Notebook: First Round, Shark Shootout

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Dec. 10, 2010
By Dave Senko, PGA TOUR staff

7,288-yard, par 36-36--72, Tiburon Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Resort, Naples, Fla. ... 54-hole PGA TOUR-sanctioned event featuring 12 two-man teams with a different format each day ... Friday's format was modified alternate shot...Friday's weather: Mostly sunny with highs in the low 70s. Winds were from the N-NW at 7-15 mph. Saturday's forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid-70s with W-SW winds at 7-15 mph

1. Jerry Kelly/Steve Stricker 31-32 -- 63 (-9)
Ian Poulter/Dustin Johnson 30-33 -- 63 (-9)
3. Mark Calcavecchia/Jeff Overton 31-33 -- 64 (-8)
Fred Funk/Kenny Perry 32-32 -- 64 (-8)
5. Justin Leonard/Scott Verplank 35-31 -- 66 (-6)
6. K.J. Choi/Mike Weir 34-33 -- 67 (-5)
Chris DiMarco/Anthony Kim 32-35 -- 67 (-5)
David Duval/Davis Love III 35-32 -- 67 (-5)
Darren Clarke/Graeme McDowell 32-35 -- 67 (-5)
10. Jason Day/Rory Sabbatini 35-33 -- 68 (-4)
Rickie Fowler/Bubba Watson 32-36 -- 68 (-4)
12. Greg Norman/Matt Kuchar 35-37 -- 72 (E)

First Round News & Notes

• Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker find themselves still atop the leaderboard, the position they were at the conclusion of last year's Shark Shootout. The defending champions, who posted a one-stroke victory over a trio of teams a year ago, opened with a 9-under-par 63 and share the lead with Ian Poulter and Dustin Johnson. Mark Calcavecchia and Jeff Overton and Fred Funk and Kenny Perry share third place, one stroke behind. A year ago, Kelly and Stricker shared the opening-round lead with Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank at 5-under-par 67.

• Since the event moved to the Tiburon Golf Club in 2001, the opening-round scores posted by Kelly/Stricker and Poulter/Johnson (9-under-par 63) matched the best opening-round score set in 2004 by Steve Flesch and Justin Leonard and later matched by three other teams, most recently by Leonard/Verplank and Daly/Holmes in 2006.

• Playing a modified alternate-shot format on Friday, only three teams made eagles during the round. The team of Calcavecchia and Overton started their round with an eagle, while later in the day; the teams of David Duval/Davis Love III (No. 14) and Rickie Fowler/Bubba Watson (No. 17) added their names to the list.

• The last time the defending champions led or shared the first-round lead was in the tournament's first year here in 2001 when 2000 winners Brad Faxon and Scott McCarron opened with a 64 to grab the lead.

• Greg Norman was making his 21st appearance in this event. Norman has played in every one of the Shark Shootouts with the exception of last year while sidelined following shoulder surgery. Calcavecchia is appearing for the 17th time and is now second in career appearances. Calcavecchia got his team off to a good start, draining a 25-footer for eagle on the first hole.

• Players representing seven different countries teed it up on Friday. In addition to the United States, the other countries represented were Australia, Canada, England, Northern Ireland, South Africa and South Korea.

• The new faces playing in the Shark Shootout for the first time include K.J. Choi, Darren Clarke, Jason Day, Overton and Mike Weir. Only seven players have been on a winning team in their first start in the tournament. That list includes Mark O'Meara (1989), Curtis Strange (1989), Fred Couples (1990), Scott McCarron (1997), Hank Kuehne (2003), Rod Pampling (2006) and Woody Austin (2007).

• The field is well represented by players who competed or were involved in the 2010 Ryder Cup. A total of 10 competitors in this year's field were in Wales for the October event. That includes Clarke (European Vice Captain), and European players Poulter and Graeme McDowell. Players representing the United States were Rickie Fowler, Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Love III (Assistant Captain), Overton, Stricker and Bubba Watson.

• At age 21, Fowler now holds the distinction as the youngest and second-youngest competitor in Shark Shootout history. Last year, he became the youngest at the age of 20. Prior to earning that distinction, Bill Haas was 22 when he competed in 2004, Ryan Moore was 23 in 2005 and Anthony Kim was 22 in 2007.

• The format for Saturday's second round will be better-ball followed by a scramble format on Sunday.

• The winning team will split $750,000.

• The Shark Shootout 5K race will get underway at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. The race will begin and end at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, adjacent to the course.

• Saturday's second round will be televised on NBC Sports from 4-6 p.m.

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