Round 1, THE PLAYERS Championship

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May. 7, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff

The first groups are ready to tee off in today's first round of THE PLAYERS Championship. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
8:10 am ET No. 10		Tiger Woods, Justin Leonard, Ernie Els Woods and Leonard are each past PLAYERS' champions, while Els is still lokking for his first win at TPC Sawgrass. Track 'em
8:30 am ET No. 10		Zach Johnson, Sergio Garcia, K.J. Choi Garcia, the defending champion, tees it up with red-hot Zach Johnson and a struggling K.J. Choi. Track 'em
1:20 pm ET No. 1		Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott Mickelson and Scott are both past champions at TPC Sawgrass, while Johnson won early this year. Track 'em

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Mark Carnevale previews Thursday's first round:

The best field in golf is gathered for another addition of THE PLAYERS. 145 players will tee off in the first round and truly, there is no favorite. Surely Tiger, Phil and others have some pretty good odds to be there come Sunday afternoon, but honestly, this tournament is always full of surprises.

TPC Sawgrass is a demanding course that requires a good game plan to get good results for the four days of play. I have now lived here for 14 years, and I can't tell you how many times I have played the Stadium Course. What I can tell you is I still haven't figured out how to play it, because honestly, it is different every time.

Not only does this course challenge your ability as a golfer, it challenges your mind, your sense of humor and mostly your patience. Patience is the key to solid play at the Stadium Course. I say this because you have to be patient enough to make the correct decisions when choosing what shot to play, how aggressive to play them and to the patience to take your medicine when you make the wrong play.

Thursday's forecast

Isolated T-Storms
Temp: 87 high/70 low
Isolated thunderstorms are anticipated later in the afternoon with winds coming out of the south, southwest at 8 mph.

Many weeks on TOUR, players may not be hitting on all cylinders, but yet still go on to win. For THE PLAYERS Championship, this is not the case. This championship really highlights the player who has played his best for the week, and that player usually wins. I don't expect it to change this week. After all, isn't that what we want?

When I played the PGA TOUR, there were coursez that were driving courses, where the important shot was your tee shot, some course are second shot courses, and others, well, they're just plain putting contests. I think Stadium Course is one that combines all of the above. You must first place your tee shot correctly in order to give yourself a good angle to the hole locations, then position your approach shot in order to give yourself an opportunity to make some putts. Throw wind, winding canals, island greens, overhanging trees, pot bunkers, waste areas and everything else you can think of, and this course has it.

I spoke with former Commissioner Deane Beman prior to this years' event. Deane was very instrumental in the development and building of the Stadium Course. Deane said "They wanted the player to be challenged on each shot on the golf course." I would say they definitely accomplished that.

So for me I guess it's a "love-ate relationship" with the Stadium Course. I hate the fact that I love it despite the pain and agony that I endure during a four hour round.

Stat of the day

Tiger Woods has had limited success -- by his standards -- at THE PLAYERS, with three top-10 finishes, highlighted by his lone win in 2001.

FEDEXCUP NOTES: ROUND 1
• Although the leader Geoff Ogilvy has won twice in the first half of the season, he is only 24 points ahead of Phil Mickelson -- also a two-time winner in 2009 -- who currently occupies the second spot. Additionally, Ogilvy is a mere 51 points ahead of the player in third, Sean O'Hair.

Mickelson

• O'Hair's victory last week means that Steve Stricker is the lone player in the top 10 without a victory.

• The average difference between positions in the top 10 is about 54 points with five of the positions separated by less than 30 points.

• Tiger Woods moved into the top 10 after finishing fourth at Quail Hollow, but he is a scant three points ahead of Retief Goosen, who currently occupies the 11th position.

• Due to the increased points available at THE PLAYERS Championship there are 12 players who have a chance to move into first with a victory, and four players could pass Ogilvy with a solo third or better finish.

• Lucas Glover moved from 34th to 16th in the standings after his tie for second at Quail Hollow.

• The player tied with Glover last week was Bubba Watson, who was the week's biggest mover, jumping 47 places in the standings from 79th to 32nd.

• Jonathan Byrd's tie for fifth last week moved him up 39 places in the standings from 108th to 69th.

-- Mike Vitti, PGA TOUR Staff

The Film Room

	Opening Shot Beau Estes and Brian Katrek recap Sean O'Hair's victory at the Quail Hollow Championship, analyze TPC Sawgrass' challenging holes and look at this week's deep field. Watch it
	In the Bag: Paul Goydos Paul Goydos, the runner-up in a one-hole playoff at the 2008 PLAYERS Championship gives us an inside look at what he carries in his bag. Watch it
	Klauk excited to be in the field 2009 PLAYERS Championship rookie and local favorite Jeff Klauk spoke about all of his "experience" at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Watch it