Featured Groups: Safeway Open

The 2018-19 PGA TOUR season begins this week with the Safeway Open in Napa, California. It’s the first of 43 regular season events, to be followed by the reformatted three-event FedExCup Playoffs next August. The Golf Channel will provide live coverage for all four rounds, with the first two rounds starting at 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local time) on Thursday and Friday. PGA TOUR Radio will air live coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET for each of the first two rounds, and 4 p.m. ET on the weekends. Here’s a look at the Featured Groups for the first two rounds (last season’s final FedExCup ranking in parentheses): Jason Dufner (100) – One of 23 players to have qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs in 11 or more seasons. Hudson Swafford (156) – Missed the FedExCup Playoffs but had a strong finish to the regular season with two top-15 finishes in his last three starts. Wesley Bryan (163) – Ranked second on the PGA TOUR last season in putts per round with a 27.36 average. Tee times: Rd. 1 (3:20 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (10:40 a.m. ET) Phil Mickelson (21) – California native has collected 11 of his 43 career PGA TOUR wins in his native state. Brendan Steele (56) – Two-time defending champ looking to become first player since Steve Stricker (2009-11 John Deere Classic) to win the same event three consecutive years. Sangmoon Bae (202) – The 2014 Safeway Open champ regained his PGA TOUR card with a victory in the 2018 Web.com Tour Finals. Tee times: Rd. 1 (3:30 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (10:50 a.m. ET) Andrew Landry (37) – Led the Safeway Open field last season in Strokes Gained: Putting while finishing T-7. Michael Kim (81) – Won his first PGA TOUR event last season at the John Deere Classic by making 30 birdies – highest total at any TOUR event since 2016. Jhonattan Vegas (95) – Had the sixth highest clubhead speed on the PGA TOUR last season at 121.87 mph. Tee times: Rd. 1 (10:40 a.m. ET); Rd. 2 (3:20 p.m. ET) Patrick Cantlay (20) – One of five players with an active cuts made streak of 10 or more events. Brandt Snedeker (40) – One of 10 players who has qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs every year. Fred Couples (230) – Making his first start in this event since 2009 when he finished T-66. Tee times: Rd. 1 (10:50 a.m. ET); Rd. 2 (3:30 p.m. ET)

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