2009 Pineapple Cup Details Announced!

North Myrtle Beach, SC (AP) - March 2, 2009.

The Committee announced details and participants for the 2009 Pineapple Cup, to be conducted May 1-3, 2009.

2009 will again feature a Ryder Cup-style event between eight-man teams captained by longtime rivals Alex Yates and Buck Williams. The competition will be contested over 72 holes on several of the area's presitious golf courses: Grande Dunes (Resort), Grande Dunes (Members), Pine Lakes International C.C. and Tidewater.

Players will compete in four-ball matches on Friday and Saturday. The event will culminate with eighteen holes of singles play on Tidewater. Friday's matches begin at 1:30 p.m. and will be contested over Grande Dunes' Resort course. Expect the first hole to be a key indicator as water skirts down the right side of the landing area. The finishing four at Grande Dunes' Resort course will certainly test the players' nerves. Two of the holes border water, including the 17th, which is the only reachable par five on the course. Expect at least one match to be won here with birdie.

Saturday's morning matches begin at 7:30 a.m. at Pine Lakes International Country Club. Pine Lakes' design will likely create a very intense, competitive atmosphere because many tee boxes are close to the prior green. The means that teammates will have the ability to closely monitor other matches. For the matches that make it to the last, the lengthy par four eighteenth is as tough a finishing hole as you'll find. Par here could put away several teams!

After completing play at Pine Lakes, the teams will travel to Grande Dunes' Members course for another 18 holes of four-ball play. One of the best manicured courses on the Grand Strand, the players are in for a treat in the afternoon. The Members course has the feel of a scottish links course with large hills covered in heather bordering many fairways. The ninth and eighteenth will be key holes that are bordered by a lake. In 2007, Steve Riddick found himself in the thick of the Pineapple Cup when he arrived at the 18th and playing a career round. A solid drive, a 4 wood onto the green, and 4 putts later, Riddick had lost the Cup and a career round. Look for him to play well and to exact revenge on the 18th.

Finally, Sunday arrives bright and early with mono v. mono matchups played over legendary Tidewater. No Pineapple Cup has ever been decided earlier than the 18th hole on Sunday. Expect Sunday's matches to be knock-down, drag-out fights.

Festivities get underway on Thursday evening when the captains announce their pairings and the Friday matches are set. As you have come to expect, this blogger will be there reporting as often as possible on the happenings!