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Brad Faxon and Scott McCarron are going for three in a row in the $2.25 million Franklin Templeton Shootout.
Last year, they became the first to win consecutive titles, which includes 12 two-man squads and was founded and is hosted by Greg Norman. Both Faxon and McCarron had won previously with other partners. A year ago they rallied to edge John Daly and Frank Lickliter.
"Scott and I have been a great combination together," Faxon said. "He's a power player that can really hit the ball long, hits it left to right, and I can hit it short in any direction and putt pretty good."
U.S. Ryder Cup team members David Toms, Stewart Cink, Mark Calcavecchia and Scott Hoch are playing, with Toms and Cink paired together. The teams will play alternate shot Friday, better ball on Saturday and scramble on Sunday, with the winning team splitting $500,000 from a purse of $2.25 million.
"I think it's one of the strongest fields in our history," Norman said. "I think the field is extremely well-balanced."
Seven players who competed in the season-ending Tour Championship are playing: McCarron, Toms, Jerry Kelly, Len Mattiace, Fred Funk, Rocco Mediate, and Jeff Sluman.
"Anybody here can get it going," Faxon said. "You get a little magic and a little confidence"
Above all, it's relaxing.
"It's a fun time of year to play golf," Cink said. "We've been through the grind, we've had our competitions all year, the Ryder Cup, the majors and all of the tournaments and now you get to come down here and have fun and enjoy yourself. It's a good way to slide into your offseason."
Norman is paired with Fred Couples, who won this tournament with Ray Floyd in 1990, Faxon in 1994 and David Duval in 1999. Norman has won it only once, in 1998 with Steve Elkington, when they beat John Cook and Peter Jacobsen in a playoff.
"I think we'll balance each other out real well," Norman said. "I'm looking forward to playing with Freddie."
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