AT&T Classic Preview

The AT&T Classic tees off this weekend in Duluth, Ga., at TPC Sugarloaf. The 7,293-yard, Par-72 course was designed by Australian golf legend Greg Norman and has hosted the annual Atlanta area event since 1997. Prior to that, the tournament was held at the Atlanta Country Club from 1967 until 1996.

This year, the “Great White Shark” himself will make a rare appearance on the PGA Tour, headlining a star-studded field competing for a $5.5 million purse and $990,000 winner’s share.

TPC Sugarloaf was the first of 33 U.S. golf courses designed by Norman. The 53-year-old “Shark” rarely plays competitive golf and has not played the AT&T Classic since 2004. Norman has had success with home-course advantage at TPC Sugarloaf, finishing tied for fifth after shooting a 10-under 278 in 1997, in the inaugural event at the course.

A World Golf Hall of Fame member, two-time major champion (1993 British Open and 1986 British Open), eight-time runner-up in majors and 56-time international winner is playing just his third event on the 2008 PGA Tour schedule — having missed the cut at both the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun in Mexico earlier this year. Prior to that, Norman’s last PGA Tour event was The INTERNATIONAL in 2006, where he also missed the cut.

This week, the golfer-turned-entrepreneur — who along with golf-related industries also has companies specializing in clothing, fine wine and prime cut beef — will be preparing for the Champions Tour’s 69th Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill in Rochester, N.Y., next weekend.

Despite designing the course, Norman is statistically a longshot to win, as only two international players have won since New Zealand’s Bob Charles in 1967 — with Canada’s Dave Barr in 1987 and South Africa’s Retief Goosen winning in 2002. A win by Norman would also break an all-time record, as the oldest winner in PGA Tour history — topping Slammin’ Sam Snead (52 years old, 1965 Greater Greensboro Open).

The rest of the field includes a few fan favorites. Former Georgia Tech All-American Stewart Cink will have a huge gallery, while every-man heroes Paul Goydos and Zach Johnson should also draw a huge crowd.

Goydos finished second in a playoff to Sergio Garcia in a dramatic finish at the island green of No. 17 at THE PLAYERS Championship last week. As a result, the Long Beach State hat-wearing Goydos has moved from No. 146 to No. 42 in the FedExCup standings.

Goydos also gained plenty of supporters due to his laid back humble attitude and witty one-liners. Prior to the final round at THE PLAYERS, Bob Costas asked Goydos how he slept the night before, to which Goydos responded, “on my back.”

Last year’s Masters Tournament champion Johnson had a similar rise to prominence following his success at Augusta. But the Iowa native has been nearly untouchable down the road in Atlanta. Johnson is the reigning AT&T Classic champ and a two-time winner (2007 and 2004) at the tournament.

Over 15 rounds (the 2005 event was cut to 54 holes due to rain), Johnson has only one round over par. An especially strong finisher, Johnson has an unbelievable track record on No. 18 — with one eagle, nine birdies, five pars and zero bogeys on the final hole.

The AT&T Classic will be televised on GOLF Channel (3:00-6:00 p.m. ET) on Thursday and Friday, before CBS (3:00-6:00 p.m. ET) takes over the weekend coverage.