Gallagher Jr., Durant feel right at home this week

SAUCIER, Miss. -- When the 2015 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic presented by CSpire tees off Friday at Fallen Oak, two competitors will be feeling right at home.

Jim Gallagher Jr., who lives in Greenwood and Joe Durant, who has won both professional and amateur events on the Coast, are part of the 81-player field. They will be playing a 7,054-yard, par 71 course that has seen some changes since last year's event, won by Jeff Maggert.

All of the bunkers on the course were remodeled by course designer Tom Fazio and Gallagher Jr. said that will make the course a bit more fair to play but will still have plenty of challenges.

"A lot of the severity (in the bunkers) have been taken out and that should make things more playable," he said. "In the past, they were really deep and a lot of regular players couldn't make a play out of them. Especially the fairway bunkers. Then you combine that with really good sand in there, and sometimes the only play was to chip it out sideways.

"Now, you will still be penalized if you are in one of them. But the course is much more playable. Everyone on the (Champions) Tour loves the course. The greens are perfect and this is probable the best and the hardest course we play on the Tour."

Gallagher Jr. won five times during his stint on the PGA Tour and also played on the winning 1993 Ryder Cup and 1994 Presidents Cup teams. He is currently splitting his time between playing on the Champions Tour and doing studio analyst work for the Golf Channel.

"I'm planning on playing only five or six events and then 11 to 12 live events and

some studio work," he said. "It is a good mix and keeps me in touch with the game."

Thursday's Pro-Am was interrupted by showers in the morning. The forecast for the weekend looks to be sunny and cool, which could put the tournament record of -16 under, set by Tom Lehman in 2011 in jeopardy.

"The course is long and hard but everyone is excited about playing," Gallagher Jr. said.

Durant said he is thrilled about playing again on the Coast. His first professional win came at the 1996 Nike Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic at Hickory Hill in Gautier. He shot -15 under for a one-stroke victory over Dave Rummells and Brett Quigley. The Pensacola native also won the Krewe of Venus event earlier in the 1990s at the same course. This is his second year on the Champions Tour.

"I love playing here. It's almost home for me," Durant said.

Durant said his game is still rounding into shape this year. He was battling a pinched nerve in his neck earlier this season and the injury left him with very little feeling in his left arm and hand.

"Things are a little rusty (because of the injury)," he said. "But things are getting there."

Durant added that he is looking forward to the weekend.

"With the front coming in and clearing things out, it should be breezy and make things challenging," he said. "With the speed of the greens and the wind, it should really place a premium on iron shots and club selection."

This article was written by Arthur Jaramillo from The Sun Herald and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.