The Starter: Round 5, 50th Bob Hope Classic

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Steve Stricker's already made history at the Bob Hope Classic. What will he do on Sunday?

The first group will soon tee off in today's final round of the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer. Here's how it sets up:

Note: This is a five-round pro-am event, with PGA TOUR players paired with amateur partners for the first four rounds. There was a cut after the fourth round, so the field is paired normally for the fifth and final round. The tournament is spread out over four courses. For a complete rundown of the four courses the field will play this week, click here.

Groups We're Watching

Tee time Player   2:10 p.m. ET (11:10 a.m. in California) Steve Stricker/Pat Perez How could we not watch the final group? Together, Perez and Stricker have carded two 61s, a 62 and a 63. The worst round either of them have had all week is a 67. 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. in California) Bubba Watson He's led the Driving Distance category for years, but Bubba Watson still hasn't captured his first TOUR title. Is this his week? 1:40 p.m. ET (10:40 a.m. in California) D.J. Trahan Don't count the defending champion out just yet. He's tied for 12th at the start of the final round and poised to make an early run before the leaders hit the course.

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Brett Wright previews Sunday's final round:

Vaughn Taylor finished his fourth round with a 4-under 68 and at 26-under for the week. Not usually a bad forth round following a 63 - 67 - 68 start. However, with Steve Stricker posting a total score of 33-under and Pat Perez finishing at 30-under, Vaughn Taylor is seven shots back and finds himself tied for third place with Bubba Watson and Robert Garrigus.

This is simply a testament to what I have been saying all week about the conditions of the four golf courses and the weather. The courses have been perfect. You could not ask for better scoring conditions with medium-fast greens that players can be aggressive on, even on downhill putts. The fairways and greens are not getting much harder or faster because they are keeping them watered here in the desert, unlike many weeks where the greens look stressed and purple at a PGA TOUR event after three or four rounds.

Sunday's forecast

Partly cloudy Temp: 66 high/45 low Some clouds with 10 percent chance of rain. Winds from the West at 16 mph.

The hole locations may be somewhat tougher in the final round due to the lack of a amateur/celebrity presence. On the other hand, they will also be in perfect sections of the greens that are rolling true and have been virtually untouched all week. Why? Because they've had to keep the hole locations within a couple feet of the previous day's hole in order to make it fair during the players' rotations on the courses. In addition, players will be able to concentrate better than they did with the pro-am format. They can now go eye-to-eye with each other and have the whole field on the same course.

There are two men who control their own destiny tomorrow (Stricker and Perez) and an assortment of variables lurking behind them. Look for one or more of the three players tied for third I mentioned to make an early move. They are in third place, yet seven shots back, and have nothing to lose. They are going to come out a little looser than Stricker and Perez on Sunday, since they don't have the added pressure of having held or currently holding the lead this week.

They have all shot 9-under par 63s this week. They may have to shoot 61 or better to pull this off, yet it is very possible on this Palmer Private Course. I feel like we may see one of the greatest finishes in PGA TOUR golf on Sunday.

The one stat(s) you need to know

Through four rounds, there have been 10 scores of 62 or lower. That hasn't occurred in PGA TOUR tournament play since the 1992 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, where 10 players shot a 62 or lower.

RECORD-SETTING WEEK

The weather has been perfect all week, the course is in top shape and the Classic Club, typically one of the tougher courses at the Bob Hope Classic, is not in the rotation this year.

With a combination like that, it's no wonder that several records have been set this week. When compared to other 90-hole events, Stricker's 33-under score through 72 holes is a record-breaker.

Joe Durant and Stuart Appleby both went on to win after posting such low numbers. Will Stricker continue that trend with a victory on Sunday?

Click here to view the other records that have been set or broken this week.

The Film Room

PGA TOUR Today Win McMurry recaps the fourth round and looks ahead to the final day. Watch it Stricker's record week Steve Stricker claims the 72-hole scoring record, and finishes off in style during the fourth round. Watch it Celebs having fun Jeffery Donovan, Evan Longoria & Michael Bolton spoke with Bob Stevens and Brett Wright from the PGA TOUR Network on Sirius XM Radio. Watch it

Round Leader Low round (par 72) Key links Pat Perez (-11) 61: Pat Perez Daily Wrap-Up | Live Report Ben Crane feature | Notebook Pat Perez (-20) 62: Brad Adamonis Daily Wrap-Up | Live Report Richard S. Johnson feature | Notebook Pat Perez (-25) 61: Steve Stricker, Charlie Wi Daily Wrap-Up | Live Report David Berganio feature | Notebook Steve Stricker (-33) 61: Jesper Parnevik Daily Wrap-Up | Live Report D.J. Trahan feature | Notebook

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