By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

WATCH FOLLOW A GROUP LIVE

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- For the first time this week on PGATOUR.COM, fans will be able to follow live streaming video of  two groups at THE PLAYERS Championship for an entire round each day.

The morning group to watch on Sunday features a couple of major champions in Martin Kaymer and Charl Schwartzel. Both were under par through the first two rounds here but struggled in the third round, shooting 75 and 76, respectively.They teed off at 9:16 a.m. ET.

The afternoon group to follow features Lee Westwood and Marc Leishman. Westwood got off to a shaky start in the third round with two double bogeys in his first four holes, but he rallied with three birdies on the back nine to get within four of the lead entering the final round. Leishman, meanwhile, made three bogeys on the back nine, including one on the 18th. He's trying to become the first Aussie to win here since Adam Scott in 2004. They'll tee off at 1:48 p.m. ET.

MARANA, Ariz. -- Russell Henley has a new nickname: "Mr. Bracket Buster."

That's exactly what the PGA TOUR rookie did to many fantasy golf fans when he upset Charl Schwartzel 1 up in the first round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

"I've heard a lot of comments from people saying they expected him to win, and that gave me a little motivation for sure," Henley acknowledged. "But he's an outstanding player, obviously. Can't really not be a great player when you win the Masters."

Henley, who won his first start as a PGA TOUR member earlier this year in Hawaii, shook off a disappointing double bogey-bogey finish on Wednesday that eliminated his 2-up advantage. He came out Thursday and won the 12th hole with a par and the 13th with a birdie to regain that edge, then reeled off five straight pars to win the match.

Schwartzel did get one back with a 3-foot birdie at the 15th hole after a brilliant shot from a fairway bunker. But Henley, who played on the 2011 Walker Cup team, hung tough until the 18th hole.

"I tried not to get too up or down," Henley said. "TRhat was one of the biggest things mentally, just hang tough with an even keel. That's something I've worked on this whole year."

Ian Poulter is a solid choice to win this week's WGC-Accenture Match Play. (Redington/Getty Images)

By Bill Cooney, PGATOUR.COM

John Merrick used plenty of local knowledge to tame Riviera Country Club en route to his first career PGA TOUR victory at the Northern Trust Open on Sunday. But the UCLA product also played beautifully, ranking inside the top 30 in six major statistical categories. One of those categories really stood out. We'll take a look at that and this week's World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship -- specifically match play guru Ian Poulter and World No. 1 Rory McIlroy -- by going inside the nunbers ...

3  The number of times a No. 64 seed has defeated the No. 1 overall seed in the 14-year history of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, which kicks off Wednesday at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz. … Golf’s version of bracketology is a bit more fickle than the NCAA basketball version. Why? Well, it’s golf. Last season, No. 64 Ernie Els dusted No. 1 Luke Donald, 5 and 4. Donald, who was the defending champ, was going along nicely through seven holes, but proceeded to drop four of the next five. A few bad swings often lead to a quick exit -- especially considering the talent of the No. 64 seed. This year's No. 64 is Ireland's Shane Lowry (he faces No. 1 McIlroy), who won the 2012 Portugal Masters, beating the likes of top-50 players such as Matteo Manassero, Francesco Molinari, Jamie Donaldson and Padraig Harrington.

5  Number of times match play stalwart Poulter has advanced to the Sweet 16 (third round) or better in nine Accenture appearances. … After winning the event in 2010, Poulter has been bounced in Round 1 each of the past two seasons. He enters this week on a roll, having turned his Ryder Cup success into a victory at the HSBC Champions. He also was T9 in his only appearance on U.S. soil this season in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. He draws No. 14 seed Stephen Gallacher in Round 1 and with a win would see the winner of Bo Van Pelt and John Senden.

7  Number of top-five finishes in seven straight worldwide events for Charl Schwartzel. … How well is the former Masters champ from South Africa playing right now? Just look at his statistics at the Northern Trust Open, where he finished T3. Get this: Schwartzel was 5th in driving distance, T6 in greens in regulation, 6th in strokes gained-putting, 1st in total putting and 5th in scrambling. Incredible. Look for him to make some noise this week.

10  Number of top-10 finishes in WGC events for McIlroy, who has only competed in 15. … At the WGC-Accenture Match Play, McIlroy is 10-4 and has advanced past the first round in all four attempts. He was runner-up to Hunter Mahan last season. This year his path to the Final Four looks pretty challenging with No. 2 Bubba Watson, No. 3 Schwartzel, No. 4 Dustin Johnson, No. 5 Graeme McDowell, No. 6 Zach Johnson and No. 7 Jim Furyk all lurking in the Bobby Jones bracket.

62.35 percent  That’s the scrambling percentage in 2013 for Merrick, the Northern Trust Open champ. It ranks 59th on the PGA TOUR. So what’s the big deal, you ask? … Well, consider Merrick ranked 146th in this category in 2012 at 54.90 percent. Not much has changed when breaking down the keys stats on Merrick from the past few seasons. He’s pretty much the same off the tee, on approaches and in putting. But scrambling is where he’s improved big time so far -- and he even made par or better after missing the green in regulation on 17 of 26 attempts at tricky Riviera. That’s impressive.

79.66 percent  Greens in regulation percentage from outside of the fairway through three events for Peter Tomasulo. … The Web.com Tour grad has hit 47 of 59 greens from outside of the fairway to lead the TOUR this season. For comparison, Bubba Watson led this category the past two years at around 60 percent. Tomasulo has made all three cuts.

168  The number of first-round upsets in the 14-year history of the WGC-Accenture Match Play. … That’s an average of a dozen upsets (a higher seed winning) each year in 32 first-round matches, with a high of 18 occurring the first year in 1999. That comes out to upsets occurring, on average, a ridiculous 37.5 percent of the time in Round 1. Let the madness begin ...

INSIDE THE NUMBERS ARCHIVE

Week 2: Sony Open/Humana Challenge

Week 3: Humana Challenge/Farmers Insurance Open

Week 4: Farmers Insurance Open/WM Phoenix Open

Week 5: WM Phoenix Open/AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

Week 6: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am/Northern Trust Open

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- The last two events Charl Schwartzel played on the European Tour he shot a combined 44 under, winning one by 12 and finishing second in the other. Oh, and there was that 11-stroke victory in Thailand, too.

So seeing the South African contending in his 2013 PGA TOUR debut at the Northern Trust Open shouldn't exactly surprise anyone.

"I've had a good run and been consistent, just see if we can keep going with it," Schwartzel said simply.

Granted, Riviera Country Club hasn't been quite as generous to Schwartzel -- or anyone else in the field, for that matter. But he'll start the final round in the final group in a three-way tie for second with Webb Simpson and John Merrick, three strokes behind front-running Bill Haas.

Schwartzel shot his 11th consecutive round in the 60s on Saturday, posting a 68 to move to 9 under for the week. Given how firm and fast Riviera has become the 2011 Masters champ was quite pleased after making five birdies and dropping just two strokes to par.

"It was a lot tougher today than the other days," Schwartzel said. "The course firmed up a lot. The greens are getting firm and bouncy, and it becomes hard to get the ball close to make birdies and even to keep the bogeys off the card. You need to be on song with your whole game." 

And make no mistake -- Schwartzel, who is playing in the Northern Trust Open for the first time, knows he's hitting on all cylinders right now. So expect the veteran to play smart and take advantage of the opportunities he's afforded Sunday as he seeks his second PGA TOUR win.

"The way I'm playing, I don't think I'll change anything," Schwartzel said. "I'll just keep going along, and like I said, the course is tough, and it's easy to make mistakes. We'll see. If I can keep giving myself chances, I'm bound to shoot a decent score, and we'll see what Bill does."

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- Webb Simpson and Charl Schwartzel are applying pressure on Saturday during the third round of the Northern Trust Open.

Playing in successive groups, the reigning U.S. Open champion and the 2011 Masters winner have made two birdies in their first six holes to get to 8 under and pull within a stroke of Sang-moon Bae.

Fredrik Jacobson, who was tied with Bae, had his problems on the fifth hole when his drive landed on the side of a hill in deep rough. He took one swipe at the ball and didn't advance it, eventually reaching the green in four and lipping out a 34-footer for bogey.

Defending champion Bill Haas is on the move, as well. He's made two birdies in his first eight holes and is tied at 7 under.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- Charl Schwartzel walked to his ball in the middle of the 18th fairway on Friday thinking he had a chance to pencil in a sixth  birdie on his scorecard.

But he missed the green, as well as a 10-footer to save par, and Schwartzel had to be content with a 67 that left him in a tie at 6 under, three strokes off the pace being set by Sang-moon Bae. Not bad for his first two rounds -- ever -- at Riviera Country Club.

"I'm very happy," the South African said. "... At least I put myself in position for the weekend. There's still 36 holes to go and if I keep playing like I am, who knows."

Indeed. Schwartzel has been one of the best golfers on the planet over the last few months. He closed out the 2012 European Tour season with a two finishes of fifth or better, including a tie for third in Dubai, then started the new one with a 12-stroke win at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and solo second at the Joburg Open. Oh, and he found time to blitz the field in Thailand by 11 strokes, as well.

So it's hardly surprising to see Schwartzel in contention again at his 2013 PGA TOUR debut. The 2011 Masters champ joked that he's "lucky" but more likely his success of late can be traced to the fact that the abdominal tear he suffered at the U.S. Open has completely healed and he can swing pain-free again.

"I fixed up my swing after the injury," Schwartzel said. "... That got me back to the consistency that I had going back just about the Masters time. I obviously played some courses back down south which I'm familiar with and that always helps. So with the swing changes, that's worked, or the improvements, I should say; some consistency has come and some confidence. So that was probably key."

The win in Thailand was Schwartzel's first -- anywhere in the world -- since the Masters. The breakout 2011 season also included a tie for ninth at the U.S. Open and top-20s in the other two majors. His only top-10s last year, though, came before his title defense at Augusta National and injuries began to set him back.

Like nearly every major championship winner, Schwartzel acknowledges it can be difficult to deal with the expections -- self-imposed and otherwise.

"It doesn't get bigger than (winning a major)," Schwartzel said. "So when you play in a normal event, you think there's no reason why you shouldn't win, and that pressure comes from yourself. And this game, you don't want to put unnecessary pressure on yourself. It does make it difficult."

Schwartzel says he was able to get away from the pressure on the golf course -- that's where he felt "normal" again. But he's glad to put the frustrations of 2012 behind him and anxious to see what the new year brings.

"It almost seems like you've got to fall before you get back up again," he said. "So that's basically what it looks like has happened to me." 

To preview the 2013 PGA TOUR season, PGATOUR.COM is counting down the Top 100 Players to Watch in 2013. For an archive page with the top 100 players and for an explanation on how the list was compiled, click here.

MORE TOP 100: Back to No. 28 | Forward to No. 26 |Top 100 archive

2013 PREVIEW: A year after winning the Masters and finishing 16th or better in the other three majors, Charl Schwartzel's best major performance was a tie for 38th at the U.S. Open. He missed a month afterwards due to a torn muscle in his abdomen but closed his season out with five finishes overseas of fifth or better, including back-to-back wins in Thailand and South Africa, so Schwartzel has momentum for the new year.

2012 DEFINING MOMENT: Schwartzel has made south Florida his U.S. base so perhaps it's only fitting that one of this two top-10 finishes came at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. He broke par in all three rounds and tied for fourth -- two years after finishing runner-up to his mentor and host Ernie Els on the same course. –- Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

ALBERS’ QUICK TAKE: We did not see much of Charl in 2012. He did not begin his schedule until the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, played only 13 PGA TOUR Regular Season events and yet qualified for three FedExCup Playoffs tournaments. His ball-striking seemed a bit off to me, and he finished 153rd in greens in regulation. -- Fred Albers, SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio

BOLTON’S FANTASY OUTLOOK: Given that the South African started playing majors in 2003, it's easy to forget that he's only 28. He dropped over three points in his greens-in-regulation split from 2011 and nabbed only two top 10s, both in March. Also failed to post a top 35 in any of the majors. And since he remained content with barely playing the membership minimum, his value is greatest in salary games at $1.138 million. Even if he plays more toward his potential, he doesn't warrant an early investment in long-term formats. -- Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM Fantasy expert

SOCIAL MEDIA: Find him on Twitter

2012 QUICK REVIEW

Regular Season ranking 90th

Final Playoffs ranking 61st

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

What is your prediction for Charl Schwartzel in 2013? Fill out the form below and let us know

Jason Dufner (L) and Charl Schwartzel pose overlooking the Perth skyline.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

Jason Dufner, playing for the first time since going 3-1 in the Ryder Cup, and former Masters champ Charl Schwartzel got in some sightseeing earlier this week prior to playing in the ISPS Handa Perth International.

The two PGA TOUR veterans were part of a photo op in Kings Park, which spans just under 1,000 acres and overlooks the central business district of Perth. Neither Dufner nor Schwartzel, a licensed pilot who also viewed the countryside by helicopter, had ever been to the capital city of Western Australia.

Dufner said he's excited to play again after the disappointing U.S. loss at the Ryder Cup. 

“Personally, if you have a bad event, or if you fall on your face on the last nine holes, you know that you have another event around the corner to kind of redeem yourself," Dufner told europeantour.com. "But in that event, you have to wait two more years to have a chance to get back and win the thing.

“So there's a lot of different dynamics with The Ryder Cup and failing how we did as a team and losing the event.  So it's been a tough couple weeks but I'm looking forward to playing golf again and getting over it and moving past it a little bit.”

Schwartzel comes to Australia after reaching the semifinals of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final. The South African beat Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods before losing to Westwood.

“With weeks like last week you can maybe sometimes spark something, and all of a sudden feel like you actually are building some confidence," Schwartzel said. "Something going your way can change things around very quickly.”

The ISPS Handa Perth International will be played at Lake Karrinyup Country Club and is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

NORTON, Mass. -- After making birdies on his final two holes during Monday's final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship, Charl Schwartzel just might have played his way into the third event of the FedExCup Playoffs.

Even if he makes the field for the BMW Championship, though, Schwartzel might not play because the rib injury that kept him out of action for a month earlier this summer had resurfaced.

Schwartzel called himself "doubtful" for Crooked Stick and later put the percentage as to whether he would play at 50-50. If he doesn't play, the former Masters champion said he expected to take a month off and perhaps return at the European Tour's Dunhill Links Championship in October.

"I actually injured it at the U.S. Open, and it seems to be coming back," Schwartzel said. "It's not as advanced as it was there. It's not torn, but it's very uncomfortable, and I don't want to get to that stage where I can't play for the rest of the year. This is my seventh in a row.  It was a little bit too much coming up. 

"But I'll see. Maybe we'll have to get some rest and maybe it'll be okay, but it's very uncomfortable at the moment."

Schwartzel was 68th in the FedExCup standings -- two above the cutoff for the BMW Championship when he finished off a round of even par 71 on Monday. That was considerably better than the 79 he shot in the third round that included a four-putt from 3 feet at the 18th hole -- the same distance that produced a birdie on Sunday.

"Pretty mixed feelings," Schwartzel said when asked to describe his emotions. "I obviously feel that I finished well. Teeing off Sunday, I figured I could win. It was good to finish well. I didn't play particularly well, and it was nice to hit a few good shots on the last holes."

Badz/Getty Images

Charl Schwartzel will start the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship tied for fifth.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

NORTON, Mass. -- Charl Schwartzel is making up for lost time. Literally.

The South African tore a muscle in his abdomen the week of the U.S. Open. Schwartzel was in so much pain he very nearly didn't even tee off in Thursday's first round at the Olympic Club. An MRI that night identified the injury.

After tying for 38th that week, Schwartzel took the next three weeks off to let the tear heal. He returned to competition at the British Open -- and this week's Deutsche Bank Championship is his seventh straight event.

Schwartzel will start the third round of the second event in the FedExCup Playoffs in contention, too, after Saturday's 65 lifted him to 9 under and three behind Rory McIlroy. He's clearly relishing the opportunity.

"I had the injury at the U.S. Open and it set me back quite a bit, came back, lost a bit of confidence, and just seeing if I can play myself back into it," Schwartzel said. "There's been great signs of it sort of from Wyndham, just finishing poorly on Sunday. Same thing at Bethpage, I was up there, finished poorly on Sunday.

"It's there. Once again, I can feel the game is great, so just a matter of finishing it off."

Schwartzel, who says he loves the TPC Boston layout, has only made one bogey in 36 holes and that came on his fifth hole in the first round. He hit 11 fairways and 15 greens in regulation on a bogey-free Saturday while using 28 putts.
 
"I think I played great," Schwartzel said. "I got off to a really good start, then went to sleep for a while there in the middle and made a great save on 14, and that's what woke me up a bit.  I made birdie on 15 and 17. I would have loved one on 18, it was a good chance, but overall it was a great round this afternoon with the wind blowing."

Schwartzel came into the Deutsche Bank Championship ranked 71st in the FedExCup but he's clearly not stressed about trying to move into the top 70 to earn a spot in the BMW Championship next week. 

"What pressure?" he said. "I can still win the FedEx."