The Live Report, Round 1: FBR Open at TPC Scottsdale

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Charley Hoffman had a bogey-free round of 67 and was one shot off the lead at the FBR Open.

The FBR Open is the fourth tournament of the PGA TOUR season. PGATOUR.COM's The Live Report will provide updates all day long for each of the five rounds, so check back often. (All timestamps listed for Eastern Time.) LIVE ESSENTIALS: Shot Tracker -- follow every shot | Live Scoring -- in real time | PGA TOUR Network -- SIRIUS 209/XM 146

MICKELSON IN DANGER OF MISSING FIRST CUT (8:00 p.m.): During his pre-tournament interview on Wednesday, a sportswriter reminded Phil Mickelson that he has never missed the cut in his season's debut.

"And yet you want to bring that up," Mickelson said, joking with the scribe. "That couldn't wait until Saturday morning?"

Maybe not. As the saying goes, there's a first time for everything -- and Mickelson needs to go low on Friday if he's to avoid an early exit from the FBR Open.

He opened with a 5-over 76 and was tied for 121st when play was called with nine players remaining on the course. -- Helen Ross

TALE OF TWO NINES (7:15 p.m.): It looked like J.B. Holmes, a two-time winner here, was putting himself in position again after opening with a back-nine 31 that included six birdies. That was until he reached the front side. Holmes bogeyed four of the nine holes and shot an abysmal 39 to fall into a tie for 36th. -- Brian Wacker

Here's a look at Holmes' scorecard:

LIKE A GLOVE (6:59 p.m.): Lucas Glover has climbed the leaderboard, thanks to a seven birdie, one bogey effort today, leaving him tied for the lead after a 65.

Glover

Glover is coming off a week at the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer in which he shot four rounds in the 60s (three 68s, a 67 and a 65). It's early in the season, and the Bob Hope didn't exactly yield a lot of high numbers, but Glover appears to be trending upward once again after having not won since 2005.

"Last year was tough," Glover told GOLF CHANNEL. "I worked hard and didn't get anything out of it so I just had to step away, which I did, and I took about four months off."

Maybe rest is just what he needed. The 29-year-old South Carolinian was first in birdie average on the PGA TOUR coming into this week and perhaps more importantly, first in total driving, which combines accuracy and distance. Last year, he ranked just 116th in driving accuracy. Glover also ranks 13th in putting average at 1.638. -- Brian Wacker

MICKELSON HAVING A TOUGH DAY (6:15 p.m.): Phil Mickelson is 6 over through 13 holes so far, and could be headed toward one of his worst rounds ever the way he's hitting it off the tee -- he's already had to take more than one unplayable lie today.

Mickelson's worst rounds last year came in the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship when he shot a 78 and in the first round of the British Open, where he shot 79. Both of those, of course, were on much tougher courses -- Brian Wacker

BIG NAMES STRUGGLING (5:40 p.m.): Looking for Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim on the leaderboard? You've got to look pretty far down it to find them.

The two superstars are currently a combined 10 over through 11 holes -- Mickelson at 6 over and Kim at 4 over. -- Brian Wacker

NITTIES A NEAT STORY (5:15 p.m.): I don't know James Nitties but I like him already. I like the fact that he has a ton of game and finished second at Q-School last fall. I also like that prior to earning his way to the PGA TOUR he played all over the world. But what I like the most is that he lists his hobbies as "clubbing, girls and movies." I don't like that just because we have all of those things in common. I like the fact that he is willing to admit it.

Playing in just his third TOUR event, this rookie is a breath of fresh air. Only time will tell how comfortable this affable Aussie is at the top of the leaderboard. But it may just be in his blood to play to crowds that would be less conspicuous at a rock and roll show. After all, Nitties father was a fill-in bass player for AC/DC back in the day. -- John Maginnes

MICKELSON CONTINUES TO MISS (5:00 p.m.): Phil Mickelson is playing the ninth hole right now and he still has yet to find the fairway off the tee today, having most recently launched his tee shot on No. 9 into a fairway bunker.

Mickelson is 1 over through eight holes, and for the past five years has had mixed results in his opening rounds and first tournaments of a season. His best result? a playoff win at the 2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. His worst finish? A T56 at the 2005 Buick Invitational after opening with a 72. -- Brian Wacker

KUCHAR COMES FULL CIRCLE (4:48 p.m.): It's hard to believe that it's been more than a decade since Matt Kuchar wowed us with his game and his smile at the 1998 Masters, where he finished 21st while just a sophomore at Georgia Tech.

Now 30 years old and married, Kuchar looks like he may finally be ready to deliver on that long awaited promise after a career in which he's bounced between the PGA TOUR and the Nationwide Tour.

Kuchar fired four rounds in the 60s last week, including a 64, and right now is 4 under after opening with a 67 this week. This, after a 2008 season in which he tied for third at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, went T7 at the Verizon Heritage, was ninth at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and second at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

All that has Kuch smiling again. -- Brian Wacker

THIRD TIME A CHARM? (4:22 p.m.): It looks like J.B. Holmes is serious about a possible third career FBR Open title. The Ryder Cupper birdied four of his first six holes after teeing off on the back nine.

Players who tee off on the back nine first at TPC Scottsdale have a slight edge because they will see two of the par-5s in the first six holes. Holmes and fellow bomber Bubba Watson both birdied the pair of par-5s on the back side Thursday.

All in all, the back side at TPC Scottsdale is easier -- only the 469-yard par-4 11th is a real backbreaker -- so its not unusual to see low scores from players who tee off on the back nine. -- Ryan Smithson

MAJOR GROUP (4:15 p.m.): The major championship threesome of Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson and Justin Leonard continues to struggle -- the group is a combined 2 over through its first five holes with everybody contributing their share. Mickelson has a double bogey, while Johnson and Leonard each have a bogey. They've all played the last two holes in even par, however, so maybe they're on the verge of turning it around. -- Brian Wacker

BERGANIO AT HOME IN ARIZONA (3:58 p.m.): David Berganio Jr., who is one shot off the lead with a bogey-free 66 on Thursday, may be from Los Angeles but he's right at home in Arizona.

Berganio

The 40-year-old attended the University of Arizona and played on the same team as Jim Furyk. Or did the 2003 U.S. Open champ play on the same Wildcat team as Berganio?

"On the board it says or on all the articles it says I was on Jim Furyk's team in college -- he was on my team in college," Berganio said, laughing. "That's one great thing about Jimmy. He struggled for the two years we played together, and we never beat him up. I was No. 1, Manny Zimmerman was No. 1, Harry Rudolph came in with No. 1. But we never told Coach to get Jimmy out of the lineup, or Jimmy, you're terrible, or we never made him feel unwanted because we won without him.

"Now that he's the man, he's never big-leagued me or anything like that, and that's something you've got to give to Jimmy, what kind of person he really is. He's a great person, great man, and now, like I said, the shoe is on the other foot. He returns my calls that afternoon or that day or that hour or whatever it is or leaves me a note, do you want to play and stuff like that." -- Helen Ross

CHARLEY IN CHARGE (3:45 p.m.): Charley Hoffman did what you'd expect him to do -- take advantage of the par 5s with birdies on all three -- and ended up in a tie for the lead with David Berganio Jr. after a 66.

How will that stand up at the end of the day, though?

"I think it's going to be pretty good," Hoffman said. "The fairways are real tight, and the greens are getting firm even in the morning. I think it's going to be tough for guys to score out there. The greens are perfect and they're rolling good, but I think it's hard to get a lot of shots close to the pins.

"I think 5-under is going to be decent. I'm not going to be shocked if someone shoots 7-under, but I think all in all a pretty good start." -- Helen Ross

MESSY START (3:25 p.m.): Clean up on aisle one...ooops and on aisle two. The scorecards for some of the best players in the world are a mess. Phil Mickelson's card looks like a pre-school class eating chocolate candy in a white living room. You may be able to clean it up eventually but you have your work cut out for you.

After an errant drive Phil made double bogey at the first. Lefty shouldn't feel too alone. Anthony Kim started the day bogey, double bogey and is 3 over through two holes. Angel Cabrera, who, like Phil, is making his 2009 debut, made triple bogey on No. 2 to start his season.

If history tells us anything it is that these guys can all bounce back but it may take a little more than fabric cleaner to neaten their cards by Thursday night. -- John Maginnes

BERGANIO SETS EARLY PACE (3:07 p.m.): David Berganio Jr. is in with a share of the clubhouse lead at 5 under right now.

Last week, Berganio got off to a similar start with rounds of 63-64 at the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer before ultimately falling back and finishing T34.

Berganio has been plagued by back injuries the last few years, playing in just 10 events since 2004. Berganio was looking at his sixth straight Major Medical Extension this year, but finished T7 at q-school to secure his TOUR card for this season. -- Brian Wacker

BAIRD BOGEY-FREE (2:50 p.m.): Briny Baird didn't make a bogey in shooting a sterling round of 4 under that left him one stroke behind David Berganio Jr.

"It's playing tough, it really is," Baird said. "There wasn't a lot of wind, but it swirled a couple times, and the greens are unbelievably firm. You know, when you're coming in there with a mid-iron it's hard to get the ball close. The rough is thick.

"I'm very, very pleased to walk away with a 67, I can tell you that."

Baird said the greens were much firmer than he had expected "so you definitely didn't want to short-side yourself if you happened to miss a green." The fairways are tighter than in years past, too.

"They said they did it four years ago, and I'm going to call them on that," he said, laughing. "The rough is definitely up from years past, so they're trying to toughen it up. If that's what they wanted, then success." -- Helen Ross

HOFFMAN OFF TO HOT START (2:35 p.m.): Charley Hoffman continues to keep his trend of playing well early in the year going -- half of his 10 career top 10s have come in the first few months of the season. Hoffman is 5-under through 16 holes today and currently tied for the lead.

The fourth-year player out of UNLV is coming off his worst season on the PGA TOUR, but seems poised to turn things around here this week, which actually is something of a surprise considering Hoffman has yet to make a cut in the FBR Open.

This is the one tournament that's plagued him the last couple of years. Last season, for example, he missed the cut here and went on to miss his next six cuts. Given how he's playing so far, it looks like that trend will change this year. -- Brian Wacker

COUPLES STRUGGLING (2:19 p.m.): Fred Couples is off to a rough start this week with four bogeys and a double through his first 12 holes.

The 15-time PGA TOUR winner could be tracking toward his worst round in more than two years. Right now, Couples is 6 over for the day on the par-72 TPC Scottsdale. Couples' worst score each of the last two seasons was a 78. -- Brian Wacker

SIMPSON OFF TO ANOTHER STRONG START (1:58 p.m.): Rookie Webb Simpson, who has just one round over 68 in two tournaments this year, is off to another fast start this week, albeit in a somewhat unconventional way.

Simpson holed a 122-yard shot from the left rough for eagle at the 10th hole to get things going on Thursday, then made a 9-footer for birdie at No. 11 to move to 3 under. The 23-year-old promptly gave two strokes back at the par-3 13th, though, when his drive found the native area well to the left of the fairway. He tried to chip back into the short grass only to find another native area that lurks in the center of the fairway. Simpson hit his third shot short and in a bunker, blasted out, again short of the green, chipped on and made a 30-inch putt for a 7.

Simpson rebounded, however, with birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to get back to within two strokes of the lead. -- Brian Wacker and Helen Ross

NITTIES ON THE MOVE (1:32 p.m.): James Nitties may have missed the cut at the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer, but he appears to be building on the career-low 62 he shot in the fourth round last week.

The 26-year-old Australian, who finished second at qualifying school, birdied five of his last six holes at TPC Scottsdale to move within one of leader David Berganio.

Nittes two-putted the par-5 third for birdie, then added putts of 15, 14, 6 and 8 feet to move to 4 under.

Nitties made eight birdies and an eagle during the final round at the Palmer Private Course at PGA West last week. -- Helen Ross

Here's a look at Nitties' scorecard so far:

CHECKING IN ON THE COLOSSEUM (1:15 p.m.): How's the raucous 162-yard par-3 16th treating the players so far? As of right now, it ranks as the 10th toughest hole on the course with a scoring average right at par. Four birdies have been there so far, with 22 pars and four bogeys. Last week's winner, Pat Perez, has been closest to the hole thus far at 7 feet. -- Brian Wacker

Here's a look at some other key numbers surrounding the 16th hole:

KAYE HOT (12:47 p.m.): "Maybe I can start my year on fire," Jonathan Kaye told the Denver Post in a telephone interview earlier this week.

Kaye

So far, Kaye, who's been sidelined most of the last two years with an injury and is playing this season on a Major Medical Extension, is 4 under through his first 11 holes and hovering near the top of the leaderboard.

To regain full status on the PGA TOUR, Kaye, who had surgery on his right big toe in 2007 and again shelved his 2008 season because the pain became too unbearable, has 13 events to earn $743,805.

"Feet are tough. They take a long time to heal," Kaye told the Denver Post. "And I probably played too soon last year. I would have been better served to wait until the end of the year.

"I guess you could say I have a 'Forrest Gump' right shoe; it doesn't bend. That eliminates some of the pressure on the joint. It's not great for walking, but it's the only way I can get around pain free. My swing might have gotten a little out of balance last year. It's better now. Walking the course is my challenge."

Kaye, in the field this week because he's a past champion here, is also challenged by the fact that he's low on the pecking order given his status, so he may not always be able to play when and where he wants.

Kaye hasn't had much of a problem today, however, making the turn on the back nine in 33 with three birdies before adding another on No. 2. -- Brian Wacker

KIND TO LONG BOMBERS (12:15 p.m.) : Guys like Mark Calcavecchia, J.B. Holmes and Phil Mickelson have long enjoyed the lack of things that get in your way when it comes to setting up off the tee in the desert. Maybe that is why these three long hitters have enjoyed TPC Scottsdale so much in the past.

Could this be Bubba Watson's turn?

Watson has yet to win on TOUR, but the long-hitting left-hander keeps improving every year he's around. He had a career year in 2008 and finally seems poised to earn his way into the biggest tournaments on the schedule.

He's off to a hot start this week at the FBR Open -- he birdied both of the par-5s on his first nine on Thursday. -- Ryan Smithson

IN THE RED ALREADY (11:50 a.m.): Q-school graduate David Berganio Jr., who is playing for the sixth straight year on a Major Medical Extension, birdied four of his first five holes after teeing off on the back nine.

The FBR Open is a golden opportunity for Berganio to secure his future on TOUR. The 40-year-old, who finished second at the Bob Hope Classic in 2002, has been hampered by injuries in recent years.

This is the second week in a row Berganio has gotten off to a hot start. He opened with rounds of 63-64 last week at the The 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer before falling into a tie for 34th by week's end. -- Ryan Smithson

Groups We're Watching

Tee time Players   10:07 am ET (8:07 am local) Carl Pettersson, Stephen Ames, Aaron Baddeley Pettersson makes his second start of '09, while Baddeley, winner here in '07, makes his '09 debut. Track 'em 2:17 pm ET (12:17 pm local) Ryuji Imada, J.B. Holmes, Chad Campbell Imada is playing for the fourth straight week and is off to a good '09. Holmes is the defending champ. Track 'em 2:26 pm ET (12:16 pm local) Zach Johnson, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson Three major champions here. Johnson won two weeks ago at the Sony Open, and Leonard was fifth at Kapalua. Track 'em

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