Tearing it up at the Buick...

[jrbechthold]

Brandt Snedeker is currently -9 through 9... this is quite a start.

Too bad he isn't on my fantasy squad this week.

[RX Phoenix]

What's up with these courses?

OK, let's just say that the top 19 scores are all on the North Course . . . the leader on the South course is at -3. The north course is only used on the first two rounds. Tom Lehman had a 62 in 2005 as did Davis Love on the north course a few years back, so low scores are not unusual.

Well, it's been a dry year and the fairways are firm, making it play a lot shorter. And . . . there is no ROUGH . . . the bombers are bringing it to its knees, ideal scoring conditions.

[Mr. Sparkle]

The rough isn't very long this year because it has been so cold for the past couple weeks.

[Chas]

The rough isn't very long this year because it has been so cold for the past couple weeks.

I spent the day on the south course and was a bit surprised at how short the rough was. It never occurred to me but of course you're right, it's been so cold some mornings lately here in San Diego county that many courses have had frost delays of a couple hours or more. Happened to me on a course in San Marcos recently, in fact. Another thing, conditions were near perfect today. No wind at all in the morning, just a light westerly in the afternoon, temperature in the 70s - no frost delay this morning for sure.

From my perspective on the course, the best shot of the day was on the par-4 12th (south), when Villegas hit center green from left rough under a tree, about 240 yards out, with a 3 or 5 wood. Great recovery from a rather badly pulled drive. I followed this guy for a while and he looked very relaxed and confident - what an athlete! Another memorable shot was a beautiful sand blast that rolled in for eagle on the par-5 13th from the bunker in back of the green, after a gorgeous 230 yard approach that only just ran through. Just before the bunker stroke I heard him say it would break right on the rollout - which is exactly what happened. Sorry, I forgot who made the play though.