The Starter: Round 2, CA Championship
WEATHER UPDATE: So far, so good. As the second round of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship gets under way, the skies are gray but no rain is falling. It looks like the worst of the weather won't arrive until around noon -- when the final groups are making the turn. There is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms until noon when it switches to 80 percent for the rest of the day.
The rain is expected to be heavy at times and the accumulation could be more than one-and-a-half inches. Temperatures will be in the lower 80s and the winds will again be gusty in the 15-25 mph range. The skies will clear and the sun returns for the weekend. -- Helen Ross
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EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR NETWORK on-site correspondent Mark Carnevale previews Friday's second round:
Hopefully play will get done before any bad weather comes in for the second round. The winds should be down for most of the day, but as we get into the middle of the round, which is scheduled to start at 8 a.m., the chance of precipitation will increase.
This will require players to be patient during the second round as there is a good chance of thunderstorms, and this could cause a stoppage of play, maybe numerous times. With this being the case, look for the veterans at the top of the leaderboard to shine through in the second round.
I followed Ernie Els as he finished off his first round. He made a couple of birdies in his last five holes, and if it weren't for an errant drive and second shot at the difficult 18th, he would have found himself in a tie for the lead. Ernie who won here back in 2004 and is a player I would keep an eye on as we get closer to Sunday. He has the length to conquer this Blue Monster and it appears his putting may be coming around as well.
INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER: Steve Voguit, head instructor at the TOUR Academy at World Golf Village, analyzes the playing conditions this week. For more information about the PGA TOUR Academy golf schools, click here.
The 2010 World Golf Championships-CA Championship is officially under way with what turned out to be a very low scoring affair during Round 1. The breaking news for Round 2 is weather-related. The sunny skies predicted earlier in the week have proven inaccurate. With the forecast changing to heavy rains and lightning, expect a soggy TPC Blue Monster at Doral. When a course is playing wet, players will put a premium on hitting greens in regulation. A missed green will result in a very difficult pitch from soggy turf.
When the turf around a green is soaked, a player needs to be aware of the leading edge of the wedge. This edge has one goal: dig as deep into the turf as possible. To combat this, we want to make sure we choose the correct shot. Most amateur golfers will grab their trusty wedge no matter what the condition of the course. Choose a wedge in wet conditions and our chances are high for the dreaded chunk and dribble. Instead, when possible, we need to take advantage of the simplicity involved in bumping a shot up to the pin when it is presented. To execute a bump and run: choose a lower lofted club (a hybrid works well), play the ball back in your stance and use a motion similar to that of a putt.
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