The Starter: Round 2, Mayakoba Golf Classic

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The first group will soon tee off in today's second round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time Players   12:45 p.m. ET (11:45 a.m. local) Chad Campbell, Charles Howell III, David Toms Three players who feel like they should've been in Tucson this week need to step up and get into serious contention. 7:40 a.m. ET (6:40 a.m. local) Bo Van Pelt, Bill Haas, Garrett Willis Van Pelt scorched El Cameleon Thursday with a seven-birdie 28 on his back nine. Can he stay en fuego? 1:05 p.m. ET (12:05 p.m. local) Chris Riley, Jose Coceres, Robert Damron Riley hasn't made a cut in 2009 but always plays well here, where he's looking for a third straight top-25 finish.

MEXICAN FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Friday's forecast

Partly cloudy Temp: 85 high/64 low Partly cloudy skies with winds from the east-southeast at 10 to 12 mph.

• Bo Van Pelt matched his career-low round on the PGA TOUR with a 63 Thursday. He scorched the front nine (he started on No. 10) with a tournament-record 28, which included seven birdies. His other 63 came at the 2002 Greater Milwaukee Open. He has held the first-round lead three other times, but is still looking for his first victory.

• Defending champion Brian Gay, who shot a 2-under 68 Thursday, is off to a solid start in 2009, recording four top-20 finishes in his first four starts with top-10s at the Sony Open in Hawaii and FBR Open. Gay played in 292 PGA TOUR events without a win before his victory last year.

• El Camaleón Golf Club, designed by 2009 Presidents Cup International Team Captain Greg Norman, was ranked No. 14 among most-difficult courses on the PGA TOUR in 2008 (71.00). The par-4 third hole (462 yards) was ranked 22nd among the toughest holes on TOUR last year (4.385).

• Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal fired a 4-under 66 Thursday to sit tied for fourth. Larrazabal finished 30th on the European Tour Order of Merit in 2008, and was named the European Tour's Rookie of the Year on the strength of a four-stroke victory over Angel Cabrera and Colin Montgomerie in the French Open.

Thus far at El Cameleon

Round Leader Low round (par 70) Key links Bo Van Pelt (-7) 63: Bo Van Pelt Daily Recap | Photo Gallery Power Rankings | Notebook

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The Film Room

Round 1 highlights Bo Van Pelt leads by two shots after the opening round of the 2009 Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun. Watch it Shot of the day Defending champion Brian Gay drains a long putt to save par on the final hole of the opening round of the 2009 Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun. Watch it Gay wins in 2008 Watch Brian Gay tap in on the final hole to win his first PGA TOUR title and get some love from his youngest fans. Watch it

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