Keith J Steidle

As an engineer I never spent enough time on the non- project portion of my career. Whether it was saving in a 401k Plan or picking out a great health insurance policy, I was focused on different topics.

In 2009 the PGA Tour's five Fall Series tournaments in the wake of the FedEx Cup playoffs -- beginning with this week's Turning Stone Resort Championship in Vernon, N.Y. -- will be a bit short on star power but intent on producing a good show despite the crunch imposed by the calendar.

"We get some good players," said Randy Watkins, tournament director of the Viking Classic in Madison, Miss., "but we know we're not going to get the top 10 guys for sure." Among the Viking's early commitments, Watkins said, are David Toms, Heath Slocum, David Duval, Rocco Mediate, Steve Flesch, D.J. Trahan, Charles Howell III and John Senden -- recognizable if not household names.

"I don't have to spend a lot of time with certain folks," Watkins said of wooing players who wouldn't consider teeing it up there. "We are a particular product, and we don't try to be anything different than what we are. It would be like a high school football coach thinking he's in the SEC. But we don't apologize for what we are. We have a great event, play for a lot of money and the guys who come love coming here."