Round 1, Open Championship

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Jul. 16, 2009
By PGATOUR.COM staff

The first groups are ready to tee off in today's first round of the 138th Open Championship. Here's how it sets up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
9:09 a.m. BST No. 10		Ryo Ishikawa, Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods The Japanese superstar, the Englishman who's a regular major contender and the world No. 1 all in one group? Hardly fair.
2:20 p.m. BST No. 1		Jim Furyk, Padraig Harrington, Geoff Ogilvy Furyk is so overdue for a win, Harrington's a double defender, and Ogilvy's always a major threat. Expect fireworks.
1:31 p.m. BST No. 10		Retief Goosen, Anthony Kim, Rory McIlroy A two-time major winner with America and Europe's answer to the future of golf -- and each other? This group is big time.

PREVIEW: PGA.com Interactive Producer T.J. Auclair previews Thursday's first round from Turnberry:

As is always the case with an Open Championship, the weather will dictate play at Turnberry.

The wind has been benign for the most part during the practice rounds, but that can change quickly as Turnberry sits on the coast of the Irish Sea. Players should be spared the elements in the first round, according to the forecast, which calls for 60-degree temperatures under cloudy skies with periods of light rain later in the day and winds coming out of the southwest at 5-10 mph.

The key to victory at Turnberry will no doubt be ball striking. The rough is high and thick just off the fairways, which will put a premium on driving the ball well. In the previous three Open Championships here in 1977, 1986 and 1994, Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Nick Price were all victorious. Each of those players were noted for their remarkable ball-striking ability. If the theory that it takes a solid ball-striker to prevail at Turnberry, aside from Tiger Woods you might want to keep an eye on the likes of Sergio Garcia, Kenny Perry, Steve Stricker, Zach Johnson and Boo Weekley, all outstanding ball strikers.

Stat of the day

Is this a hint of what's to come? Tiger Woods ('05-'06) and Padraig Harrington ('07-'08) became the first players to win consecutive British Open titles back to back since Bobby Jones ('26-'27) and Walter Hagen ('28-'29) did it. Jones came back to win it again in 1930.

The Film Room

	Opening Shot Mark Fein and Brian Katrek discuss Steve Stricker's victory and look ahead to the British Open. Watch it
	Duel in the Sun Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson remember their famous British Open battle at Turnberry in 1977. Watch it
	British Open preview The best players in the world will tee it up at the Ailsa Championship Course at Turnberry for the 138th British Open. Watch it