2021 PGA Championship live updates: Round 1 leaderboard, tee times, scores, TV coverage, news from Kiawah Island

The afternoon wave is about to get started here, so let's talk about these second featured groups. I'm just ranking them by the order in which I would pay attention to them, keeping in mind that the coverage has started on ESPN proper and they're going to show a lot of several of these guys.

1. 1:58 p.m. Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson, Will Zalatoris

Spieth comes in as hot as anyone on the PGA Tour, and featured groups is particularly great for him because you'll get to hear much of his interchanges with caddy Michael Greller. They've been together forever, and their push and pull debates on club selections are usually really interesting/entertaining. Plus you get Zalatoris, an emerging standout who was just sensational at the Masters.

2. 1:25 p.m. Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed

Three guys who could all be in contention on Sunday, particularly Rahm (Brendan Quinn's pick to win it, in fact). Plus a little extra spice in a Ryder Cup year as "Captain America" Reed shares a pairing with two guys that no doubt have long memories about 2018's Euro success.

3. 2:09 p.m. Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Sergio Garcia

Johnson is still the No. 1 golfer in the world per OWGR, but he's been pretty ordinary since he put on the green jacket in November. Sergio is a total wild card. A wait-and-see situation where you can flip to them on the back nine if one is hot.

4. 1:14 p.m. Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Padraig Harrington

This is fine. Nothing wrong with it. But it'd be a really huge surprise if any of these guys pushed for contention.