Round 1, Verizon Heritage

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Apr. 16, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff

The first groups are ready to tee off in today's first round of the Verizon Heritage. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

	Zach Johnson, Camilo Villegas, Trevor Immelman These three world-class players are decompressing after the year's first major but still looking for a win. Tee time: 8:20 am ET. Track 'em
	Davis Love III, Boo Weekley, Steve Flesch Love is a five-time winner at Hilton Head, Weekley is the two-time defending champ and Flesch loves the place. Tee time: 1 p.m. ET. Track 'em
	Justin Leonard, Ernie Els, Rory Sabbatini Leonard won here in '02; Els was second in '07; Sabbatini is playing here for first time since 2001. Tee time: 1:10 p.m. ET. Track 'em

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

All the players are taking a deep breath and exhaling a sigh of relief coming off the Masters. This week in Hilton Head Island, S.C., there will be a much more relaxed attitude and mindset going into the 2009 Verizon Heritage. Low Country hospitality and family relaxation are on the menu for this week. Many players bring family with them this week to enjoy the coziness and mellowness of Hilton Head Island, with beaches, golf, good food and quality time on the agenda. But don't overlook the fact that this is the first event to try to qualify for next year's Masters.

Thursday's forecast

Sunny
Temp: 69 high/50 low
It will be sunny throughout the first round, with winds coming out of the northeast at 13 mph.

This tournament has a long list of big-name winners: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Davis Love III and do not forget two-time champion, Boo Weekley, who will be looking for three in a row this week. I spoke to Boo prior to the start of the tournament, and he was struggling slightly with his golf game, but what better place to find it than where you have two victories in a row? The atmosphere here in Hilton Head suits Boo to a tee -- or a big glass of "Sweet Tea." He is very comfortable here, and don't be surprised to see him near the top this week. That is one of the nuances of the Verizon Heritage -- multiple winners and consistent finishes. It truly is all about attitude, and players seem to find the right one here.

As we get set to start the tournament, once again, the key to success at Harbour Town Golf Links is driving the golf ball straight and having the ability to work the ball through very narrow tree-lined fairways. As has been the case in the past, you will find players having total putt rounds in the low 20s. This is because the greens are so small; you have a good chance of missing them. The consistent players this week will be the ones who succeed here, that is unless they are consistently struggling with their golf game. Look for the same usual suspects to contend: Love, Jim Furyk, Scott Verplank, Bob Tway ... but don't overlook Boo. If I were going to make a darkhorse pick, I'd go with Jeff Klauk. The rookie has played very well this year, and to my eye, this course will suit him well.

Stat of the day

Aside from his incredible, record five wins at the Verizon Heritage, Davis Love III also has six other top-10 finishes in his career at Harbour Town.

FEDEXCUP NOTES: ROUND 1
• Angel Cabrera and Chad Campbell were the big movers in the standings last week. Cabrera jumped from 132nd to 13th place with his win at the Masters, while Campbell's tie for second moved him up 51 places to 24th.

Sabbatini

• Nine of the players in the top 10 at the start of last week stayed in the top 10 after Sunday, although there was some movement within the group. The only player who moved into the top 10 was Steve Stricker, moving from 11th to eighth. With one moving in, that means one moved out, and that player was Pat Perez; he fell from eighth to 11th.

• Separated by less than one tenth of a point, Paul Casey and Zach Johnson enter this week fifth and sixth in the standings, respectively, and are the top two point earners in the field at the Verizon Heritage. Casey and Johnson are the only two players who can pass Geoff Ogilvy at the top of the standings with a win this week.

• Only 27 players can move into the top 10 with a victory this week, with Rory Sabbatini at 54th position being the lowest.

• With three top-10 finishes in seven starts, Furyk enters this week ranked 30th in the FedExCup standings and could move as high as fifth with a victory.

• Furyk has finished in the top five in three of the last four years at Harbour Town.

-- Mike Vitti, PGA TOUR Staff

The Film Room

	Opening Shot Marc Fein and Brian Katrek reflect on Kenny Perry's chances at future majors and explain why players love coming to Harbour Town for the Verizon Heritage. Watch it
	Preview: 2009 Verizon Heritage Boo Weekley looks to make it three in row at Hilton Head as the PGA TOUR heads to heads to Harbour Town Golf Links for the Verizon Heritage. Watch it
	Byrd happy to be home Jonathan Byrd talks about playing in front of a hometown crowd in South Carolina at the 2009 Verizon Heritage. Watch it