Round 1: Children's Miracle Network Classic

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The first groups have teed off in Round 1 of the Children's Miracle Network Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Here's how it sets up (Click here for tee times):
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Groups We're Watching

Tee time Players   11:15 a.m. ET, Hole No. 1, Magnolia Course Zach Johnson, Jonathan Byrd (paired with Jeff Harper and Tim Phillips) Johnson, No. 4 on the Money List, is ready to do a little more damage before the '09 season comes to an end. 7:15 a.m. ET, Hole No. 10, Palm Course David Duval, Davis Love III (paired with Scott McKnight and David Klein) Although Duval will likely be invited to a majority of the 2010 PGA TOUR events, it wouldn't hurt to finish in the top 125 of the Money List. 7:55 a.m. ET, Hole No. 1, Palm Course Rickie Fowler, Jamie Lovemark (paired with Phil Summers and Robert Jenkins) Two of the young guns on TOUR will be together for the first two rounds, and will look to feed off the momentum they have created for themselves.

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

Thursday's forecast

Sunny Temp: 68 high/52 low Mainly sunny. Winds from the northwest at 10-20 mph.

A signature of the Children's Miracle Network Classic is that the players are consulted before their opening round pairings are made. Since the players are going off in twosomes, with amateur partners on both days, it can lead to some tasty pairings. I would have bought lunch for Ryder Cup captains (past) Tom Lehman and (future) Corey Pavin, who were chatting on the putting green Wednesday before their 11:35 a.m. ET pairing today. They'll be playing right behind SEC football fanatics David Toms (LSU) and Chris DiMarco (Florida).

One of the more curious pairings is the Next Big Thing pairing of Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark (7:55 a.m. on the Palm Course), old friends from their junior days in the San Diego area. If you think these two are feeling the pressure of possibly qualifying for the TOUR next year without getting through q-school, Fowler told me he expects the two to be laughing their way around the course for the first two days, and hopefully four. Rickie wouldn't say who had won the majority of their head-to-head battles over their short careers, but Lovemark guaranteed he'd have the needle out, ready to have some fun at his partner's expense.

But the absolute best pairing has to be Brandt Snedeker and his older brother Haymes, who was given a sponsor's exemption into the tourney. Brandt says his lawyer/brother still has a lot of game and he knows he's risking a lot by even giving big brother a chance to beat him at his own game. Brandt says he remembers every shot of the first time he finished higher than his brother in a junior tourney back in Tennessee, while he figures his brother will more likely remember every shot today if he finishes higher than Brandt, but the real issue for the younger Snedeker is to remember that he's got a tournament to try to win, and still hopes to make it inside the top-30 and into next year's majors (he's currently 54th).

Stat of the Day

No rookie has won yet on the PGA TOUR this season. The last time a rookie did not win on the PGA TOUR was 1998 when Steve Flesch earned Rookie of the Year honors.

The Film Room

Preview: 2009 Children's Miracle Network Classic The PGA TOUR heads to the Walt Disney World Resort for the final event of the 2009 PGA TOUR Fall Series where players have one last shot to earn their 2010 playing privileges. Watch it Memorable Moments: Children's Miracle Network Classic Through the years, the Children's Miracle Network Classic has showcased some great champions and memorable moments. Check out some of those memorable moments.Watch it PGA TOUR Today: November 12, 2009 Win McMurry previews the 2009 Children's Miracle Network Classic, the last event of the year, where players are battling for their 2010 PGA TOUR card and the $1 million Kodak Challenge prize. Watch it