The Starter: Bridgestone Invitational, Round 3

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The first groups are ready to tee off in the third round at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, and here's who we are following:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time Players   2:00 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1 Padraig Harrington, Tim Clark Harrington will have to keep his foot on the gas after a second-round 69 allowed the field to close the gap he built in Round 1. 1:10 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1 Mike Weir, Robert Allenby Weir recovered quite nicely with a second-round 66, and both players find themselves in position to make an aggressive run at the lead today. 12:50 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1 Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen As usual, the question remains not if Tiger will make his run, but when. An early-afternoon tee time just might do the trick.

Check out the updated FedExCup Projected Points here

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR on-site correspondent John Maginnes previews Saturday's round:

Saturday's forecast

Isolated T-Storms Temp: 80 high/70 low Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible. Winds from the southeast at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

If you start with the guys at 2 under, which is tied for 13th, then the leaderboard at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational makes sense. It would start with Stewart Cink, Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen, Angel Cabrera and Lucas Glover, among others, at the top of the leaderboard. Instead, the first four names on the leaderboard consist of a three-time major champion that hasn't finished in the top 10 this year. A South African who has won more money than any other player that has never won on the PGA TOUR. There is also a 43-year-old from Thailand who has never had a top 10 on U.S. soil.

Perhaps I am being a little unfair. With the dissection and the overhaul to his swing, it is no surprise that Padraig Harrington has struggled this year. He is still the same player that won three of five majors and will defend next week at the PGA Championship. And Tim Clark will certainly break through eventually. You just can't get that close as many times as he has without eventually winning a tournament accidentally.

But for those guys and all the others in the top 10, they should certainly listen for footsteps behind them. The fine print on the rear view mirrors of their courtesy cars should say, "either keep pace or get off the road," because they already know that those objects are closer than they appear. This year's three major champions and the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking are all five shots back.

I hate the term "moving day" because it is so overused but there is guaranteed to be some moving going on Saturday. Don't be surprised if there is a lot of traffic heading in both directions.

Stat of the day

Tiger Woods currently stands at T13 thru 36 holes at the Bridgestone Invitational tournament, five strokes off the lead. The worst position Woods has ever held thru 36 holes at this event was T17 in 2002, the year the event was held at Sahelee Country Club in Sammamish, WA. His worst finish thru 36 holes at this event when held at Firestone Country Club is T9 in 2003.

The Film Room

Round 2 Highlights: Bridgestone Invitational Padraig Harrington leads by one stroke after Round 2 of the 2009 World Golf Championships- Bridgestone Invitational. Watch it Mickelson stays in contention with a second-round 69 At the 2009 World Golf Championships- Bridgestone Invitational, Phil Mickelson shot a second round 69 to stay in contention. After signing his card he spoke with Doug Bell with the PGA TOUR Network on SIRIUS XM radio. Watch it Shot of the Day: August 7, 2009 Phil Mickelson hits an amazing approach from 246 yards away on the par-5 2nd hole to set up an eagle in Round 2 of the 2009 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. Watch it

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