Round 4, HP Byron Nelson Championship

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May. 24, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff

The first groups are ready to tee off in today's fourth round of the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
8:03 am ET No. 1		Todd Hamilton, Shaun Micheel Both these major champions are marching down the comeback trail this season, and both would love to put a big early number up on the board.
12:27 pm ET No. 1		Brian Davis, Kevin Streelman Davis leads the field in Scrambling, and tees off Sunday tied for third. Another good day around the greens could result in a breakthrough win.
12:45 pm ET No. 1		Rory Sabbatini, John Mallinger Mallinger and Sabbatini matched each other shot for shot on Saturday. But if they focus on each other Sunday, they both might get passed.

Sunday's forecast

Chance of Storms
Temp: 81 high/66 low
There is a 50 percent chance of rain throughout the day, with showers possible early and thunderstorms possible late in the day. Winds from the north at 5 to 20 mph.

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent John Maginnes looks back at Saturday's third round and previews Sunday's final round:

Paul Casey was the last first-time winner on the PGA TOUR this year, all the way back at the Shell Houston Open. A quick look at the leaderboard suggests that we just might have another on Sunday. Dustin Johnson and Rory Sabbatini both have multiple wins in their careers, but they are surrounded by a group of eager non-winners.

John Mallinger, Kevin Streelman and D.A. Points are the young guns shooting for their first win. Briny Baird has made more money than every non-winner in PGA TOUR history but one, Tim Clark. Briny will start Sunday with a chance to take his name off that list. If history tells us anything about Briny, it is that he will be a factor and cash a big check even if he doesn't win.

In all, six of the first nine names on the leaderboard have never tasted victory on the PGA TOUR. The HP Byron Nelson Championship is quite familiar with first-time winners. The 2005 and 2006 champions, Ted Purdy and Brett Wetterich, both earned their only PGA TOUR wins here. Sunday will certainly give a handful of players a chance to add their names to the distinguished list of players that can be called HP Byron Nelson champions.

Stat of the day

The third-round leader/co-leader has gone on to win 15 of 20 events (75 percent) on the PGA TOUR this season, with the most recent to accomplish the feat being Zach Johnson at last week's Valero Texas Open. Last year, the third-round leader/co-leader only won 22 of 46 events (48 percent).

NOTEWORTHY NUGGETS:
• The PGA TOUR has had just four playoffs so far this season, but two of them have occurred in Texas. Paul Casey claimed the Shell Houston Open over J.B. Holmes with a bogey on the first playoff hole, while Zach Johnson won the Valero Texas Open over James Driscoll with a birdie on the first extra hole.

• Marc Leishman, who began Saturday at 3 under, played his first eight holes without posting a par. Beginning on the back nine, Leishman went birdie-birdie-birdie-bogey-bogey-birdie-birdie-birdie. It wasn't until the 18th hole (his ninth) that he leveled out with a par to make the turn at 6 under. His 63 was the lowest round of his young PGA TOUR career.

• Nicholas Thompson is making the most of having a job this weekend. Thompson, who made the cut on the number (1-under 139), fired a 6-under 64 Saturday and moved up to a tie for 17th.

• After a second-round 63, Texas native Justin Leonard remained in red figures in Round 3 with a 66 to get to 6 under for the tournament. Leonard rallied in Round 2 with that 63 after posting a first-round 75. The 12-shot swing was the best improvement since Arron Oberholser bettered an opening-round 4-over 74 with a 10-under 60 in the second round in 2006 for a difference of 14 strokes.

Thus far at TPC Four Seasons

Round	Leader	Low round (par 70)	Key links
	Ken Duke, James Nitties (-5)	65: Ken Duke, James Nitties	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Melanie Hauser column \| Notebook
	Rory Sabbatini, John Mallinger (-8)	63: Justin Leonard	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Melanie Hauser column \| Notebook
	Rory Sabbatini, John Mallinger (-13)	63: Marc Leishman	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Melanie Hauser column \| Notebook

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today Win McMurry updates action from the third round of the 2009 HP Byron Nelson Championship and previews what to watch for in the final round. Watch it
	Shot of the day Fred Couples holes-out for eagle on the par-5, 16th hole at TPC Four Seasons. Watch it
	Round 3 highlights Rory Sabbatini and John Mallinger share the 36-hole lead at the 2009 HP Byron Nelson Championship. Watch it