The Fall Series from A to Z

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Twenty-six things about the Fall Series, which kicks off Thursday with the Viking Classic:

A. Annandale Golf Club. Host of the Viking Classic since 1994, making it just the second course in the tournament's 42-year history. Was soaked by rain in 2009, leading to a rare tournament cancellation.

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B. Boo Weekley. As he said in Greensboro last month, he plays well when he has sweet tea, and they definitely have it this week in Mississippi. Look for him to play 2-3 weeks this fall.

C. CordeValle Golf Club. The new course for the Frys.com Open, which is moving from Grayhawk Golf Club to the San Jose area, closer to Fry's Electronics' world headquarters.

D. Daly. John Daly said last week that he will be playing the Frys.com Open in addition to this week at the Viking Classic. He will need at least a couple of top-fives to earn back the TOUR card he lost after the 2006 season, but he's been playing better.

E. Earnings. Everyone is chasing that 125th spot on the money list. It assures not only a TOUR card, but spots in THE PLAYERS Championship and spots early next year on the West Coast swing. Its importance can't be understated.

F. Fowler. He currently holds the lead in the Kodak Challenge at 14 under, but it remains to be seen whether he can keep it. His Ryder Cup appearance will hurt him -- the Kodak Challenge hole this week is the easy par-5 18th at Annandale. Troy Merritt (12 under) can tie him with an eagle.

G. Georgia. The Peach State is showcasing its gorgeous Sea Island Resort on Oct. 7-10 with the inaugural The McGladrey Classic. The venue is the par-70 Seaside course, which opened in 1928.

H. Hoffman. Charley Hoffman. From the Fantasy Insider: Hoffman verbally committed to the Viking Classic, but withdrew before the commitment deadline on Friday. For now, his lone verbal is for the Frys.com Open. He also runs a charity pro-am the Monday of tournament week in hometown of Las Vegas, where he's teed it up at the TOUR stop for the last four years.

I. Imada. Ryuji Imada's exemption for winning the 2008 AT&T Classic runs out after this year, and at 108th on the money list, he's likely to keep his card. He can turn a probability into a certainly with a strong showing this week.

Timberlake

J. Justin Timberlake. The pop star has lent his name to the Shiners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin the last two years. Timberlake's involvement has helped strengthen the field; last year drew Jim Furyk, Hunter Mahan and Anthony Kim.

K. Kodak Challenge. The winner-take-all competition went down to the wire last year, with Kevin Streelman birdieing the 17th hole at the Magnolia Course during the Children's Miracle Network Classic to win by a shot.

L. Love. Davis Love III moved to Sea Island well before several other pros followed his lead. The golf-crazy community has become a go-to place for fixing a swing flaw or simply escaping the winter. Love is tournament chairman of The McGladrey Classic and played a major role in the tournament becoming the newest event on the PGA TOUR schedule.

M. Magnolia. The tougher of the two courses during the Children's Miracle Network Classic. The 7,516-yard track features the 485-yard 17th, which is the closing hole in the Kodak Challenge.

N. Nitties. James Nitties, the promising Australian, has seen his game take a mysterious dive after a solid rookie campaign in 2009. At 145th on the money list, he has to get something going quick. He might be one of the players who tees it up all five weeks.

O. Ogilvie. Joe Ogilvie went back to q-school in 2009 to regain his card, and he's in the same boat again this year: He's 123rd on the money list. Last year, a trip back to q-school was necessitated when he missed three cuts in the Fall Series. That can't happen again.

P. Palm. The other course in the two-course rotation in the Children's Miracle Network Classic. It's 500 yards shorter than the Magnolia Course, and players typically shoot a half-stroke lower there.

Quinney

Q. Quinney. Jeff Quinney has struggled since his solo third in THE PLAYERS in 2008. Never one of the TOUR's longer hitters, his iron play must be solid to pick up the slack, and that hasn't happened. Sits 148th on the money list.

R. Ruggles. The middle name of Will MacKenzie, winner of the Viking Classic in 2008.

S. Stroud. Chris Stroud seemingly lives around the 125th spot on the money list. He was around the bubble in 2007 and 2009, and this year, he faces another five-week reality show to keep his job. Almost half of his career earnings ($965,242) have come in the Fall Series.

T. Television. The Golf Channel will be the home of the Fall Series again in 2010. Things get under way starting on Thursday when they show the first round of the Viking Classic from 8 to 10 p.m. ET.

U. Uresti. Omar Uresti, who is the only player on TOUR with a surname starting with U. He's entered this week at the Viking Classic. The last time he made a cut at Annandale was 2005, when he tied for 17th.

V. Viking. No, the Fall Series opener isn't sponsored by a bunch of Scandinavian explorers. It's actually a Greenwood, Mississippi-based company that manufactures professional kitchen appliances. This is the fourth year in a row the company has sponsored the event.

W. Weather. Unrelenting rain forced the cancellation of the Viking Classic in 2009, but the forecast looks good for this year. Sea Island is tougher to predict, but the Fall Series, except for the aforementioned 2009 Viking Classic, has been lucky in this regard.

X. X-out golf balls. They should have a tournament where the entire field has to play hard-as-a-rock x-out balls. The field might be hitting pitching wedges from 180 yards out. Wait, they already do. Never mind.

Y. Y.E. Yang. Played all six Fall Series events in 2008, and then went to q-school, where he gained his card for 2009. Took down Tiger head-to-head in the 2009 PGA Championship. Probably won't be heading back to q-school, ever.

Z. Zach. Zach Johnson is in Wales for the Ryder Cup but will be back next week for the The McGladrey Classic near his home. It will be the sixth consecutive week he's teed it up.