The Starter: Round 4, Northern Trust Open

text size

Feb. 7, 2010

The final round of the Northern Trust Open is set to begin. Here is how it shapes up:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
12:17 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1		Ernie Els, Ryo Ishikawa, John Rollins Ishikawa slipped a bit in the third round, but the 18-year-old still has a shot at his first top-10 on TOUR.
12:38 p.m. ET, Hole No. 1		Anthony Kim, Ricky Barnes, Scott Verplank Kim is eight shots back of Steve Stricker, but he's inside the top 10 in his season debut.
1:10 p.m. ET Hole No. 1		Steve Stricker, Luke Donald, J.B. Holmes Stricker badly wants to make up for the loss he suffered here last year. He's almost home.

MORE ROUND 4: Tee times | Inside the field | Inside the course

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR NETWORK on-site correspondent Michael Collins previews Sunday's action:

Before we can start the final round, we have to finish the third. It's Southern California, except the weather conditions at the course have been so bad, Stephen Ames withdrew saying, "I play golf for fun, not for money. This is not fun." And he was inside the cut. What ... cold, rainy, and windy aren't fun? Wuss.

Sunday's forecast

Rain
Temp: 62 high/45 low
Morning rain, then clearing. Light winds.

The sun did come out later, but the forecast for this evening and into the morning calls for more showers.

Steve Stricker, the Wisconsin native, is actually enjoying what most golfers (pros and hackers alike) would call "tough" conditions. I guess all that golf on the frozen tundra is paying off again.

Watch out for Luke Donald, he's not just playing for himself anymore ... he and his wife are expecting. And they've decided not to find out what they are having, so he's gotta buy stuff for a boy and girl just in case.

Also expect A.K. (Anthony Kim) to make a run at Stricker in the final round. As he has said, you're going to see a different guy on and off the course this year -- he's more committed to winning golf tournament. What a way this would be to kick off his year.

INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER: Steve Voguit, head instructor at the TOUR Academyat World Golf Village, analyzes the playing conditions at Riviera.

After a healthy soaking both Friday and Saturday, the final round is set to be played on a very soggy Riviera Country Club. Couple this with increasing winds and you have the makings for a very difficult final round, no matter what position a player stands on the leaderboard. Because of these weather conditions, the players are going to have to plan on giving up some distance off the tee box, thus lengthening their approach shots into the greens. Look for the ever important greens in regulation stat to drop in Sunday's round, placing the pressure on the short game.

The most difficult area of a soggy golf course falls within 100 yards to the green. When close to the greens, players are more apt to use a higher lofted club, which immediately makes their angle of approach steeper. As a result, the dreaded heavy shot becomes more of a risk. There are several methods to defeat these conditions. One is to simply choose a lower lofted club and play for the front of the green, allowing the ball to release back to the pin. If this is not an option and we are forced to use a higher lofted club, we then need to play with a slightly open face, exposing the bounce of the club. The winner of the 2010 Northern Trust Open will definitely have these strategies in play.

The Film Room

	PGA TOUR Today Joe Cowart recaps the third round of the 2010 Northern Trust Open, where Steve Stricker has a comfortable five-shot lead but will have to finish his third round Sunday morning, as play was suspended due to darkness for the third consecutive day. Watch it
	Round 3 highlights The weather cleared and players were able to get in a full day of golf as Steve Stricker pulled ahead of the pack to take the lead heading into Sunday's final round at the 2010 Northern Trust Open. Watch it
	Shot of the Day Ryo Ishikawa holes-out from the fairway on the 17th hole for an eagle during the third round of the 2010 Northern Trust Open. Watch it

Thus far at Riviera

Round	Leaders	Low round (par 71)	Key links
	Dustin Johnson (-7)	64: Dustin Johnson	Daily Wrap-up \| The Live Report Transcripts \| Helen Ross column
	Dustin Johnson (-11)	65: Steve Stricker	Daily Wrap-up \| The Live Report Transcripts \| Helen Ross column