Prime-time pairings

Without "The Golfer Formerly Known as Eldrick" in the Nissan Open field, the pairing likely to draw the biggest gallery in the opening two rounds is the trio of Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and U.S. Ryder Cupper Vaughn Taylor.

(Give yourself a brownie point if you knew Taylor was on the losing U.S. team last fall ... heck, give yourself one if you've ever heard of Vaughn Taylor).

That group is scheduled to tee off on No. 10 at 8:10 a.m. Thursday and on No. 1 at 12:40 p.m. Friday.

If you prefer to follow a group that promises to be much quieter (sans chitchat and screams of, "Fore, left!"), then you might consider the Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen pairing. They'll start at 8:20 a.m. Thursday off No. 1 and 12:50 p.m. Friday from the No. 10 tee with Wes Short Jr., the winner of the 2005 Michelin Championship at Las Vegas (yep, had to look that one up).

For all of the first- and second-round tee times, check Thursday's edition of the Daily News.