The Starter: Round 1, Northern Trust Open

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The first group will soon tee off in today's first round of the Northern Trust Open. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time Players   10:32 am ET (7:32 am local) Phil Mickelson, Trevor Immelman, Robert Allenby Defending champ Mickelson tries to get back on track with Immelman and past champion Allenby. Track 'em 10:32 am ET (7:32 am local) Kenny Perry, Mike Weir, Stuart Appleby Two-time champ Weir tees it up with FBR Open winner Perry and Appleby. Track 'em 11:45 am ET (8:45 am local) Brendon de Jonge, Jin Park, Ryo Ishikawa Ishikawa, 17, makes his much-anticipated TOUR debut alongside de Jonge and Park. Track 'em

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

Thursday's forecast

Sunny Temp: 70 high/48 low Sunshine is expected throughout the day. Winds will come out of the northwest at 6 mph.

When Padraig Harrington made his 2009 PGA TOUR debut in San Diego two weeks ago at the Buick Invitational, he told me he had no expectations for that event, that it was all about shaking the rust off and working his way into peak form for the rest of the spring season. He had a good Sunday at Torrey Pines and his rounds improved each day at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, but the ever-honest Harrington told me he was a player with very little confidence coming into the Northern Trust Open this week. Maybe Riviera will provide the magic elixir again, Paddy's finished in the top seven in both previous appearances.

The 10th hole will be a fun one to watch, as it always is. Only 315 yards long, less than 290 to the front of the green, this short par 4 offers "more options than any other hole in the world" in the words of Jack Nicklaus. Mark Calcavecchia agreed today, telling me it's the easiest birdie, but also the easiest bogey, on the course.

One of the things that makes Riviera such a gem is that all sorts of styles have won here. Big hitters like Phil Mickelson, Charles Howell III and Ernie Els have won here, but so have tacticians like Mike Weir (twice), Corey Pavin (twice) and Chip Beck. Hogan, Nelson, Snead, Watson and Johnny Miller have also won here, yet Jack and Tiger never have, making Riviera a one-of-a-kind test.

The one stat(s) you need to know

Former Masters champion Mike Weir won the Northern Trust Open in 2003 and 2004. He missed the cut with last year's effort, but comes into this week with two top-3 finishes in just three starts this season -- a tie for third at the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer, a missed cut at the FBR Open and a second-place showing last week at the rain-shortened AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

FEDEXCUP NOTES: ROUND 1
• Of the top-30 players in the FedExCup rankings, 21 are teeing it up this week -- including all of the top eight.Twenty-six players currently in the field could move to the top of the FedExCup standings with a victory.

Simpson

• The eight players in the top 10 could move to the top with a second-place finish. Seven players could move into the top 10 with a third-place finish. Three players are within 42 points of the leader.

• Three rookies currently in the top 30 of the FedExCup standings are alternates for the field: Jeff Klauk, Webb Simpson and Scott Piercy.

• Mike Weir has finished in the top three twice in his first three starts of the year.

• Weir missed the cut last year but comes in ranked eighth in the FedExCup standings and could move to first with a solo second or a victory.

• Weir currently ranks fifth in bogey avoidance, only making a bogey or worse on 8.3 percent of the holes he has played.

-- Mike Vitti, PGA TOUR Staff

The Film Room

Opening Shot Marc Fein and Brian Katrek discuss Dustin Johnson's win at Pebble Beach, how three big names look ahead as they return from knee surgery, and preview the upcoming week at Riviera. Watch it Ishikawa speaks Japanese teen sensation Ryo Ishikawa addresses the media at the 2009 Northern Trust Open before his PGA TOUR debut. Watch it Z. Johnson on short game Zach Johnson assessed his putting consistency in his previous two seasons for the media at the 2009 Northern Trust Open. Watch it

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