Carl Pettersson opened his title defense of the RBC Heritage with a 3-under-par 36-32=68, finishing one stroke adrift of the clubhouse co-leaders.
Pettersson hit 14 greens in regulation today, but he went 0-for-4 in scrambling. Therefore, it's a good thing he was capitalizing elsewhere. The Swede converted seven birdies, including five on his last eight holes, all of which from inside eight feet. He was also locked in from outside earlier in the round. Starting on 10, he'd promptly pour in birdies of 14 feet and 27'9" at the 11th and 16th holes, respectively.

Carl Pettersson returns to Harbour Town to defend his 2012 RBC Heritage title.
The Swede has made nine of 11 cuts this season, but his only top 10 came at the rain-shortened Hyundai Tournament of Champions to start the year. Last year's win in Hilton Head came immediately following a runner-up to Hunter Mahan at the Shell Houston Open. This season's form isn't lining up with 2012.

Carl Pettersson returns to the Shell Houston Open after contending a year ago.
It was this event that preceded his win at the RBC Heritage. He opened with a 65 a year ago, sharing the 18-hole lead and eventually racking up a solo second. His 2013 season hasn't been great, but a T21 at Bay Hill offers some encouragement that his form may be sharpening.

It took 19 holes but Carl Pettersson defeated Rickie Fowler in the Jones Bracket in the opening round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.
This was one of two matches that was suspended for darkness on Thursday evening. The Swede was coming off a withdrawal at the Northern Trust Open due to the flu, but he sat 2 up with two holes to play. Fowler promptly birdied and won both par 4s coming in to force sudden death. Alas, he drove into the desert off the tee on the par-4 first hole and would settle for bogey. Pettersson recorded a par to advance to today's second round during which he'll face Shane Lowry.

Carl Pettersson withdrew from the Northern Trust Open following his opening round due to the flu.
Pettersson shot a 7-over-par 35-42=77 and then alerted officials of his decisions. He went out in bogey-free 1-under before the meltdown. If he's able, he'll tee it up at next week's World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Carl Pettersson has secured paychecks in each of his four starts ahead of the Northern Trust Open.
Pettersson's lone top 40 came at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, so to say the year is a success to date would be an over statement. With a week off following his T43 at TPC Scottsdale, he comes to Riviera CC rested and ready for action. In 10 trips to the Northern Trust Open, he's made eight cuts but just one went for a top 10.

Carl Pettersson finished eighth at the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions after signing for a bogey-free 3-under-par 35-35=70 in the final stanza.
The Swede ends the week at 7-under 212. He found himself inside the top seven in GIR, driving accuracy and scrambling, having gotten up-and-down 75 perecent of the time. He is now scheduled to take the short flight to the Sony Open, where he has a history of success.

Carl Pettersson inched a little lower at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions with his second-round 1-under-par 37-35=72 improving him to 4-under 142.
Once again it was the five pars that allowed Pettersson his scoring opportunities, knocking off birdies on three of the four for the second consecutive round. In fact, six of his eight birdies for the week have occured on par 5s. He enters the final round looking to improve on his tie for fourth in his last trip to the Plantation Course.

Carl Pettersson took advantage of the Plantation Course's par 5s en route to a 3-under-par 37-33=70 in the opening round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
The Swede opened up on the back nine, with a bogey on the par-3 11th hole. He would bounce back with a birde on the 12th before suffering his final bogey of the round on the 16th. His surge would start with a birdie at the par-5 18th to even the card. He would post a 3-under 34 on the front that included birdies on both par 5s and the lengthy par-4 first.

The opening round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions has been suspended due to unplayable conditions.
Ever since Rickie Fowler boomed the opening tee ball of the 2013 season, sketchy weather has dogged this tournament. There was already one short delay but this second stoppage forced golfers to find cover. Squalls have been feeding off the Pacific Ocean. The worst of it was felt on the green at the second hole where Carl Pettersson's lag putt from beyond 40 feet was blown off the green by a gust. He parred his opening hole to sit three strokes behind the early leader, Webb Simpson, who's bogey-free 3-under-par through seven holes.

Carl Pettersson's win at the RBC Heritage has gained him entry into his fifth Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
In his previous four appearances his average finish is 16th, but he improved that average with a tie for fourth in his last trip to Kapalua. While he didn't play in this event in 2012, he opened the year a week later at the Sony Open with a share of second, proving that he knows how to come out of a lengthy vacation. At 20th in strokoes gained-putting and 36th in driving distance in 2012, it's well within the realm of possibility that he will put together a nice week.