The Starter: Round 4, Mercedes-Benz Champ.

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Jan. 11, 2009
By PGATOUR.com staff

ALERT: Final-round tee times have been delayed two hours due to inclement weather. Groups will tee off the first and 10th holes at 10 a.m. local time (3 p.m. ET).

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

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
3:51 p.m. ET (10:51 a.m. in Hawaii)		Anthony Kim, K.J. Choi, Boo Weekley All three players have easily broken par in every round, but Kim's staggering 18 birdies this week stand out.
4:03 p.m. ET (11:03 a.m. in Hawaii)		Camilo Villegas, Davis Love III, Kenny Perry Villegas would be on Geoff Ogilvy's heels without his first-round 74. Perry and Love III are both seven back.
4:15 p.m. ET (11:15 a.m. in Hawaii)		D.J. Trahan, Justin Leonard, Geoff Ogilvy Like Villegas, Leonard shot 74 on Thursday only to go low in the second and third round.

Saturday's forecast

T-Storms
Temp: 79 high/62 low
Winds from the NW
at 9 mph.

BARE ESSENTIALS: Limited to those players who won on the PGA TOUR last year, the field has just 33 players. The first tee time Sunday is 3 p.m. ET, with two groups teeing off on tees 1 and 10. The tee times were moved up on Sunday in anticipation of inclement weather moving in later this afternoon.

HOLE TO WATCH: The 663-yard, par-5 18th. Even the shortest of hitters can get near the green in two on this dramatic, downhill home hole. Eagles are always possible, although the hole didn't give up any on Saturday.

WHAT TO EXPECT: "Everyone will be having a different course again. We don't know. As you see, we have not much wind and everyone goes low. I'd have to make lots of birdies tomorrow, but either way, whatever forecast comes is what comes; forecast, whatever weather comes." -- Geoff Ogilvy, on the rain that is expected to arrive at Kapalua on Sunday

IF YOU'RE LISTENING: The PGA TOUR Network will carry live final-round coverage starting at 2 p.m. eastern on XM 146/SIRIUS 209. On-air talent includes: John Tautges (host), John Maginnes (analyst) along with on-site correspondents Fred Albers, Michael Collins and Brian Katrek.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING: The GOLF CHANNEL will broadcast live final-round action starting at 5:30 p.m. ET, and the network will replay the final round starting at 11:30 p.m. ET.

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 reviews the third round of the 2009 PGA TOUR season at the Mercedes-Benz Championship. Watch it
	Wire-to-Wire? Geoff Ogilvy talks to the PGA TOUR Network's Brian Katrek after he opened up a six-shot lead after three rounds in Kapalua. Watch it
	Best Shot: Love's eagle Davis Love bounced his second shot onto the green on the par-five ninth on the third round, then converted the putt. Watch it

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Brian Katrek previews Sunday's final round:

Katrek

"Geoff Ogilvy's last PGA TOUR win came at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship at Doral. There are several similarities to this week. The greens here at Kapalua are the same strain of Bermuda as the Blue Course at Doral.

Also, there was rain at Doral. It caused a Monday finish (I hope that is not repeated this week). But, the rain was not a distraction to Geoff. He held off a world-class field for the victory. With bad weather looming for the final round, you may wonder, 'Why not start earlier than 8 a.m.'?

The sun doesn't come up here until 7 a.m., and players need time to warm up. Still, with just 33 players in the field, a split tee start will feature just six groups off the front and five off the back. We have heard so much about the dreaded Kona winds here in Maui. Saturday, the Konas lacked any ferocity. Only one player was over par for his round. Kona shmona. Let's see what the rain does. "

Thus far at Kapalua