Round 1, St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx

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Jun. 11, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff

The first groups are ready to tee off in today's first round of the St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
8:36 am ET No. 1		Camilo Villegas, Robert Allenby, Aaron Baddeley Twentysomethings Villegas and Baddeley are paired with a veteran who hasn't won since 2001.
8:27 am ET No. 10		Phil Mickelson, Cameron Beckman, Padraig Harrington How will Mickelson hold up in his first event since his wife's cancer diagnosis?
12:36 pm ET No. 1		Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Boo Weekley All three are making their first TOUR starts since THE PLAYERS, which Stenson won in May.

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

Thursday's forecast

Scattered t-storms
Temp: 89 high/70 low
A few storms may be severe and could produce large hail and strong winds.

Phil Mickelson has a very early start on Thursday (7:27 a.m.) after flying in just in time for his pro-am tee time Wednesday afternoon. He spent Tuesday scoping out Bethpage Black before next week's U.S. Open and said the course was "awesome" and the setup was "perfect." Maybe the "all-golf, all-the-time" focus this week will get Mickelson's mind off the other challenges in his life right now. Or maybe not. It all falls under the category of "What will Phil do next?"

The group right behind Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Cameron Beckman could probably play the TPC Southwind course single-file. Two-time St. Jude Classic champions David Toms and Justin Leonard are straight-as-an-arrow hitters who obviously know how to win here. Scott Verplank should fit in well with that pair, as he's coming off eighth-place finishes in each of the last two years at TPC Southwind, and any member in this threesome could be the under-the-Mickelson-and-Daly-radar breakout star of the week.

Memphis resident Shaun Micheel celebrated the first anniversary of his shoulder surgery exactly where he hoped to be -- on the practice green at TPC Southwind. He's swinging pain-free for the first time in years. He admitted to me that he should have had the surgery much earlier than he did but felt the tug to play in the last year of his exemption for winning the 2003 PGA Championship. He's had at least two good rounds in each of his last three starts (two of them top-25 finishes), including a 66 at Quail Hollow and a 63 at LaCantera. Outside of Mickelson or Daly, there wouldn't be a more popular winner in his own backyard.

Stat of the day

Justin Leonard, who entered the final round of the 2008 St. Jude Classic three strokes behind Tim Clark, has won in come-from-behind fashion in seven of his 12 PGA TOUR victories.

The Film Room

	Opening Shot Marc Fein and Brian Katrek discuss Tiger Woods at the Memorial, Phil Mickelson's return to action, and the TOUR's trip to TPC Southwind. Watch it
	Fantasy Insider: 2009 St. Jude Classic Need help with your fantasy picks for the 2009 St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx? John Swantek and the Fantasy Insider can help you out. Watch it
	Preview: 2009 St. Jude Classic The PGA TOUR heads to Memphis, Tenn., for the 2009 St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx. Watch it