The Starter: Round 1, Bob Hope Classic

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Jan. 20, 2010

The first round of the Bob Hope Classic is set to begin soon. Here's a look at Wednesday's round:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
12:30 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1, La Quintana		Mike Weir Weir makes his 2010 debut this week in Palm Springs, where the 90-hole format -- and the need for birdies -- puts him at a decided advantage.
11:48 a.m. ET, Hole No. 1, Palmer		Brandt Snedeker Snedeker has already shown in his young career that he has the tools to go 25 under in a tournament. He will need it this week.
1 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1, La Quintana		Ryan Moore Moore skipped the Sony Open last week, so will be interesting to see how he follows up his sixth-place finish from Kapalua.

MORE ROUND 1: Tee times | Inside the field | Inside the courses

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR NETWORK on-site correspondent Brett Wright previews Wednesday's first round:

Pat Perez, who won his first PGA TOUR event here last year, is already off to a hot start with a top 10 and a T46 in the first two events of 2010. Perez is confident and loves the layout of these courses, so look for a solid bid to defend the title. Johnny Miller successfully defended his 1975 title here in 1976, but no one has been able win back-to-back since.

Wednesday's forecast

Afternoon showers
Temp: 63 high/48 low
Cool with showers in the afternoon. Winds around 15 mph.

Perez is fairly long off the tee, averaging 295 yards, and he will be joined by the super-long trio of Bubba Watson, D.J.Trahan, and Boo Weekley this week. Length will be a factor early since the courses withstood a huge downpour yesterday afternoon. Some chilly weather for the Coachella Valley and some wind will give players who bomb it into these generous fairways a slight advantage. We also get to see who concentrates best playing with great celebrities instead of their fellow professionals. This tournament is always a fan favorite on the PGA TOUR schedule.

INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER: Alex Fisher, head instructor at the TOUR Academyat TPC Las Vegas, analyzes the playing conditions at the Bob Hope Classic.

The five-day marathon of golf in the desert starts this week, where the field will put their skills to the test over four different golf courses. Last year's champion Pat Perez ranked Nol. 1 in putting stats, with an average of 25.6 per round, compared to the field's 27.99 average. Fortunately, all four courses this week have Bermuda greens so the players shouldn't have to adjust too much to each course.

The players will struggle the most with judging the breaks and speeds of putts on the greens. With Bermuda greens, the direction of the grain will have a major effect on both the break of the putt and the speed.

Putts into the grain will be much slower than putts going down grain and breaking putts will either be magnified or reduced by the affecting grain.

One of the key things to look for when playing Bermuda greens is to look at the direction the blades grow. Another thing the players will look for will be the direction the sun is setting. It's going to be a long week for the players, but whoever is putting well this week may very well win the tournament.

The Film Room

	Interview: Yogi Berra Yogi Berra, the Tournament Ambassador for the 2010 Bob Hope Classic, talks about meeting Bob Hope and how the tournament benefits charity. Watch it
	The Fantasy Insider John Swantek goes over his picks to do well at the tough-to-predict shootout this week in the Bob Hope Classic. His advice? Go with the birdie machines. Watch it
	Arnie's grandson Sam Saunders is set for his second PGA TOUR start after receiving a sponsor's exemption into the Bob Hope Classic. Saunders talked about the week ahead. Watch it