The Starter, Round 2: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

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May. 27, 2010

The second round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial is set to begin. Here's a look at Friday's round:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
9:16 a.m. ET No. 10		Phil Mickelson, Y.E. Yang, Bo Van Pelt Mickelson didn't get off to a great start and will need to go real low to get back in contention.
10:25 a.m. ET, No. 1		Tom Gillis, Blake Adams, Kyle Stanley Adams has a share of the lead at 7 under, and came in T2 last week at the HP Byron Nelson.
1:46 p.m. ET, No. 1		Tim Clark, Matt Kuchar, K.J. Choi Clark and Choi are both within reach of the leaders after shooting 3-under 67s. Kuchar's also under par.

MORE ROUND 2: Tee times | Inside the field | Inside the course

PINK OUT: For the second straight year, fans and players will help raise funds for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and promote breast cancer awareness on Saturday at the event. What events are planned for this year's "Pink Out II"? Click here

INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER: Ed Brill, head instructor at TOUR Academy Hilton Head Island, analyzes the playing conditions this week:

The lead is currently at 7 under, with Blake Adams, Jason Bohn and Jeff Overton sharing the top spot. Look out though -- Jason Day is lurking at 3 under.

Friday's forecast

Mostly sunny
Temp: 93 high/68 low
Sunny with no chance of precipitation. Winds from NNE at around 7 mph.

It's always amazing to me to see how low these guys can go, and really on any tour, a lot of guys are treating par like they were playing a 5,200 yard course with their buddies on a Saturday morning. That brings us to today's thought: allowing yourself to go low. I know, easier said than done, but you can do a few things to help yourself out.

First, mix up the tees you play. You don't always have to play with one foot in the rough off of the back tees. TOUR tournaments don't have the tees all the way back, they mix it up to change the way a particular hole will play. Play the middle tees or the forward tees, this will allow you to have shorter clubs into the greens and start getting good with the wedges and shorter irons. It also should provide more opportunities at pars and birdies, allowing you to go lower than normal. It should also help with course management, just because the hole is shorter don't assume you're going to overpower every hole, play a fairway wood or -- gasp! -- even an iron off the tee to set up your next shot. You might surprise yourself how effective you can be when you don't have a lot of unforced errors.

Also try playing to a personal par, maybe a par 5 is really a par 6. Hit a 7-wood off the tee, then a 6-iron for your second maybe a 6-iron for your third and then you should be reasonably close to the green and now show off that short game. This strategy should keep you out of the woods, in play and you might surprise yourself with a "birdie" 5!

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today: May 28, 2010 Three are tied for the lead heading into day two at the 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Watch it
	First Round Highlights Jason Bohn, Jeff Overton, and rookie Blake Adams shoot opening rounds of 7-under par 63 to share the lead after the first round. Watch it
	Shot of the Day Phil Mickelson, at the par-4 17th, chips to within inches of the cup to save par during the first round of the 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Watch it