The broad-shouldered Rollins, who looks as if he's about to bust out of his shirt, supplied one of the day's highlights when he hit a deft blast from the sand at the eighth (South Course) that dropped neatly into the hole for an exquisite birdie 2.

As he approached the tee at the ninth, someone in the gallery complimented him on his masterful shot. Rollins took the time to acknowledge the admirer with a wave and a earnest "Thank you." To many, it probably wasn't much of a gesture but it resonated with me. Whenever a pro responds to the crowd and expresses gratitude for some kind words, I think it reflects on that player's sensibilities and courtesy.

And maybe that simple act of kindness got the karma following Rollins' way because he went on to be a major factor with a final total of 9-under par, missing a playoff by just a single stroke.

Parnevik provided perhaps the biggest surprise of the day and it had nothing to do with his golf. It was his outfit that raised some eyebrows but probably not in the manner you might think.

Known for his sometimes outlandish dress, think Elton John on the links, Parnevik startled many with his almost drab appearance, decked out primarily in black. Jesper even wore his cap in conventional fashion with the brim down instead of his customary manner with the lid flipped up.

What was this? Was Parnevik now going conservative with his look? " It's only Thursday," a fan chuckled, "wait until the weekend," implying that Parnevik's penchant for loud clothing would soon return.

Another point about Parnevik. He's on the serious side of slight, a true wisp of a man. I mean, the guy is a human stick! One strong breeze and up he goes into the wild, blue yonder. Yet, however  thin he may be, the Swede can whip it. He absolutely mashed his drive on the par-5 ninth, ending up right alongside the well-muscled Rollins.

Parnevik must have produced some other splendid shots as well en route to a solid finish at 7-under.

It was mandatory that I look at the current rage and flavor of the month, Bubba Watson. Why is Watson such a fascination? One guess. The dude's a bomber and long-hitters draw crowds like moths to a flame.

Watson is a dark-haired lefty with sturdy legs and a great base from which to punish his drives. And did he ever whack a towering shot when I watched him tee off, although the missile did veer off-course and into the right rough.

Watson finished at a pedestrian +2 but Bubba's hardly a one-trick pony. The guy can play as evidenced by two  top-5 placements in recent weeks.

The best name of all those on the scoreboard went to Steven Bowditch. A great moniker for a laborer, contractor or even a golfer I guess if the player digs up the course by taking massive divots. And with that surname, it naturally  figured that Bowditch would hail from some place down under, as in Australia.

I saw Bowditch absolutely beat on his drive on the first hole (North), straight, long and true. But he didn't fare well after  that, missing the cut by four shots.

Other interesting tidbits about Bowditch. Though he finished fifth on the Nationwide Tour money list in '05, he has yet to play beyond a Friday on the big circuit, having been disqualified thrice, missed three cuts and withdrawn on another occasion.

Come to think of it,  Steven's name suits him perfectly given the fact that his game really is in a ditch. The question is can he can somehow bow his back and eventually dig his way out of it?

Another virtual unknown who caught my eye was Alex Aragon but not for anything particularly positive.

As I was observing the action at the par-4 sixth (South), I couldn't help but notice the ugly number that Aragon was forging, a 9-over par with more golf still to play.

The sixth hole proved to be no kinder than had the others as Aragon missed a makeable par putt to go to a fat 10-over. In exasperation, the former Stanford student who was born in Mexico, disdainfully flipped his putter to his caddy. His mood fit his hair and clothing, black and very dark.

As Aragon exited the green we happened to make eye contact. He shook his head in resignation and then smiled in bemused fashion as if to say," This can't get any worse." But it did! Aragon would continue his march into the abyss and shoot a painful 11-over par 83, the second highest score on opening day. Ugh!

But to his credit, Alex would find redemption the next day when he restored his dignity by carding an admirable 69. And in subsequent weeks, Aragon actually improved his lot enough to make a couple of cuts including a tie for 33rd at Pebble Beach.