Let's play "what if," a game that presents assumptions with the answers limited only by imagination.

The only thing that didn't change was the unassuming country boy from the Florida Panhandle who slipped into the tartan jacket.

Tanglewood Country Club in Milton, Fla., might not be as finely manicured as Harbour Town Golf Links, and it might not be as tight anymore, either, after hurricane winds knocked down some trees a few years back.

A blue lapel pin shaped like a puzzle piece may be the lasting image of the 40th Verizon Heritage.

When I was getting ready Sunday morning, I was thinking about how this was going to be the final chapter to my enchanted memoirs, and I decided there was going to be a Part II, because Boo was going to win. This was the final chapter for this year, but starting next year, there will be a new chapter.

On the eve of the biggest day of his life as a professional golfer, Anthony Kim wasn't sure he was ready for the occasion.

It's not that a red, plaid coat fits Jim Furyk's taste in clothing. But at this point, he doesn't care -- that tartan jacket would feel awfully comfortable.

Sunday contenders Jim Furyk and Stewart Cink each ran into trouble on the back nine within sight of each other.

Let it never be said Fred Funk isn't ambitious.

Boo Weekley is a self-proclaimed "redneck" from the backwoods who would rather be in a tree stand or on a bass boat than on a golf course. Anthony Kim was born to Korean immigrants and developed an insatiable appetite for golf at an early age.

Boo Weekley, the 2007 Verizon Heritage champion and the 2008 54-hole leader, will try to be the first to repeat at Harbour Town Golf Links since Davis Love III in 1992.

D.J. Gregory puts the spirit of man this way:

Anthony Kim needed someone to cheer him on.

As good as the opening two rounds were for a trio of Clemson Tigers, Saturday's round was equally disappointing.

An hour before the first group will tee off at the Verizon Heritage, PGA Tour tournament official Jon Brendle sits in his truck, strapping on his rain boots.

I'm kind of running out of words to describe these kind of days. Seeing Boo play great and be in the lead going to the final round is just indescribable.

Jim Byrd can scarcely take a step along the cart path at Harbour Town Golf Links without bumping into someone he knows. On the first hole alone, a dozen friends tap him on the shoulder to say hello or offer to fetch a bottle of water for him.

John Gettys Smith was one of the original Sea Pines executives who helped Charles Fraser launch the Heritage golf tournament in 1969 and oversaw the first few competitions at the still-emerging tourist destination.

TOURIST TIP OF THE DAY

It hasn't been the kind of year Lucas Glover had hoped for so far. But if he can string together two more rounds like his first two at the Verizon Heritage, 2008 could start looking like a very good year.

Defending Verizon Heritage champion Boo Weekley received his tartan jacket during Monday's opening ceremony, then packed it in his mother Patsy's car, "ready for a long drive back to Florida."

Lucas Glover not only headlines the leaderboard at the Verizon Heritage but a trio of well-performing former Clemson golfers as well.

The golfers are stacked up behind Lucas Glover, thick as teeny boppers at a Hannah Montana concert.

I'm sure my daughter will call and say, "Your favorite did really well today," like she always does. She's always joking that Boo's my favorite, but I want to remind her that she's still my favorite, also. I have two favorites.

Steve Hulka was standing in the Baltimore/Washington International Airport in late September 2001 when the idea struck him.

Meet Sir William Innes, the new trophy for the Verizon Heritage winner.

Corey Pavin had the look of a man who figured he'd choked away his chance to play over the weekend at the Verizon Heritage.

WHAT did Paul Graham do for a living before he became Tommy Gainey's manager? He was the manager for the pop band Hootie and the Blowfish. His wife, Susan, now manages the band.

Davis Love III's bid to extend his record for Verizon Heritage titles to six stalled a bit on Friday, but the Sea Island, Ga., resident still takes plenty of confidence into the weekend.

Boo Weekley may be the defending champion at the Verizon Heritage and in the mix for a second consecutive tartan jacket, but don't assume that means he won't get down and dirty for a playing partner.

TOURIST TIP OF THE DAY

Tiger Woods made a 297-yard drive and then made two short putts for a solid finish during the Verizon Heritage golf tournament.

The leaderboard after Thursday's opening round of the Verizon Heritage looks like a lineup of the usual suspects.

So long as golf fans like underdogs, likable golfers such as Brandt Snedeker and Steve Flesch can win even when they lose.

A fixture at the Harbour Town Golf Links since 1973 literally vanished for the 40th Verizon Heritage.

The last time David Toms played in the Verizon Heritage, Bill Clinton was in the White House, crushed lime was in the fairway bunker on Harbour Town Golf Links' 16th hole and there was a lot less to do in Bluffton.

Pressure? What pressure?

Corey Pavin is plenty familiar with the Harbour Town Golf Links. He's played the Verizon Heritage numerous times. So many, in fact, that he lost count long ago.

Tommy Gainey's sensitive stomach has ruined a few of his travels. He lost 15 pounds and had to subsist on steak fries while filming The Golf Channel's "Big Break IV" in Scotland.

Even for a guy who played a few seasons on the PGA Tour, making the field for the Verizon Heritage through the annual club pro qualifier ranked as a thrill for Doug Weaver.

A 77-year-old man who answers to Golfdaddy was the toast of the Harbour Town Golf Links Wednesday.

I played in the pro-am with Boo on Wednesday, and it was a lot of fun. I was playing from the women's tees, of course, but I out-drove Boo on the first hole. He didn't think I did until we got to our balls, but then he saw he was going to be hitting first, so I let him hear about that.

When Fred Funk spoke Tuesday morning at the Christian Heritage Breakfast, his golfing exploits took a back seat to more colorful stories about wearing a skirt on national television, avoiding getting punched by Sugar Ray Leonard and, of course, his faith.

TOURIST TIP OF THE DAY

Tee times for Thursday's first round of the Verizon Heritage PGA Tour event at Harbour Town Golf Links:

Brandt Snedeker didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

HERITAGE PRO-AM TEE TIMES

By the time the first player tees off Thursday at the Verizon Heritage, the trailers occupying the tennis courts in the back corner of Sea Pines Racquet Club will be halfway to Dallas.

Ernie Els left an encouraging voice message for fellow South African Trevor Immelman before Sunday's final round of the Masters and spoke with Immelman by phone Monday to congratulate him for winning a green jacket.

Life has come down hard on the Big Easy.

Today was just a day for relaxing and shopping. I never did make it to the outlets, but I made it to some of the boutiques on the island, and you can find some really neat stuff.

TOURIST TIP OF THE DAY

What an awesome two weeks. To be able to see my son play in the Masters for the first time, and then see him defend his title here, it's just awesome. I don't know how else to put it into words.

To mark the 40th playing of the Verizon Heritage this week, The Island Packet is counting down its list of the "40 Biggest Headlines in Heritage History."

Boo Weekley officially opened the 40th Verizon Heritage tournament Monday with a royal and ancient club from Scotland that looked more like a hockey stick than a golf club.

For South Carolinians, there are three highlights of the year: the Carolina Cup, the Clemson-Carolina game and the Verizon Heritage golf tournament on Hilton Head Island, native Mike Massey declared Monday.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

Golfers in the Verizon Heritage prefer low winds. Problem is, so do the no-see-ums.

For some visitors, the Verizon Heritage is almost as much a drinking event as it is a golf tournament.

Tourist tip of the day

A list of golfers, by exemption category, committed to the 2008 Verizon Heritage to be played April 17-20 at Harbour Town Golf Links:

The Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is out to prove Heritage Week isn't confined to Harbour Town Golf Links.

Nine of this year's PGA Tour winners, including the latest, Johnson Wagner, are heading for the 40th annual Verizon Heritage next week at Harbour Town Golf Links.

The Verizon Heritage picked up a commitment from a former major-championship winner who hasn't played Harbour Town Golf Links in nearly a decade.

Four golfers, including five-time tournament champion Davis Love III, committed Monday to play in the Verizon Heritage PGA Tour event set for April 17-20 at Harbour Town Golf Links.

Opportunities to caddie for PGA Tour golfers during the Verizon Heritage will be up for auction today through March 31, as part of the Caddy For a Cure adn Wounded Warrior projects.

Paul Azinger, captain of this year's U.S. Ryder Cup team, joined three foreign veterans of International Cup play -- Darren Clarke, Robert Allenby and Nick O'Hern -- in making commitments to the 40th Annual Verizon Heritage, the tournament announced Monday.

Four Ryder Cuppers from America's most recent team -- Jim Furyk, Scott Verplank, Chris DiMarco and Vaughn Taylor -- have committed to play in the 40th Annual Verizon Heritage, the tournament announced Wednesday.

Media day for the Verizon Heritage usually is an occasion for yappin' and hackin', as writers and broadcasters from around the region gather to reacquaint, get an update on Hilton Head Island's annual PGA Tour stop, then rip divots in areas of Harbour Town Golf Links no professional will visit.

Major championship winners Ernie Els and Zach Johnson have made early commitments to play in the 40th Annual Verizon Heritage April 14-20, the tournament announced Monday.

Defending champion Boo Weekley heads a list of Verizon Heritage winners who have made early commitments to play in the 40th annual PGA Tour event, to be played April 14-20 at Harbour Town Golf Links.

Since he etched his name on golf's collective consciousness with a pair of improbable chip-ins, Thomas "Boo" Weekley's life has been something of a whirlwind, not unlike the storms that torment the Emerald Coast area he affectionately calls "the house."