The first groups are ready to tee off in today's second round of the Quail Hollow Championship. Here's how it sets up:
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EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Bob Stevens previews Friday's first round:
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I was lucky enough to follow Tiger Woods for his entire opening-round 65 and witnessed a professional do his job all day long. As great as Woods played Thursday, the best thing he did was play smart. Golf is not a game of perfect, and every time Woods missed, whether it was off the tee or approaching the hole, he missed in the right places, always making the next shot easier. His longest par putt was only about 3 feet. If he goes off and hits any crazy-good shots on Friday, he'll threaten all kinds of course records.
The short rough is going to be a crucial topic of discussion all week long. Tiger wasn't willing to say he "liked" the shorter rough when I talked with him after his round, but he missed only four greens despite hitting only five fairways all day, so you can imagine he preferred the 1 ½-inch rough over the usual 3 ½- or 4-inch rough.
Hunter Mahan and Steve Marino weren't as shy about voicing their approval. They LOVED the shorter rough and how it gave them the opportunity to attack the hole locations even if they barely missed the rough. Mahan, though, admitted there were still some "funny" lies you could get in the shorter rough that made recovery shots more difficult to play.
You've likely seen Phil Mickelson's amazing recovery shot at the 18th hole from the scoreboard short and right of the green that allowed him to save par and stay within two of the lead. How good was it? Playing partner Davis Love III turned around and told my PGA TOUR Network partner T.J. Rives "That was crazy," and Phil himself responded when my colleague Dennis Paulson said, "Nice shot," with, "You think?"
Phil's excited about his early tee time Friday, expecting the weather to turn sour in the afternoon, when he's off the course while Tiger's teeing it up in Phil's Thursday spot just before 1 p.m. ET.
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NOTEWORTHY NUGGETS:
Tiger Woods extended his under-par streak at Quail Hollow Club to six rounds with his 65 on Thursday. Making his fourth start at the Quail Hollow Championship, Woods also posted his seventh round in the 60s (in 13 total rounds) and posted a new career-low at the event. The 65 also was Woods' best round since an identical second-round 65 at the 2008 Buick Invitational.
Phil Mickelson can take over No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking with a victory this week, if Woods finishes lower than fourth. Woods has been No. 1 for 203 consecutive weeks and No. 1 for 545 weeks in his career.
Robert Allenby, who opened with a 67, is looking to start a new streak after missing the cut at the Verizon Heritage. Allenby had made 33 consecutive cuts prior to the Verizon Heritage, with his last missed cut being the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii.
Quail Hollow was dishing out the pain on Thursday. Mark Turnesa withdrew after eight holes due to a neck injury, Brad Adamonis withdrew after eight holes due to a wrist injury, Scott McCarron withdrew after nine holes due to an undisclosed injury, and Kevin Na withdrew after his first-round 78 due to an undisclosed injury.
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