The Starter: Round 1, THE PLAYERS Championship

The first round of THE PLAYERS Championship is set to begin. The Golf Channel will televise live action beginning at 1 p.m. ET .

Groups we're watching

Tee time Players   8:08 a.m. ET No. 10 Bubba Watson, Luke Donald, Mark Wilson The top three in the FedExCup make up the Featured Group this week. They have five combined wins in 2011. 8:08 a.m. ET No. 1 Martin Kaymer, Matt Kuchar, Tiger Woods Interesting dilemma for early-morning fans Thursday -- check out this group on No. 1, or Bubba, Luke and Wilson on No. 10? 1:18 p.m. ET No. 1 Phil Mickelson, Martin Laird, Gary Woodland Nos. 4 through 6 in FedExCup points are here, headlined by 2007 champ Mickelson. But he's only had one round in the 60s since then. 1:28 p.m. ET No. 10 Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker, Charl Schwartzel The most recent major champion is our New Breed representative, playing alongside two popular picks to contend this week. 2:10 p.m. ET No. 1 Rickie Fowler, Matteo Manassero, Alvaro Quiros Young talent oozes from this group, starting with 18-year-old Manassero, the youngest in PLAYERS Championship history.

MORE ROUND 1: Tee times | Expert Picks | Power Rankings | Inside the Course

STORYLINES FOR THURSDAY:
• There's still time to submit your picks before the THE PLAYERS Championship tees off.
• Tim Clark is not 100 percent physically, but he'll attempt to defend his PLAYERS title.
• Tiger Woods is playing for the first time since Augusta and says the left knee and Achilles are 'better.'

Round 1 weather forecast

Chance of storms Temp: 89 high/72 low 30 percent chance of isolated storms, with SE winds around 11 mph.

Player notes

Here are some of the players you'll see on the Golf Channel's coverage of Thursday's first round

BRANDT SNEDEKER The two-time PGA TOUR winner has 5 top 10s and one win in his first 12 starts of his 2011 campaign. Snedeker is one of the best putters on TOUR in 2011 ranking 5th in strokes gained - putting. Snedeker has been getting off to slow starts in 2011 ranking 134th in Round 1 scoring average. However, he's been one of the strongest closers on TOUR this year ranking T-31st in third-round scoring and T-4th in final-round scoring. PHIL MICKELSON Coming off a T-9th finish at last week's Wells Fargo Championship, the 39-time PGA TOUR winner is looking to repeat his 2007 performance at the PLAYERS. Phil shot his lowest round of the week in the first round firing a 5-under 67, while the field needed an average of eight more strokes to complete the opening round (1st round scoring: 75.41 3rd highest Round 1 scoring average at TPC Sawgrass). In the first round, his was one of only 4 rounds in the 60's. WEBB SIMPSON Is on form as of late with 8 top 25's in his first 11 starts of the 2011 season. More recently, Simpson has four consecutive top 25 finishes including his runner-up finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. No one has more rounds in the 60's on TOUR this year than Webb. He's currently played 27 of 41 total rounds in the 60s entering THE PLAYERS.