Invensys notebook: TPC at the Canyons joins rotation

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2001 | 10:27 a.m.

For the first time, the Tournament Players Club at the Canyons will be one of three golf courses in the rotation of the $4.5 million Invensys Classic, joining the TPC at Summerlin and Southern Highlands.

Southern Highlands was added last year when the Las Vegas Country Club declined to participate.

TPC at the Canyons will replace the Desert Inn.

"We were informed the D.I. was going to be closed, but evidently there is some different thinking now," tournament manager Charlie Baron said. "We needed to get another golf course because the D.I. was going to be out of business.

"We went to other facilities and asked if there was interest. Some golf courses couldn't handle us because they're a private club and the Canyons is part of the TPC family. They wanted to be involved."

Brian Esposito, head golf professional at the Canyons, expects the leaders to shoot at least 8-under par provided the winds are calm.

"If the wind kicks up, a lot of the holes become very difficult," Esposito said. "On the back nine, you've got a lot of canyons to deal with.

"The ball can be pushed into the desert. The majority of the difficulty is hitting to the landing areas."

Through the first four holes, Esposito figures most players will be at least 2-under.

"No. 3 is kind of a tough hole, I'd look to see a lot of pars," he said. " No. 4 is a par-5 and without any wind it can be reached in two.

"There should be lots of birdies, maybe some eagles."

The sixth hole is a par-5 that tends to yield mostly pars, according to Esposito.

He expects most players to have maybe one birdie at holes seven through nine to make them 4-under at the turn, possibly five.

The back nine could provide more of a challenge, particularly Nos. 10 and 11.

"Those two really are good holes for those guys," Esposito said. "It's all uphill and they're great par 4s.

"If you make a birdie there, you could go one up on the field."

The canyons really come into play starting with No. 12, though Esposito figures there will be quite a number of birdies on 12 through the par-5 No. 15.

"They'll come down the stretch with a birdie opportunity on 17, then par on 18," he said. "We are spread out so the stretches between green and tee are longer than the other two courses, but we have some great vantage points where people can watch."

Because many professionals have never played the Canyons, Esposito said the locals should have a decisive advantage.