Rd. 3: WGC-HSBC Champions

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The first groups are ready to tee off in Round 3 of the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, 13 hours ahead of New York time. Here's how it sets up (click here for tee times):
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Groups We're Watching

Tee time Players   9:10 p.m. ET, Friday, Hole No. 1 Ryo Ishikawa, Camilo Villegas, Koumei Oda Young Japanese phenom is tied for 10th with the others in his group. Will one of them make a move? 9:30 p.m. ET, Friday, Hole No. 1 Phil Mickelson, Alvaro Quiros, Anthony Kim Fan favorite Mickelson, big-hitting Quiros and hot shot Kim combine to make an exciting threesome in Round 3. 9:50 p.m. ET, Friday, Hole No. 1 Tiger Woods, Nick Watney, Ryan Moore This American trio all won on the PGA TOUR this season, though Woods has the most '09 victories with six.

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Chief of Correspondents Helen Ross previews Saturday's round.

Nick Watney got what he wanted on Saturday in Shanghai -- a chance to play golf with Tiger Woods for the first time in competiton. And it just so happens they'll be in the final pairing of the day.

There are those who would say be careful what you wish for, though. Woods, a six-time winner already in 2009, fired his second straight 67 on Friday to move to 10 under and into a tie with the eager young Californian.

Once his putter got untracked, Woods played his final 10 holes in 5 under on Friday.

"I was surprised at how difficult the pins were today," Woods said. "... Consequently the guys didn't go as low, but still there are plenty of opportunities out there, especially when the wind dropped on the back nine. That's when it seemed like everybody was making a bunch of birdies."

Saturday's forecast

Mostly cloudy Temp: 78 high/69 low Cloudy with winds from the south at 10 to 15 miles per hour.

Woods has twice been a runner-up at Sheshen International and he's nothing if not dominant in World Golf Championships events like the newly-appointed HSBC Champions. He'd like nothing better than to make this his 16th individual crown in the global series.

Watney, who shot 70 in the second round to maintain a share of the lead, won the Buick Invitational earlier this year. The tournament at Torrey Pines had been Woods' personal playground -- he was the four-time defending champ but was still on the mend from his ACL surgery.

Phil Mickelson also inched closer to the top with a 66 that tied the big-hitting Spaniard, Alvaro Quiros, for the low round of the day. Mickelson was the only player who didn't make a bogey in the second round. They're tied with Ryan Moore, one stroke behind the leaders.

"I like this tournament a lot and I like this golf course a lot and I've played well here in the past," said Mickelson, the 2007 champ. "So I'm hoping to play well on the weekend, but I'm very pleased with where I have put myself after two rounds."

Separation on Sunday could be key with a 60 percent chance of rain in the forecast.

Stat of the Day

Sergio Garcia is the youngest HSBC Champions winner at 28 years, 10 months, 1 day. Of the players in the top 10, Nick Watney (age 28/6/14 on Sunday); Ryan Moore (age 26/11/3); Anthony Kim (age 24/4/20); Camilo Villegas (age 27/10/1); and Ryo Ishikawa (age 18/1/22) could set a new record.

The Film Room

Shot of the Day Ernie Els aces the 198 yard par-3 sixth in the second round of the 2009 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions. Watch it PGA TOUR Today: Nov. 6, 2009 Win McMurry recaps the second round, where Tiger Woods and Nick Watney are tied for the lead in Shanghai. Watch it In the Bag: Sergio Garcia Spain's Sergio Garcia, winner of the 2008 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, gives us an inside look at what he carries in his bag. Watch it

Thus far at Sheshan

Round Leaders Low round (par 72) Key links Nick Watney (-8) 64: Nick Watney Daily Wrap-up | Transcripts Tiger Woods, Nick Watney (-10) 66: Phil Mickelson, Alvaro Quiros Daily Wrap-up | Notebook