e star power to the pro-am, and he put on a show with a birdie on his final hole.But the biggest shot came from Varner.Someone set up a makeshift

South Africa did not have the chance to get into New Zealands lower order in Durban, but they have identified it as an area to exploit in Centurion.Thats the one weakness New Zealand have. They are not a team that bats until 10 or 11, South Africas stand-in captain Faf Du Plessis said. If you can get inroads and get through those high-quality batsmen in the top order, you can put some pressure on them.Without Brendon McCullum, New Zealand batting experience comes in the form of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, and they are yet to settle on a No.5. Henry Nicholls is the incumbent but is yet to prove his worth with one half century in six Test innings. BJ Watling provides the lower-middle order muscle with the tail starting at No.7, something Kane Williamson explained cant be helped.We always pick the best team we can, the best balance we can, New Zealands captain Williamson said. Its always nice to have a seam-bowling allrounder that is so sought after in any international side but its a luxury we dont really have at this stage but if you dont have that, you compromise.He hoped Doug Bracewell, who is likely to keep his place unless New Zealand go into the match with two specialist spinners, could fill that role in the future. Someone like Doug Bracewell is looking to try trying to play that allrounder role and improve in it going forward. He can bat and bat well so its just experience at this top level will continue his improvement with that bat.For Williamson, the immediate focus, though is on the other side of the game. Whats most important for us is that we pick a team that can take 20 wickets, he said.To that end, New Zealand have opted for the extra bowler in each of three matches they have played in sub-Saharan Africa this winter. In Zimbabwe, they fielded three seamers and two spinners, in Durban, they went with four seamers and a spinner. The core of both compositions is the three quicks who played in both countries - Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner - who each offer something different.Southee and Boult make use of swing and seam movement while Wagner extracts bounce. In what will be Wagners first Test on what used to be his home ground, Williamson is hopeful he will do most of the damage.Wags has been outstanding for a long period of time, particularly on surfaces that dont offer a huge amount in terms of swing movement or seam, Williamson said. He creates opportunities through creative bowling tactics.New Zealands ability to innovate is the envy of several other sides, including South Africa, who started this series with an aim to try and emulate the aggression. They are a team that knows their style of play. Brendon was key with that, du Plessis said. They looked at themselves and said that, to play like any other team in the world is not going to work for us, and they got their own brand and own style. That positive style of play works for them. It will be interesting to see if this stays with them.They were very out of the box and very aggressive. I dont think that will carry on with Kane. He is a different personality. Im not saying it will be worse for them, it might give them the same success. They are a team that has pioneered that in their own way and a lot of other teams are trying to be a bit positive as well.South Africas attempts at throwing the first punch did not land as well as they wanted after they slipped to 236 for 8 on the first day in Durban. Three of their big names - Dean Elgar, JP Duminy and Quinton de Kock - fell to soft dismissals and another two - Hashim Amla and Temba Bavuma - were dismissed after looking as though they could dominate. In the hope that they do not leave their tail with too much to do, du Plessis wants one of them to go to a big score in the deciding Test.We all got in but we needed one guy to get to a hundred, he said. 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NAPA, Calif. -- Bill Haas, Max Homa and Harold Varner III have something in common at the Safeway Open.They were fill-ins for Tiger Woods.Another PGA Tour season begins Thursday at Silverado in what was billed as the return of Tiger Woods, right up until the point that Woods decided his game was vulnerable and not where it needed to be for him to compete. The announcement at the start of the week spoiled the plans of the Safeway Open to make the golf course -- and not the vineyards -- the place to be.Woods was going to play the pro-am on Wednesday with Stephen Curry, the two-time MVP for the Golden State Warriors. Then, he was to be in the same group as Phil Mickelson and defending champion Emiliano Grillo for the opening two rounds.Varner took over as the pro in Currys group, with both going to college in North Carolina (Varner at East Carolina, Curry at Davidson).Got to thank Tiger, Varner said. If it wasnt for Tiger, I wouldnt be here. I had a good time.Haas is a six-time winner on the PGA Tour. One of those victories was at Congressional for the AT&T National where Woods was the host.As for Homa?The former Cal star made it back to the PGA Tour and was an alternate for the Safeway Open. He got into the tournament when Woods withdrew. Homa tweeted later that day, Thanks Tiger. Next time we hang out, dinners on me. Get back out here soon plz. Sincerely, Your biggest fan.In the meantime, the 2016-17 season begins without him.MICKELSON RIDING HIGH: Mickelson has played 24 times in 35 weeks this year, and the 46-year-old was full of energy when he arrived at the Safeway Open. Attribute that to the Ryder Cup, were Lefty was the vocal leader for the Americans and turned in the top performance on the final day of an American victory. He made 10 birdies and needed them all for a halve against Sergio Garcia.Mickelson hasnt won since 2013, but that team victory at Hazeltine filled a void.Im still on an emotionnal high, and even though Ive been running around this last week, my energy level is up and Im optimistic about having a good week, Mickelson said.ddddddddddddI love the golf course and the feel. Its in California and Im excited to play.The first tournament of the new season is also the last tournament for Mickelson this year.THE COMEBACK: One player dressed head-to-toe in Nike has chosen the Safeway Open to return from a back injury.And yes, Nick Watney is playing.Watney had a herniated disc and last played at Torrey Pines in January. Instead of surgery, he opted to take eight months off for rest and therapy. He began chipping and putting in August. His back specialist put him on what amounted to a pitch count so he wouldnt overdo. Watney was excited to be back on the tour, and several players did a double take when they saw him head to the practice range Wednesday. It had been a long time.THE SHOW: Curry brought some star power to the pro-am, and he put on a show with a birdie on his final hole.But the biggest shot came from Varner.Someone set up a makeshift basketball goal in the bleachers, and Curry and Varner took turns heaving shots into the grandstand at the hoop. None came particularly close until Varner let one fly and banked it in.I dont know if he was really trying, Varner said.THE ROOKIES: The players who make their PGA Tour debuts as card-carrying members can seek inspiration from the defending champion.A year ago, Grillo won the Web.com Tour Championship, and two weeks later began his PGA Tour career with a playoff victory at Silverado. He wound up making it to the Tour Championship and finishing 11th in the FedEx Cup.The previous two winners since the tour went to a wraparound season in 2013 also reached the Tour Championship -- Jimmy Walker and Sang-moon Bae. ' ' '