The Starter: CA Championship, Round 1
DORAL, Fla. -- The World Golf Championships-CA Championship begins Thursday. Here's a look at the first round:
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EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR NETWORK on-site correspondent Mark Carnevale previews Thursday's first round:
It appears that the weather has finally broken. After some cool days just up the road in West Palm Beach, Fla., for The Honda Classic, the weather for the World Golf Championships- CA Championship looks to be pretty good, with just a slight chance of rain over the next four days.
There are some really good pairings for the first two rounds. I would pay close attention to these groups, as it would not shock me in the least to see the eventual winner come out of them. Ian Poulter will be paired with Geoff Ogilvy and Padraig Harrington. Steve Stricker will join Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia. These two groups will tee off on the front nine on Thursday. Going off the back nine on Thursday will be the Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen and Rory McIlroy pairing. Just behind them will be the threesome of Lee Westwood, Camillo Villegas and Martin Kaymer.
If you look at the history of this event, the winner is usually a player that is long off the tee. I am going to stay with that trend this week. Also don't be surprised to see Jim Furyk's name at the top of the leaderboard. Jim has had great success here in the past, and he is anxious to get his first win on TOUR since 2007.
INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER: Steve Voguit, head instructor at the TOUR Academy at World Golf Village, analyzes the playing conditions this week. For more information about the PGA TOUR Academy golf schools, click here.
The first round of the 2010 CA Championship will soon begin. This strong field of golfers is looking to take advantage of the near perfect weather conditions.
Temperatures are expected to hover around 80 degrees and the wind will blow from the south at approximately 15 mph. If the wind is howling, the TPC Blue Monster will truly live up to its name. A perfect example is the 18th hole. This 467-yard par four is a challenge, to say the least. In years past, the 18th has been deemed the most difficult finishing hole on the PGA TOUR.
If a player is going to successfully play the 18th at the TPC Blue Monster while the wind is a factor, he is going to need a strategy. If the wind is blowing, even the longest of drivers will be tested, as he will need to place his ball in a stretch of fairway no wider than 25 yards.
The most effective defense against the wind is keeping the ball at a lower trajectory. To play the ball lower of the tee box, try hitting the classic three wood "stinger" using these techniques: Play the ball slightly forward of center, focus on driving the club head down and through the ball and extend your arms down the target line to an abbreviated finish.
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