Pettersson starting from scratch

Last updated: 28th July 2010

Carl Pettersson insists last week's stunning win at the RBC Canadian Open is "over and done with" as he prepares to take his momentum into the Greenbrier Classic.

The Swede was left sweating on the cut mark in Ontario - and drinking away his nerves - at one under par before a spectacular third round of 60 catapulted him into contention and a closing 67 completed a single-stroke win.

"Last week was a weird week - just making the cut, then shooting 60 and winning," he said.

"I knew I had a chance on Sunday but until then I was just trying to make the cut on Friday."

Pettersson put away several beers while awaiting news of the cut mark, and he sheepishly recalled: "I was there with Jay Williamson, he was one under as well and said 'grab a beer'.

"I had one too many, I don't normally do that - it worked last week but I don't think it'll work again this week."

The 32-year-old was non-committal over the boost provided by his fourth career win on the PGA Tour, and said: "After my first win I played great the next week and had a chance to win at the Viking Classic, but other times I've missed the cut after a win.

"Sometimes it's still there, other times it's totally left you so I don't know what to expect.

"It can change from day to day, never mind week to week. It's a new tournament, last week is over and done with and I'll get back to work."

Jeff Overton, with four top-five finishes in his last nine starts, and Matt Kuchar (four top-10s in his last five) also go into the week's play with the form to suggest they can challenge.

World number five Jim Furyk has the chance to move to the top of the FedEx Cup standings with a top-two finish - he currently lies fifth, 272 points behind leader Ernie Els - but a number of the game's top players have opted out of the inaugural edition of the tournament at the Old White Course at White Sulphur Springs.

Pettersson said of the unfamiliar course: "It's a good golf course, it's just a hair short. Most people kind of enjoyed it because it's a little different to what we normally play. It's a throwback, a hidden gem.

"Eighteen is not a long par three so hopefully you'll see some birdies and a couple of holes in one - it's a cool green, there's a big ridge so you're going to see birdies and bogeys."

That closing hole will be the focus of attention due to an innovative promotion should a hole in one occur.

Any player acing the 162-yard par three will win 250,000 US dollars for himself, 750,000 US dollars for the tournament's charities - and 100 US dollars for every fan watching, with that final figure increasing to 500 and 1,000 US dollars in the event of a second and third ace on the same day.

Resort owner Jim Justice said: "I hope that will generate some real live excitement. There will be a lot of cheering going on for the pros and everything, and I hope they make a beaucoup of hole-in-ones, and I hope we have a lot of fun with it."

Johnson Wagner expects Justice to be dishing out the cash, and said: "I played with Brendon de Jonge in practice and he lipped out there for a hole in one.

"I think we'll see one - you give 156 of the best players in the world four shots from 160 yards, there's a good chance there will be a hole in one."