Buick Invitational

Thursday Jan 24 – Sunday Jan 27, 2008 · Torrey Pines (South Course) · San Diego, CA

Purse: $5.2 million
Winning Share: $936,000

Groups we're watching: Buick Invitational

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Jan. 25, 2008

All times eastern.

Troy Matteson, Charley Hoffman
Tee time: 1 p.m.
Course: Torrey Pines (South Course), Tee No. 1
Total TOUR Wins: 2
Why you should watch: Matteson scorched the North Course in the first round on Thursday to grab a one-shot lead after a 7-under-par 65. Matteson is playing this week after a missed cut the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, but he did have a tie for eighth at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Hoffman had a 1-over-par 73 in the first round. Mike Weir was a part of this threesome, but had to withdraw due to an illness.

2007 Stat Comparison

Player	Events	Cuts Made	1st	2nd	3rd	Top 10	Top 25	Scoring Avg.
Matteson	26	17	--	--	2	3	7	71.41
Hoffman	30	18	1	--	--	2	7	71.54

Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, George McNeill
Tee time: 1 p.m.
Course: Torrey Pines (North Course), Tee No. 10
Total TOUR wins: 74
Why you should watch: Any group Tiger Woods is a part of -- or Jim Furyk for that matter -- you should be watching. In his first round of the 2008 season on Thursday, Woods fired a ho-hum 5-under-par 67 on the South Course, regarded as the harder of the two, which could mean trouble for the field when he tees it up on the easier North Course today. McNeill, a winner in Vegas in 2007, managed an even-par 72 in the first round, while Furyk struggled with a 1-over-par 73.

2007 Stat Comparison

Player	Events	Cuts Made	1st	2nd	3rd	Top 10	Top 25	Scoring Avg.
McNeill	30	18	1	--	1	2	6	70.37
Woods	16	16	7	3	--	12	15	70.91
Furyk	23	20	1	2	2	8	16	69.47

Mark Wilson, Stuart Appleby, J.B. Holmes
Tee time: 1 p.m.
Course: Torrey Pines (South Course), Tee No. 1
Total TOUR wins: 10
Why you should watch: Stuart Appleby is off to a wonderful start after his 5-under-par 67, which was two shots off the lead. Like Woods and Mickelson, this week marks the season-debut of Appleby. Holmes shot 1-under par, while Wilson had a 1-over-par 73 on Thursday.

2007 Stat Comparison

Player	Events	Cuts Made	1st	2nd	3rd	Top 10	Top 25	Scoring Avg.
Wilson	25	18	1	--	--	3	6	71.00
Appleby	24	15	--	1	1	3	9	71.71
Holmes	24	12	--	--	--	3	5	71.38

Rich Beem, Kevin Streelman, Nathan Green
Tee time: 11:40 a.m.
Course: Torrey Pines (South Course), Tee No. 1
Total TOUR wins: 3
Why you should watch: Kevin Streelman is a great story. He was the third-alternate at the Buick Invitational and snuck into the field after a few withdrawals. Streelman was notified that he was in the field five minutes before his actual tee time. What did he do next? He shot a 5-under-par 67 and is just two shots off the lead. Green had a terrific opening round with his 4-under-par 68, while Beem posted an even-par 72.