The Starter: Round 4, Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals

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Oct. 24, 2010

The final round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open is set to begin Sunday. Here's a preview:

Groups we're watching:

Tee time	Players
3:45 p.m. ET No. 1		Martin Laird, Jonathan Byrd Laird has been getting stronger and stronger with each round. His 63 on Saturday included nary a sniff of a bogey. He will be tough to beat.
3:15 p.m. ET No. 1		Aaron Baddeley, Ryan Palmer Baddeley and Palmer are five shots back. Baddeley is playing for his card after a strong showing on Saturday. He will need at least a top-10 to secure his spot.
2:55 p.m. ET No. 1		Rickie Fowler, Mark Wilson Watch Fowler when he plays the 16th on Sunday. An eagle there will give him the Kopdak Challenge lead with one event to go.

MORE ROUND 4: Tee times | Inside the field | Inside the course | Transcripts

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Brett Wright previews Sunday's action:

The weather for Sunday will be sunny and dry with some slight winds. This will lend the TPC Summerlin to more great scoring. This will be one of the classic birdiefests of the year and no matter who closes the deal, it will be exciting.

Sunday's forecast

Clouds and sun
Temp: 74 high/58 low
Partly cloudy. Winds around 14 mph.

I was talking to PGA golf instructor Mark McCann, who teaches several players, including defending champion Martin Laird. I asked McCann midway through the second round how Laird was doing. He said "Now, he is close enough to smell it, he'll do fine now."

Which players will find a compass in the last round? All the greens at the TPC Summerlin tend to break toward the money, toward Las Vegas, which is visible from several holes on the golf course. Golfers grow up hearing everything breaks to the water, pond, ocean etc ... This week that is certainly not the case. Those who can adjust to this practice will hole putts today and those who continue to hit putts without that factor will continue to be baffled.

Rickie Fowler told me that he is very comfortable playing here in Vegas on a golf course he has spent so much time on. Fowler is one of the most popular players on TOUR and signs a ton of autographs after each days round. I asked him if he had any pet peeves about signing.

"I guess the gimme, gimme, you know people asking for things I am wearing and just get a little tired of that and people that cut in line bother me," Fowler said. "I am always out here signing and I will get to everyone most of the time, so there is no need to cut in line."

Oh did I mention that I already picked Jonathan Byrd to win earlier in the week? Byrd birdied two of his last three holes to post a 66 on Saturday to play into the final pairing. Byrd is very comfortable here and he has only made three bogeys this week, and I do not believe we have seen his best yet this week. Justin Timberlake will be handing the trophy to "The Byrd Man from Sea Island" later Sunday.

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today, October 24, 2010 Joe Cowart updates all the action from the third round of the 2010 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and previews Sunday's final round. Watch it
	Round 3 Highlights Martin Laird has a one-shot lead through three rounds of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Watch it
	Shot of the Day: Aaron Baddeley Aaron Baddeley eagles the 16th, this week's Kodak Challenge hole, during the third round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Watch it