Round 2, Zurich Classic of New Orleans

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Apr. 24, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff

The first groups are ready to tee off in today's second round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

	Andres Romero, Scott Verplank, Todd Hamilton Hamilton stumbled late in Hilton Head and struggled here Thursday. Can he regain the form he's shown lately? Tee time: 7:51 am ET, No. 1 Track 'em
	Nick Watney, Steve Stricker, James Driscoll Stricker's a Wisconsin guy, but he loves New Orleans. He was among the best in hitting fairways and greens Thursday. Tee time: 12:21 pm ET, No. 1 Track 'em
	Jason Day, Darron Stiles, Danny Lee Ex-phenom Day was good early this year, not so good lately. A 5-birdie, 2-bogey 69 Thursday portends better days. Tee time: 1:24 pm ET, No. 10 Track 'em

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent John Maginnes previews Friday's second round:

Friday's forecast

Partly cloudy
Temp: 83 high/68 low
The skies should be partly cloudy most of the day. The winds will come in from the south-southwest at 10 to 20 mph, and getting gustier as the afternoon wears on.

Reigning U.S. Amateur champion Danny Lee made his professional debut on Thursday, but it was hardly the day that he would have hoped for as he shot a 76. Turning pro at 18 isn't a decision to be taken lightly -- and Danny and his fellow competitor the first two rounds know that as well as anyone. Jason Day is a veteran now at 21 and showing the young guy the way around.

Following the final putts on the 18th green Thursday, Jason walked behind the green and made it a point to thank the walking scorer and standard bearer. A few steps behind, Danny watched this and did the same with a smile in spite of his disappointing round.

Friday afternoon is predicted to be windy and tough. Danny will undoubtedly need to play well to make the cut, and it seems like, with a late tee time Thursday morning and the next-to-last tee time on Friday afternoon, it doesn't look good for Danny's chances of playing the weekend.

If the weatherman is right, the winds on Friday afternoon could be a lot more severe than the ones the afternoon draw dealt with on Thursday. It often happens that one half of the draw gets a better deal than the other. If so, the few guys like Kenny Perry who played well on Thursday afternoon could have a huge advantage.

For those guys who didn't play well Thursday morning, Friday afternoon could prove miserable. Most learning experiences are, as Danny Lee might find out for himself.

Stat of the day

David Toms made his 450th start on the PGA TOUR Thursday with a 4-under 68. Toms was a popular winner here in his home state in 2001, when the event was played at English Turn.

NOTEWORTHY NUGGETS:
• Kenny Perry, making his first start since his playoff defeat at the Masters, is back in the thick of things with a solid first-round 69. Perry had a hot streak in the middle of the round, posting birdies at holes 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 to get within a stroke of the lead, but bogeys at 15 and 17 halted his progress. Perry posted his sixth consecutive sub-par round and his 18th round in the 60s this season.

• The Zurich Classic of New Orleans has produced four consecutive first-time PGA TOUR winners: Tim Petrovic in 2005 (70), Chris Couch in 2006 (71), Nick Watney in 2007 (74) and Andres Romero in 2008 (73).

• J.B. Holmes, who carded a 71, recorded the longest drive of the day, a poke of 371 yards on the par-4 13th hole that measured 364 yards. He wound up making a par on the hole.

• Eight players recorded bogey-free rounds on Thursday: Charlie Wi (66), John Merrick (67), Charles Howell III (68), Steve Stricker (68), Jason Dufner (68), Toms (68), Tim Wilkinson (71) and Scott Sterling (70).

Thus far at TPC Louisiana

Round	Leader	Low round (par 72)	Key links
	Charlie Wi (-6)	66: Charlie Wi	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Food, fun and golf \| Notebook

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today Win McMurry updates action from the first round of the 2009 Zurich Classic of New Orleans and previews what to watch for in the second round. Watch it
	Shot of the day Todd Hamilton makes birdie from just over 66 feet during the opening round at TPC Louisiana. Watch it
	First-round highlights Kenny Perry shot a 3-under 69 and is close to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the 2009 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Watch it