The 2011 PGA Tour comes to a close this week with the Franklin Templeton Shootout at Tibourn Golf Club, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.
The course designed by Greg Norman combines traditional and modern elements to create a challenging yet elegant course. The absence of rough, presents golfers with a variety of challenging shots, especially around the greens. Hit an errant shot and your ball becomes part of the Florida landscape.
The 24-man field features a number of golf's young stars, including 2011 PGA champion Keegan Bradley, Player of the Year candidate Webb Simpson and the talented and colourful Rickie Fowler.
As a premier PGA Tour post-season event, the Franklin Templeton Shootout will feature a modified alternate-shot format during the first round, a better ball Saturday and a final-round scramble.
Tournament favourites are the dynamic young team of Anthony Kim and Webb Simpson who are offered at 4.970.
Simpson has enjoyed a breakthrough year with multiple wins that earned him the No. two spot on the Tour's Money list, a nomination for Player of the Year and a trip to his first Presidents Cup.
While this is Simpson's first Shootout, Kim returns for his third.
This duo has won a combined five Tour titles in the past four years and come into the tournament in fine form.
The young duo of Rickie Fowler and Camilo Villegas 7.030 will attract the crowds which ever hole they are on.
Both players have a very positive attitude, which could result in genius or reckless golf, either way it will be exciting.
Fowler recently won his first professional event in Asia. Since 2010, when he was named Rookie of the Year, Fowler has been among the top 10 in 11 tournaments and finished second three times.
Villegas on the other hand is a three-time winner on Tour and was a member of Norman's 2009 President Cup team.
PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley partners Brendan Steele 11.050 in a strong looking rookie partnership.
This pair of PGA Tour rookies combined for three wins this season. Bradley is a two-time winner, while Steele won the Valero Texas Open. Expect a strong showing from this inexperienced pair.
Finally, Steve Stricker partners Jerry Kelly 7.030. This will be the fourth time the 2009 champions have played together, and this experience may prove to be pivotal on Sunday.
They have combined for 14 PGA Tour victories -- Kelly three and Stricker 11, including two this year.
