The Starter: Round 3, Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines

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Feb. 7, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff

The first group will soon tee off in today's third round of the Buick Invitational. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
12:55 pm ET (9:55 am local)		Camilo Villegas, Charley Hoffman, John Rollins Can anyone knock Villegas off his roll? Rollins and Hoffman are the only two challengers within four shots of the red-hot Colombian. Track 'em
12:25 pm ET (9:25 am local)		Pat Perez, Colt Knost, Carl Pettersson After winning the Bob Hope Classic, Perez has been in neutral this week. He's driving the ball well, so a charge isnt out of the question. Track 'em
11:05 am ET (8:05 am local)		Charles Howell III, Tag Ridings, Brandt Snedeker Off to a solid start in 2009, Howell has been consistent if not spectacular this week. A big Saturday could put him in the chase. Track 'em

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Brett Wright previews Saturday's third round:

Gaining on it: Phil Mickelson continued to play up-and-down golf in Round 2, missing fairways and a few short putts. He bogeyed three of the par 5s on the North Course at Torrey Pines but managed to limp into the clubhouse at even par for the day and 2 under for the tournament. Before leaving for practice at the putting green, Phil told me his putts were mostly hit where he wanted them and that he must be misreading them or hitting them at the wrong pace.

The Rust is Gone! John Rollins missed the cut at the Bob Hope Classic two weeks ago, his first event of the year, yet he was on the practice tee Sunday working on his game. I was doing pre-round interviews that day and, while waiting on the leaders to come to the tee, I asked John about his game and his off-season. He commented then that he really had not played much golf, and that he was still trying to knock the rust off, then tied for 70th the next week in Phoenix, where he almost won in 2007.

In Round 2 on the more difficult South Course at Torrey Pines on Friday, Rollins finished with a bogey to shoot an 8-under 64 and move within one shot of Camilo Villegas. I believe he found a WD-40 spring somewhere between Phoenix and San Diego.

Saturday's forecast

Showers
Temp: 59/high/51 low
80 percent chance of rain throughout the day. Winds will come out of from the south-southwest at 9 mph.

Changing Conditions: My fellow Augustan Charles Howell III had a little wait between 16 and the 17th tee on Friday. He walked over where I was standing, and I said, "Nice Augusta Day, huh?" He laughed and rolled his eyes, considering the constant changing conditions that had affected play all day on the North Course. He then said, "That's why I live in Orlando now."

Two Gloves are Better Than One! I had dinner with Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey last night at "The Spot," my favorite restaurant in La Jolla. Tommy had had posted a nice six-birdie 69 to make the cut on the number on Friday. Playing on a sponsor's exemption and taking full advantage, Tommy gave me his thoughts on the conditions for the weekend.

"If the course stays moist, yes, it makes the greens softer, but it also makes the rough much tougher to play out of," he said. "That is what makes the South Course so difficult -- is the rough is serious stuff. When it gets wet and the ball is setting down, you have to accept your penalty. The wind too will make these very tight fairways tougher to hit. The course is already long and longer when wet, but I don't think this gives the advantage to the long players; I believe the man who hits it very straight has the advantage. If you shoot under par on the South Course under tough conditions, you will gain ground on the leaderboard."

Stat of the day

History shows that holding the 36-hole lead at Torrey Pines doesn't provide any guarantees of victory. Dating back to 1995, just four 36-hole leaders have gone on to win: Tiger Woods in 2008, Phil Mickelson in 2000 and 2001, and Mark O'Meara in 1997. Doug Milne, PGA TOUR

So far at Torrey Pines

Round	Leader	Low round (par 72)	Key links
	Camilo Villegas (-9)	63: Camilo Villegas (North Course)	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Ross feature \| Notebook
	Camilo Villegas (-11)	70: Camilo Villegas (South Course)	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Ross feature \| Notebook

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today Win McMurry provides a recap of Friday's second round at Torrey Pines and previews Saturday's third round, which also could be affected by wet weather. Watch it
	Shot of the day After hitting his tee shot out of bounds during Friday's second round, Retief Goosen makes an unbelievable birdie on the par-4 fourth. Watch it
	Wallopin' Watson Big-hitting Bubba Watson reached the halfway point at 5 under, and explained how he got there to Chuck Garbedian from SIRIUS XM Radio. Watch it