Jim Thorpe chips onto the 16th green Thursday afternoon. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        MAINEVILLE, Ohio — Jim Thorpe admitted he misses the old King Island layout as he prepared to defend his Kroger Senior Classic title on the new TPC at River's Bend.

        “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.”

        The 54-hole event, set to begin Friday, has shifted to the Arnold Palmer-designed TPC at River's Bend after 12 years on the Grizzly Course at Kings Island.

        Last year, the long-hitting Thorpe won the rain-shortened tournament for the first of two straight victories, eagling the final hole of regulation and beating Tom Jenkins with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.

Gary McCord watches his drive on the 7th fairway Thursday afternoon. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Bruce Fleisher believes River's Bend might be one of the most challenging courses on the tour, but not necessarily one of the best overall.

        “A great course makes you use every club in your bag,” he said. “You want to see a great course, go to Muirfield (in Dublin, Ohio). There's no trickery there.

        “The greens are where this tournament is going to be won. You'll see some doubles and triples out there.”

        Hugh Baiocchi, who won at Kings Island in 1998, also believes the greens at the new course will be challenging, making approach shots become more important this year.

        “The fairways are real generous,” he 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.”

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