MAINEVILLE - Don't blame Jim Thorpe if he still likes the old Kings Island course. He has reason to be loyal as the defending champion of the Kroger Senior Classic, formerly played on the Grizzly Course at the Golf Center at Kings Island.

        This year, the tournament moves to the Tournament Players Club at River's Bend, a 7,145-yard, Arnold Palmer-designed course that sits on the highlands above the Little Miami River.

IF YOU GO

What: Kroger Senior Classic   When: Today-Sunday at the TPC at River's Bend   Today's events: U.S. Bank Pro-Am 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

        “Kings Island was a great course,” Thorpe said. “It really gave you a challenge. This one might be a little easier than Kings Island. It's more forgiving off the tee. I think we'll shoot low numbers here.”

        Most players, including Thorpe, are seeing the 1-year-old course for the first time this week before the tournament begins Friday.

        Contrary to Thorpe, however, many say the course's uneven, rolling greens will record scores of three-putts.

        “The greens are where this tournament is going to be won,” said Bruce Fleisher, a four-year veteran of the Senior PGA. “You'll see some doubles and triples (bogeys) out there.”

        Because the greens are so challenging, Hugh Baiocchi, who won at Grizzly in 1998, said approach shots take on greater importance this week.

        “The fairways are real generous,” Baiocchi said. “But these greens will be so firm by the end of the week, you've got to give yourself a chance with a good approach.”

        That might be easier said than done according to Fleisher's caddie, Dennis Turning.

        “Some of these greens, you don't even have a chance to two-putt,” he said.

        Fleisher and Turning agreed that TPC at River's Bend might be one of the most challenging courses on the Tour. That doesn't necessarily make it the best.

        “I'm not sure if putt-putt makes a good golf course,” Fleisher said. “A great course makes you use every club in your bag. You want to see a great course, go to Muirfield (in Dublin, Ohio). There's no trickery there.”

        Said Turning of this week's eventual winner at River's Bend: “You're going to need a little luck. I don't care how good you are here.”

Closer look at River's Bend

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