The Starter: Round 1, Mercedes-Benz Champ.

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Jan. 8, 2009
By PGATOUR.com staff

The first group will soon tee off in today's first round of the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship is Kapalua, Hawaii. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
4 pm ET (11 am in Hawaii)		Dustin Johnson, Davis Love III If the Plantation course loves bombers -- and it does -- you've gotta like these two. Each one ranked in the top 10 in driving distance in 2008. Track 'em
6:10 pm ET (1:10 pm in Hawaii)		Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas Of the two key Oklahoma vs. Florida matchups on Thursday, this one between the TOUR's brightest young guns might be more entertaining. Track 'em
6:20 pm ET (1:20 pm in Hawaii)		Vijay Singh, Daniel Chopra Chopra ate up this course on the weekend last year; Singh eats up this course practically every year. But how's that knee? Track 'em

Thursday's forecast

Mostly sunny
Temp: 82 high/64 low
Isolated showers possible along with occasional gusty winds

BARE ESSENTIALS: Limited to those players who won on the PGA TOUR last year, the field has just 33 players. The first tee time is 3:45 p.m. ET (10:45 a.m. Hawaiian time), with Marc Turnesa getting the honors. For more, check out Approach Shots.

HOLE TO WATCH: The 203-yard, par-3 eighth was the toughest at the Plantation course last year, playing to a stroke average of 0.121 above par. Players will use middle irons across a native canyon to a receptive green, but watch out for those strong trade winds from the right.

WHAT TO EXPECT: "There's a lot of elevation here with this mountain we are on. So if you get it on the wrong side, you can be in a lot of trouble, especially with the wind blowing ... The weather really dictates how you score here. But I'm sure if the weather really blows, it will be a good test." -- Former Mercedes-Benz champion Ernie Els

IF YOU'RE LISTENING: The PGA TOUR Network will carry live first-round coverage from 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. ET on XM 146/SIRIUS 209. On-site talent includes: John Tautges (host), John Maginnes (analyst) and correspondents Fred Albers, Michael Collins and Brian Katrek.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING: The GOLF CHANNEL will broadcast live first-round action from 6:30 p.m-10 p.m ET, and will be re-broadcast from 11:30 p.m.-4 a.m.

IF YOU'RE GOING: Then that means you're a very fortunate person, since you're basking in the Hawaiian sun. Click here for ticket information. Click here for shuttle information to the course. Click here for more about the local scene in Maui.

WEEKLY VERSION: To sign up for a newsletter version of The Starter delivered each Wednesday to your e-mail address, click here.

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today Win McMurry gets you ready for the opening round of the 2009 PGA TOUR season at the Mercedes-Benz Championship. Watch it
	A word with the commissioner PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem speaks with Brian Katrek of Sirius/XM's PGA TOUR Network about the state of the PGA TOUR. Watch it
	Els on Kapalua Ernie Els talks about his return to the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort and how the course has change since his last appearance. Watch it

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Brian Katrek previews the first round:

Katrek

"Like many PGA TOUR stops, television doesn't do Kapalua justice with regard to elevation change. This place is hilly. There is hardly a flat spot anywhere. With few exceptions, the holes here run either straight up, or straight down the mountain. There will be very few shots this week that play true to the yardage. The caddies will be working overtime.

"Another huge challenge this week will be the wind. The Plantation course is very exposed, and the winds can be brutal. I talked to Mr. Hawaii himself, Mark Rolfing, who told me that the hole is almost never the target when playing here. The players who can figure this out, and also calculate the right spot to aim, will do well here.

"Every year, the media gets to test out the Plantation course on Monday after the tournament. Last year, co-worker Michael Collins actually finished second in this outing. I simply can't let that happen again and was determined to get some work in early in the week to prepare for our showdown. Since I was on East Coast time still in my head, I set the alarm early to go out and practice at a local range. The problem was, the sun doesn't come up until 7 a.m. here. Hard to practice in the dark. I am still going to get him somehow."

Live Essentials