The Starter: Round 1, Bob Hope Classic

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The first round of the Bob Hope Classic is set to begin. The Golf Channel will televise live action beginning at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. local time).

Groups we're watching

Tee time Players   12:24 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1, PGA West -- Palmer Mike Weir Weir makes his first of 2011 after an elbow injury sidelined him for much of the latter stages of 2010. He had four consecutive 67s and a closing 66 in this event last year. 12:24 p.m. ET, Hole No. 10 La Quinta CC Ryan Moore This will be our first look at Moore since he finished last season with three consecutive top-10 finishes including a solo third at the BMW Championship. 12:42 p.m. ET, Hole No. 10 Silver Rock Ricky Barnes Barnes, who had his best season as a pro in 2010, will be paired with two of the NFL's top all-time rushers in Marcus Allen and Eric Dickerson. 1 p.m. ET, Hole No. 10 Silver Rock Bill Haas The reigning champ is playing with basketball legends George Gervin and Julius Erving in today's featured group. 1:36 p.m. ET, Hole No. 10, PGA West -- Nicklaus Stewart Cink Representing The Establishment this week, the 2009 Brisish Open champ is looking to get his season off to a good start.

MORE ROUND 1: Tee times | Expert Picks | Power Rankings

STORYLINES FOR WEDNESDAY:
• The stars will be out once again for the Bob Hope Classic.
• A champion from the mid-90s and a trio of rookies are included in this week's sleeper picks.
• One of last year's three runners-up, Tim Clark, will be unable to tee it up this year.

Round 1 weather forecast

Sunny Temp: 79 high/46 low Sunny with winds around 5 mph.

Player Notes

Here are some of the players you'll see on the Golf Channel's coverage of Thursday's first round

BUBBA WATSON One of the TOUR's emerging young stars in The New Breed, Watson is known for his amusing videos and tweets as much as his booming drives and creative play on the course. He finished in a three-way tie for second-place here last year and returns with an opportunity to notch career victory No. 2. MATT KUCHAR The TOUR's Mr. Consistency is at it again this season. Kuchar has a pair of top-10 finishes in two starts this year and, like Watson, finished just one shot behind Bill Haas in this event last year. MARK WILSON Wilson notched his third career victory last week at the Sony Open where he was tied for 10th in greens in regulation and tied for sixth in putting. A similar week at the Bob Hope Classic and he could be in the running to go back-to-back.