The Starter, Round 1: The Greenbrier Classic

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Jul. 28, 2010

The first round of The Greenbrier Classic is set to begin Thursday. Here's a preview:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
8 a.m. ET No. 10		David Toms, Justin Leonard, Carl Pettersson Pettersson is a lock to make the Playoffs. Toms (98th) and Leonard (129th) need to make a move. Now.
Noon ET, No. 1		Charley Hoffman, Garrett Willis, Alex Cejka All three players are ranked between 65th and 100th in the FedExCup. Stockpiling points now can help them in August.
1 p.m. ET, No. 1		Jim Furyk, Mark Hensby, Sergio Garcia Furyk, No. 5 in the FedExCup, could move to No. 1 with a win/solo second. Garcia is without a top 10 since February.

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

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR NETWORK on-site correspondent Doug Bell previews Round 1:

There's something very exciting about a brand new tour stop on the PGA TOUR, especially when it's happening at a place like The Greenbrier, a spot that has been associated with the TOUR for much longer than that. A quick walk through the clubhouse is special where pictures and memorabilia of the legendary Sam Snead are in abundance. Slammin' Sammy was hired as the head pro here back in 1936 and his first annual paycheck of $1,800 is on display. He loved this course and talked about it all the time, and I can see why.

Thursday's forecast

Scattered Thunderstorms
Temp: 84 high/62 low
Chance of precipitation: 40 percent. Winds from WNW at around 10 mph.

The Old White Course, where this week's event will be played, is breathtaking ! Thanks to mother nature, which has left this course very soft and perfect greens, this place appears to have no defense. John Daly told me he thinks the winning score will be somewhere in the vicinity of 25 under par on this par 70 lay-out. Speaking of Daly, he says this venue and the people remind him of his native Arkansas.

Crowds for the practice rounds have been bigger than normal. Several players have local roots like Matt Kuchar whose Mom is from around here. He's had a very good year, currently seventh in FedExCup standings and sounded confident about his chances. Both Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge played college golf at nearby Virginia Tech. I must say I saw many more West Virginia hats in the gallery than Hokie hats. That's fine with Jim Furyk, the highest ranked player in the field, who has attended several Mountaineer football games with friends over the years.

Furyk is hoping to gain some momentum heading into the final month of the regular season. Furyk is not only looking for his third win of the year, something he has never accomplished before, but a victory here would vault him into first place in the FedExCup standings just three weeks before the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup begin. This is an underrated field on a gorgeous layout and with the legendary Sam Snead smiling down on his native homeland, this figures to be a memorable week..

INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER: Shane Gillespie, head instructor at TOUR Academy Orlando, analyzes the playing conditions this week:

The practice rounds are over. Tomorrow morning at 7 a.m., the first round of The Greenbrier Classic begins. It is time for the players of the PGA TOUR to "take it to the course"! Maybe you think Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar or Charlie Wi will be the eventual winner. No matter which player you choose, after the round during their interviews I never hear a PGA TOUR player say "I putted so well on the putting green but, I just couldn't take it to the course." Whether it is putting or ball-striking I hear this comment from amateurs all the time. Why is that?

Do you practice the way that you play? As you watch this week's TV coverage of the Greenbrier Classic take notice of a player's pre-shot routine. Players on the PGA TOUR have a consistent (exact) and repeatable routine. This isn't random but, something they have practiced and refined over a number of years. Are you practicing your pre-shot routine? I would say that most players I see do not.

The next time you go out to practice try to incorporate your entire routine into your practice session. Take putting practice as an example. Instead of dropping 3 balls onto the green and hitting one putt, then another and another let's start practicing as if we were in a tournament. Go through your entire putting routine. Mark your ball. Pick up the ball and align the logo toward your aiming point. Step back and confirm your aim. Walk to the side of the ball and execute a practice stroke. Set your putter behind the ball, take your grip and stance, look toward the hole and then execute your putt. Grab another ball and go thru the entire routine again. Refine this routine until you feel comfortable and confident that you will make every putt.

I often tell my students that every practice shot should look as if I charged them $5 per ball and that they could win $100 if they made the putt or executed the shot correctly. Working on your routine will help you take your game from the range to the course.

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today: July 28, 2010 For the first time, the PGA TOUR pays a visit to the historic Greenbrier Resort and Old White Course, which was constructed nearly a century ago. Casey Black previews the storied course and the strong field this week. Watch it
	Fantasy Insider: The Greenbrier Classic Need help with your fantasy picks for the 2010 Greenbrier Classic? John Swantek and the Fantasy Insider can help. Watch it
	Interview: Carl Pettersson Carl Pettersson, in the field at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic, reflected on his win the week before at the RBC Canadian Open and why his game suffered in 2009.Watch it