PGA fans are looking forward to next week’s Viking Classic atthe Annandale Golf Club in Madison. Besides the usual hungry groupof Tour pros, Davis Love III had added his name to the marquee buthe withdrew Wednesday, due to an injury. However, another returningfavorite is big John Daly, along with former champion Fred Funk, apopular character who seems to get better with age.

Tournament play begins next Thursday, Sept. 27 at the plushlayout. There will be Pro-Am gatherings next Monday and Wednesday.Tuesday will be a practice round for the entries, plus a JuniorPro-Am.

The new tournament sponsor is Viking Range out of Greenwood.It’s appropriate that Greenwood resident Jim Gallagher Jr. will beamong the local favorites.

D.J. Trahan is the defending champion. He took home a $540,000check, part of a $3-million purse. Trahan shot rounds of65-68-71-71–275 over the 7,199-yard layout. It was the highestwinning score in tournament history.

Two years earlier, the veteran Funk had fired a 4-round total of266, tying the best-ever score of Steve Lowery and Skip Kendall in2000. Lowery won that playoff.

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