ZealousGolfer.com

The first day of the offseason's first made-for-TV event is in the books and two very different groups take the lead. The Merill Lynch Shootout, played in Naples, Florida, is played by twelve 2 person groups consisting of PGA TOUR players, LPGA players, and Champions Tour players.

Day one of modified alternate shot (both players drive and then choose the best drive), was dominated by the groups of J.B. Holmes and John Daly as well as Scott Verplank and Justin Leonard. Both groups fired rounds of 9 under as Daly and Holmes beat the course with long drives while the laser accurate Verplank and Leonard succeeded from hitting fairways.

The group of rivals Nick Faldo and Greg Norman finished in last after shooting even par. The pairing of Fred Couples and Annika Sorenstam finished only one stroke ahead at one under.

The scrapper pairing of Jerry Kelly and Rod Pampling finished in third place behind the two groups at 9 under with an 8 under par round.

In other news, Daly has filed for his divorce with his fourth wife.