First Round Notes: Northern Trust Open

The first round of the 2010 Northern Trust Open is in the books, and Dustin Johnson finds himself in the lead at -7. There are some intriguing names near the top of the leaderboard, but many of the tour's big names were struggling today.

Highlight Rounds

- Ricky Barnes, who is best known for his performance at last year's U.S. Open, shot 66 and is two shots out of the pace.

- David Duval, also in contention during the final round duel at the 2009 U.S. Open, is looking to regain the form that made him a major winner and the #1 golfer in the world. Despite some hiccups on his second nine, Duval came in with a 68, putting him in the top ten.

- The stylish Swede Jesper Parnevik is also in the top ten at -3. Although his play has fallen off a bit in the past years as he's gotten older, Parnevik is a seasoned veteran who still has the ability to produce solid play.

Heading the Wrong Direction

- Both Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington stumbled to one over 72s today. Phil had particular trouble coming into the clubhouse, bogeying three of his last four holes.

- Anthony Kim started strong with an eagle on the first hole but faltered for the rest of the round, ending at an even par 71.

- Jim Furyk also is at even par, with a double bogey on the second hole the major blemish on his scorecard.

What to Watch for

Many of the tour's best left much to be desired in their first round scores, so watch for comeback second rounds. The weather will also play a factor, with rain being in the forecast for both Friday and Saturday.