PGA Preview: 2013 Tampa Bay Championship

PGA Tour Tampa Bay Championship This is a little bit of an off week with regards to golf buzz.  The biggest of the bigs are not in action.  No Rory McIlory.  No Phil Mickelson. No Tiger Woods. The PGA Tour is playing the Tampa Bay Championship, a tournament which Luke Donald won last year.  He will be the headliner this week with a few other bigger names like Sergio Garcia and John Daly.  More field highlights below.

• Format: 72 hole stroke play event with cut
• Purse: $5,500,500
• Winning share: $990,000
• Course par: 72
• FedEx Cup points for winner: 500

Venue This week's venue is the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club in Tampa Bay, Florida.  This track is a tighter track which rewards accuracy.  Bombers may not fare as well on this course.  This is precisely why Luke Donald is defending champion.  Look for an accurate player like Donald to come out on top. Golf Channel Airtimes (Eastern Time): Thursday 3-6 p.m. Friday 3-6 p.m. Saturday 1-3 p.m. Sunday 1-3 p.m. NBC Airtimes (Eastern Time): Saturday 3-6 p.m. Sunday 3-6 p.m. Notables in the field include Luke Donald, Louis Oosthuizen, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar, Nick Watney, Webb Simpson, Jim Furyk, Jason Dufner, Vijay Singh, K.J. Choi, Retief Goosen, Robert Garrigus, Tommy Gainey, Ben Crane, Seung-yul Noh and John Daly. LPGA Tour RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup

• Format: 72 hole stroke play event with cut
• Purse: $1,500,000
• Course par: 72
• Defending champion: Yani Tseng

Venue Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge, Phoenix Ariz. Golf Channel Airtimes (Eastern Time): Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) Friday 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) Saturday 4-7 p.m. (Live) Sunday 4-7 p.m. (Live) Notables in the field include Yani Tseng, Michelle Wie, Lexi Thompson, Paula Creamer, Ai Miyazato, Suzann Pettersen, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Stacy Lewis, Azahara Munoz, Na Yeon Choi, Beatriz Recari, Natalie Gulbis, Brittany Linicome, Jessica Korda, Inbee Park, Jiyai Shin, Karrie Webb and So Yeon Ryu. Champions Tour Toshiba Classic

• Format: 54 hole stroke play event
• Purse: $1,750,000
• Winning share: $262,500

Venue Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, California. Golf Channel Airtimes (Eastern Time): Friday 8:30-10:30 p.m. (Tape Delay) Saturday 7:30-9:30 p.m. (Tape Delay) Sunday 7:30-9:30 p.m. (Tape Dela Notables in the field include Fred Couples, Tom Watson, Tom Lehman, Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry, Rocco Mediate, John Cook, Fred Funk, Jay Haas, Mark Calcavecchia, Roger Chapman, Loren Roberts, Steve Elkington, Michael Allen, Tom Kite and David Frost. European Tour Avantha Masters Venue Jaypee Greens Golf Club, Delhi, India Golf Channel Airtimes (Eastern Time): Thursday 9:30-1:30 p.m. (Live) Friday 9:30-1:30 p.m. (Live) Saturday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live) Sunday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live) Field: Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie, Edoardo Molinari, Alvaro Quiros, Thomas Bjorn, Robert Rock, Thongchai Jaidee, Jeev Milkha Singh, David Howell, Anders Hansen, Pablo Larrazabal, Jbe Kruger and David Lipsky.