Groups we're watching: Final round

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Feb. 17, 2008

Here's a look at the groups we'll be watching during the final round of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday:

Phil Mickelson, Jeff Quinney, John Rollins
Tee time: 10:20 a.m.
Tee: No. 1
Total TOUR wins: 34
Why you should watch: Not only is this the final group on Sunday, it's the final group with the world's No. 2 golfer -- the highest world-ranked golfer in the field at the Northern Trust Open.

In addition to that, Jeff Quinney not only made an ace in the third round but also a 36-foot putt for birdie on No. 18 to narrow Phil Mickelson's lead. Another reason to watch? Despite Quinney's stellar efforts, Mickelson powered through to maintain the top spot on the leaderboard. And don't forget about John Rollins. He lit up the front nine Saturday to move up six spots on the leaderboard and settle himself in the final group.

2008 Stat Comparison

Player	Events	Cuts Made	1st	2nd	3rd	Top 10	Top 25	Scoring Average
Mickelson	3	2	--	1	--	2	2	69.87
Quinney	5	4	--	--	--	--	2	70.69
Rollins	3	2	--	--	--	--	2	72.89

Stuart Appleby, Vaughn Taylor, Scott Verplank
Tee time: 10:09 a.m.
Tee: No. 1
Total TOUR wins: 15
Why you should watch: With a tie for eighth at the Buick Inviational and a tie for fourth at the FBR Open, Stuart Appleby has already earned two top-10 finishes in his first two starts of the season. Surely he was just warming up.

Vaughn Taylor and Scott Verplank aren't too shabby either with three top-25 and one top-10 finish between them in 2008 so far. Not to mention, all three were tied for fourth place on the leaderboard at the close of the third round -- that should spark some friendly competition.

2008 Stat Comparison

Player	Events	Cuts Made	1st	2nd	3rd	Top 10	Top 25	Scoring Average
Appleby	2	2	--	--	--	2	2	69.10
Taylor	4	3	--	--	--	1	2	70.30
Verplank	2	2	--	--	--	--	2	71.84

D.J. Trahan, Bubba Watson, Brandt Jobe
Tee time: 9:17 a.m.
Tee: No. 1
Total TOUR wins: 2
Why you should watch: Though these guys are not in the final groups and have the smallest number of wins between them, they bring excitement to the table. D.J. Trahan leads the American trio with both of the group's wins to his name, and his impressive bogey-free, 5-under-par round on Saturday rocketed him 45 spots up the leaderboard from the second round.

Bubba Watson is always ready to surprise, and Brandt Jobe has just made his first cut of the season, so he's probably eager to please.

2008 Stat Comparison