Selection # 6 Tommy Dugan

Tommy Dugan - Drafted with the 2nd pick of the 3rd round, #6 overall by The King's Court

When you are the reigning TGA Player of the Year, some things are a forgone conclusion. First, you are assured that there's a big fat target on your back from the first drive in March until the last putt rattles the cup in November. Second, every move you make is under scrutiny on and off the course. With throngs of media scrutinizing every tee shot on the course and every tequila shot off-course, the pressures of being the best player on tour are immeasurable. Finally, you know you will be counted on by your teammates to make a big contribution at the King Invitational.

For Tommy Dugan who was crowned the youngest TGA Tour Champion in November, the pressures, scrutiny and accountability begins in earnest in just a few short weeks. This time last year, Dugan was looked at as being a four or five seed on a six man squad at last year's K.I. This year, despite increased depth and the re-expansion back to a 16-man field, Dugan sits solidly as a number three-seed following his selection as the sixth overall draft choice by The King's Court captain Jackie King.

"Tommy's rise began here last year," King said. "He and I halved our match last year at The Heritage Club. It was a match he should have won handily. In the past, giving away that match would have spelled doom for him. But, he came back on Sunday and well.... we all know what happened then."

What happened then was one of the biggest shots in King Invitational history at one of the most pivotal points. Dugan and his Team Clark partner Ted Prestwood had just chipped in for birdie on the par-4 4th hole at Diamondback Golf Club to stake themselves to a one-hole lead over the Team Hedrick squad of Randy Griffin and Wayne Hunt when they came to the par-5 5th hole.

After answering Hunt's booming tee shot with one of his own, Dugan watched Prestwood land his second attempt safely across a marsh 75 yards right of the green. With some prodding from Prestwood to just go for it, Dugan smashed a 245-yard 3-wood pin high seven feet left of the stick. After rolling in an unlikely eagle putt and watching the Hunt/Griffin team make a shocking three-putt bogey, a one stroke lead had ballooned into a four shot cushion.

"After that match, Tommy seemed destined for good things. And by good things, I mean a dominating performance on tour from start to finish. I fully expect that he will come out this month with that same fire and make things happen for our squad," King added in his daily news conference.

The 2009 King Invitational will mark Tommy's fifth straight King Invitational appearance.

• Role on The King's Court: First Knight
• School: High Point Central High School
• Personal: Wife, Lauren
• Other notable athletes drafted #6 overall: Future Hall-of-Fame SS Derek Jeter (NY Yankees, 1992) NFL troublemaker Adam "Pacman" Jones (Tennessee Titans, 2005)
• Hobbies: sports, movies and video games
• Favorite teams: Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Florida St. Seminoles and Duke Blue Devils
• Did you know? Tommy went to school with and is friends with former Survivor contestant Austin Carty
• Who would play Tommy in the sports movie version of the King Invitational: Former Bevery Hills 90210 star Brian Austin Green