmy Walker at 11 under and Andres Romero, Aaron Baddeley, Martin Laird, Steve Lowery and Matt Bettencourt at 10 under. Fowler himself has an interesting dilemma in that he is yet to play the minimum 18 Kodak Challenge holes. As a member of the U. S. Ryder Cup team, he will miss a big opportunity to improve his score and register his 18th hole while those in pursuit take their shots at the par-5 No. 18 at the Viking Classic.

Can the young and talented Fowler maintain his lead to the finish line at Disney? Will Troy Merritt use the Kodak Challenge as a stepping stone to PGA TOUR success? Can a seasoned TOUR vet like Lee Janzen jump ahead of the upstarts to grab the winner-takes-all Kodak Challenge $1 million?

These and other questions will be answered over the coming weeks as the Kodak Challenge moves to its finale at the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Disney World in November. Stay tuned at PGATOUR.com, The PGA TOUR Network on Sirius/XM Radio and The Golf Channel.