By Michael Williams

GolfWRX Staff Writer

While several of the games marquee names will be taking a breather, there will be plenty of stars ready to step into the spotlight at the Transitions Championship in Tampa, Fla. The venue for this week’s event, the 7,340-yard, par-71 Copperhead course, is best known for “The Snake Pit”, generally regarded as one of the most challenging finishing three holes on Tour. In 2011, the holes collectively played almost a full half stroke over par, making it the fifth toughest finish on the PGA Tour (excluding majors).

“I think it’s as good a finish as we have on the PGA Tour,” said defending champion Gary Woodland. “You have to get the holes before you get to 16 if you want to shoot a good score. If you have to make three pars coming in, you have your work cut out for you.

“There is not a birdie hole the last three holes. If you’re two back and have signed your scorecard and the leaders are still out there, you’re definitely hanging around to see what happens.” Long-hitters such as Woodland will have an advantage at Copperhead, whose pine trees and elevation changes evoke more Carolina than coastal Florida.

Joining Woodland will be defending Masters champion Carl Schwartzel, the only defending major champion in the field. There is a slew of past major champions in the field as well, including Angel Cabrera, Chad Campbell, Stewart Cink, Lucas Glover, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harington, Justin Leonard, Geoff Ogilvy, Louis Oosthhuizen, Vijay Singh and David Toms.

Former Masters champion, Trevor Immelman, was set to become another major champion in the field, but was forced to withdraw Thursday morning because of a wrist injury. Immelman underwent wrist surgery at the end of 2009. This year, Immelman has missed three cuts in five. His best finish came when he tied for 12th at the Waste Management Open. He has been replaced in the field by Brian Harmon.

Whether you are looking for a unique perspective on the Copperhead course and the competition over the years or you’re just trying to win your office golf pool, there’s no better person than Innisbrook Director of Golf Rodney Green, who is in charge of all golf operations at the sprawling resort.

“It’s not going to be a birdie-fest out there,” remarked Green. “The most important thing out here is to hit fairways and greens, and the greens are not easy to hit. The guys who are at the top of the leaderboard are typically great iron players with a good overall game “

From his privileged position, Green has the opportunity to chat with the pros in the field on the range and during practice rounds. One of the more intriguing stories in the field is Hank Kuehne, the former wonderboy who is now working his back on the Tour.

“[Kuehne] is a friend from Orlando, and it really is great to see him back competing.”

Green also had a chance to talk to crowd favorite John Daly.

“John was saying how hitting 13 or so greens will be a very good day and par will be a good score,” said Green.  Noting the quality of the field, Green remarked, “Justin Rose has always played well here and he is obviously hot right now. Everyone is looking forward to watching the group with Rose, Luke Donald and K.J. Choi. There’s also obviously a lot of interest in the pairing of Woodard, Webb Simpson and Scott Stallings, who were the top three finishers in last year’s event.”

Also in the field is Justin Rose, who is fresh off a come-from-behind win at last week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral. Rose is looking to become the Tour’s first back-to-back winners since Tiger Woods in 2009.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy will be taking a breather in advance of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, which will be his final preparation before the Masters. Also sitting out this week is Woods, who has not played in the tournament since very early in his career. Woods, who withdrew from last week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship due to a strained Achilles, notified the world via Twitter that the injury was deemed to be slight and would not affect his participation at Bay Hill or Augusta. Phil Mickelson will also be taking a path to Augusta that includes Bay Hill but not Innisbrook.

The Transitions Championship airs on The Golf Channel on Thursday and Friday, with weekend coverage moving to NBC. Check local listings for air times.

Notes:

• One of the more interesting opening day pairings to watch will be that of John Daly, Chris DiMarco and Pat Perez. DiMarco is one of the most fiery competitors on the Tour, while Pat Perez is known equally for his brilliant ball-striking and his volcanic outbursts of temper when that ball-striking fails him. There is not room on this website to chronicle the tales of Daly.

• The trend has been for Sunday heroics in 2012 and this week should be no different. Over the last eight PGA Tour stroke-play events, there have been nine different players with a share of the 54-hole lead (Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley were tied entering the final round at Riviera). Of those, two went on to win — McIlroy and George McNeill, who won in Puerto Rico on Sunday.

• The Transitions will be one of a number of Tour events seeking name sponsorship in 2013. The local eyewear manufacturer that is the current sponsor has chosen not to renew after this year’s event.

• The Innisbook Resort property is a part of Salamander Resorts, which is owned by BET founder Sheila Johnson

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Michael Williams is the contributing editor of Newschannel8 Capital Golf Weekly and Bunkershot.com, as well as a member of the Golf Writers Association of America.

You can follow Michael on twitter — @Michaelontv