Round 3, Crowne Plaza Invitational

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May. 30, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff

The first groups are ready to tee off in today's third round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
2 p.m. ET No. 1		Tim Clark, Steve Stricker It should be fun watching these two middleweights slug it out in the final group after their birdie-filled performances the first two days.
1:50 p.m. ET No. 1		Sean O'Hair, Vijay Singh Singh badly wants to add a Colonial win to his long resumé, while O'Hair merely wants to putt better after taking 62 putts in the first two days.
11:58 a.m. ET No. 1		Stephen Ames, Zach Johnson We keep waiting on Johnson -- who's shot 60 twice -- to light it up at Colonial, which could yield a 59 if someone gets hot enough.

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent John Maginnes looks ahead to Saturday's third round:

Steve Stricker and Vijay Singh have left the peloton in the waning distance. Sean O'Hair, young Jason Day and others make up the top of the pack. With incredible play over the first 36 holes, it will be tough to reel in the proven veterans at the top.

Saturday's forecast

Mostly Sunny
Temp: 91 high/63 low
Sunny and hot with light winds.

Steve Stricker shot back-to-back 63s for the lowest 36-hole total in the distinguished history of this event. On those merits, there are only seven players within six shots of the lead. Considering the way that Stricker and Singh are are playing, it doesn't seem likely that you can go back much farther than that to find your eventual champion. Although Vijay hasn't played to form so far this year, he's certainly come out of the gate strong at Colonial.

Singh knows how to close these events. He has won 34 times in his career -- more than all the other players in the top 20 combined. He is not prone to backing up. Stricker has been one of the most consistent performers on the PGA TOUR this year and doesn't seem to have any weaknesses this week.

For others to give themselves a chance, they will very likely need some help. Stricker and Vijay don't look like they are likely to lend those guys a hand. Mother Nature doesn't look like she is going to cooperate either. Sunny skies and light winds are the forecast all weekend long, so expect more of the same in terms of scoring. Tim Clark, Sean O'Hair and Jason Day will have to keep the pedal to the metal to keep pace with the veterans who have taken control of the Crowne Plaza Invitational, and even that may not be enough.

Stat of the day

As we mentioned in Groups We're Watching, Sean O'Hair has taken 31 putts in each of the first two rounds. On the flip side, he's hit 35 of 36 greens (97.2 percent).

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today Win McMurry reviews the second round and previews what we can expect on Saturday in Fort Worth. Watch it
	Shot of the Day Parker McLachlin holed an impossible flop shot after hitting his approach well right of the 18th hole at Colonial. Watch it
	Round 2 Highlights Steve Stricker only has a one-shot lead despite a historic 63-63 start heading into the weekend in the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Watch it

Thus far at Colonial Country Club

Round	Leader	Low round (par 70)	Key links
	Steve Stricker (-14)	63: Steve Stricker, Ryan Palmer	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Notebook
	Steve Stricker, Woody Austin, Tim Clark (-7)	63: Steve Stricker, Woody Austin, Tim Clark	Daily Wrap-Up \| Live Report Notebook