Week 3 Approach Shots: Bob Hope Classic

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There are many things unique to this week's Bob Hope Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.

TV/Radio (all times ET)

TV: GOLF CHANNEL (Wed.-Fri., 3-6 p.m. ET; Sat.-Sun., 4-7 p.m. ET) RADIO: PGA TOUR NETWORK - Sirius 209, XM 146, PGATOUR.COM (Wed.-Fri., Noon-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun, 1-9 p.m.)

Weather

Rain is likely the first three days (70 percent chance on Thursday), but sunny skies expected for the weekend. Highs will reach into the 60s.

Key links

• Celebrity list | Tee times • Inside the Field | Courses

It's the only regularly scheduled 90-hole stroke play event on the PGA TOUR. It's the only tournament with a four-course rotation. And the list of celebrities that participate as amateurs each year is impressive by any standards.

One other thing that makes it fairly unique -- the defending champion almost never wins. In fact, through the first 50 years of the event, only one defending champion -- Johnny Miller -- put up a successful defense in 1976 after winning the previous year.

That doesn't bode well for Pat Perez, who earned his first career PGA TOUR title last year with a 33-under performance. After opening with a TOUR 36-hole record 61-63 (124), Perez entered the fifth and final round three strokes in back of Steve Stricker, but a closing 69 that included a final-hole eagle three led to a three-stroke margin of victory.

After spending two weeks in Hawaii to open the season, the TOUR officially embarks on its West Coast swing at Palm Springs. It's no surprise that Californians have fared well at this event. Southern California natives have won 11 of the previous 50 Bob Hope Classic, and while Perez does not qualify in that category, he did grow up within a stone's throw in Phoenix, Ariz.

Perez's 36-hole total was among several records set last year, thanks to a course rotation that yields lots of low scores. The four easiest courses on TOUR in 2009 were part of the Bob Hope Classic, with the PGA West Nicklaus course playing to a stroke average of 66.984 last year -- the lowest for any course since the TOUR began keeping records in 1983.

Three of those courses return this year, with La Quinta Country Club taking the place of Bermuda Dunes.

There have been 40 different winners of this event in its first 50 years-- 19 of them have won major championships. A few are in the field this week -- Mark Brooks, David Duval, Justin Leonard, Craig Stadler and Mike Weir.

Speaking of Stadler, he won this event in 1980 and was a playoff loser to Lanny Wadkins in 1985. He has five top-10s in the tournament. His son Kevin has made the cut in his three previous starts at the Bob Hope, but has not finished higher than a tie for 53rd. Both are in the field this week -- the first time they've been in the same TOUR event since the 2005 RBC Canadian Open.

Columnists' predictions

Each week, PGATOUR.COM columnists will predict the winner. Here are their picks for the Sony Open in Hawaii. Columnist Pick Comment Stan Awtrey WEBB SIMPSON: You've got to make lots of birdies to win the Hope; Simpson is one guy capable of doing just that. The former Wake Forest star has traditionally played well early in the season and he has the type of go-for-it mentality that plays well in the desert. Craig Dolch TIM CLARK: With two top-five finishes in three starts at the Bob Hope Classic, this is the week Clark finally loses his label as the Best Player Not To Win On The PGA TOUR. Melanie Hauser JUSTIN LEONARD: Missing the cut last week won't sit that well. Leonard's a former champ who had too many almosts last year. He's ready to end that trend. John Maginnes CHAD CAMPBELL: It's time for him to win again, and this go-for-broke format should help get him untracked.

MORE PREDICTIONS: Power Rankings | Play our FREE fantasy game

Bolton's fantasy selections

Fantasy columnist Rob Bolton will provide his Yahoo! picks as a starting point for you every week. Use the advice and opinion from his Power Rankings to assist in determining lineups changes throughout each tournament. Group Starters Bench Group A Ryan Moore Bill Haas Group B Chad Campbell, Charley Hoffman Charles Howell III, Michael Sim Group C Justin Rose John Senden

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Kodak Challenge

This week's Kodak Challenge hole is the par-3, 17th at the Arnold Palmer Private Course. Just a short 130-yarder, it should provide plenty of birdie (and maybe even better) opportunities. There were just three par 3s on TOUR last year (out of 207 short holes) that played easier than the 17th at the Palmer Course. More on Kodak Challenge

GIVING BACK: The Bob Hope Classic has long been one of the TOUR's leading events when it comes to charity with nearly $49 million raised for Coachella Valley charities.

"HOPE SQUARE" DEBUTS: The Bob Hope Classic will launch an innovative, fun fan experience called "Hope Square" in 2010. "Hope Square" is located between the Nicklaus Private Course and the Palmer Private Course, directly behind the practice facilities at PGA WEST. "Hope Square" includes some 16 attractions, making it the penultimate fan experience at the Bob Hope Classic. "Hope Square" includes interactive golf activities for golfers of every age, video screens to monitor on-course action, a musical entertainment stage, a food court and many other unique opportunities..