Let's get this out of the way now: Rory McIlroy isn't playing in this week's PGA Tour competition.
If you're looking for him, try the cover of Golf Digest, which portrays him as the new Adonis. Or read how he is chiseled and ready for world domination (and try not to think about The Brain or Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz).
So what is there to draw Joe Average Fan's attention to the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla.?
McIlroy, the world's No. 1 golfer, is a work in progress. He has yet to find his "A" game as he heads for (wait for it) his rendezvous with history at the Masters. He tied for ninth at the WGC-Cadillac Championship, which wasn't as good as it sounds, and made bigger news for chucking a 3-iron in a pond than for his performance.
Last weekend's winner was Dustin Johnson, whose personal struggles sent him into a netherworld last season. Whatever the reason — drug use or alcohol — if Johnson's demons are under control he can be a contender.
But no, he's not playing this week either.
Johnson spoke Sunday of his time off, and The New York Times says the word "rehab" was never spoken.
Johnson did say something that should perk up the ears of golf fans: “Rory is a really good player, he’s won a couple majors now. But I think I can play with him. I’m not afraid of him, that’s for sure.”
This Rory-vs.-Dustin dynamic serves as a hot button to be punched every week heading to Augusta.
So what of this week? We're left with wondering whether Jim Furyk can win instead of just contend (he's due). We'll see at Innisbrook's Copperhead course, which Golf Advisor says is closer to a Carolina sandhills course than one expects in Florida.
How about this: It's time for Justin Rose to break out of his miserable start. “Haven't found any form, swing hasn't felt great," Rose said, according to Golf Week. "So yeah, just really got to work at it a little bit."
Here are tee times at the Valspar Championship, which begins Thursday. All times ET. John Senden is defending champion. Coverage is by The Golf Channel and SiriusXM, with NBC picking up at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
7:45 a.m.: No. 1, Robert Garrigus, Robert Allenby, Brian Stuard; No. 10, Jonathan Byrd, Francesco Molinari, Hudson Swafford
7:55 a.m.: No. 1, Billy Hurley III, William McGirt, Zac Blair; No. 10, Bo Van Pelt, Chez Reavie, Justin Thomas
8:05 a.m.: No. 1, Bryce Molder, Tim Wilkinson, John Peterson; No. 10, Sean O'Hair, Freddie Jacobson, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano
8:15 a.m.: No. 1, Nick Taylor, Scott Brown, Rory Sabbatini; No. 10, Padraig Harrington, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth
8:25 a.m.: No. 1, Ryan Moore, Steven Bowditch, Kevin Na; No. 10, Patrick Reed, Henrik Stenson, Ernie Els
8:35 a.m.: No. 1, Derek Ernst, D.A. Points, George McNeill; No. 10, Scott Stallings, Ken Duke, Louis Oosthuizen
8:45 a.m.: No. 1, Chesson Hadley, John Merrick, Vijay Singh; No. 10, Ben Crane, Brendon Todd, Michael Thompson
8:55 a.m.: No. 1, Kevin Streelman, Jason Dufner, Lucas Glover; No. 10, Sangmoon Bae, Jonas Blixt, Charles Howell III
9:05 a.m.: No. 1, Andres Romero, John Daly, Jeff Overton; No. 10, Luke Guthrie, Morgan Hoffmann, Daniel Berger
9:15 a.m.: Shawn Stefani, Chris Smith, Jamie Donaldson; No. 10, Jhonattan Vegas, Erik Compton, Joost Luiten
9:25 a.m.: No. 1, Marc Leishman, Russell Knox, Danny Lee; No. 10 Trevor Immelman, Andres Gonzales, Brice Garnett
9:35 a.m.: No. 1, Jon Curran, Oscar Fraustro, Michael Kinkopf; No. 10, Will Wilcox, Blayne Barber, Scott Pinckney
12:30 p.m.: No. 1, Carl Pettersson, Martin Flores, Steve Wheatcroft; No. 10, Jerry Kelly, Greg Chalmers, Tony Finau
12:40 p.m.: No. 1, Michael Putnam, Brendon de Jonge, Ricky Barnes; No. 10, Rod Pampling, Brian Davis, Colt Knost
12:50 p.m.: Jason Bohn, Jason Kokrak, Ryo Ishikawa; No. 10, Spencer Levin, Nicholas Thompson, Roberto Castro
1 p.m.: No. 1, Brandt Snedeker, Justin Rose, Matt Kuchar; No. 10, Charley Hoffman, John Senden, Woody Austin
1:10 p.m.: No. 1, Gary Woodland, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk; No. 10, Nick Watney, David Toms, Justin Leonard
1:20 p.m.: No. 1, Alex Cejka, Ian Poulter, Retief Goosen; No. 10 Boo Weekley, Harris English, K.J. Choi
1:30 p.m.: No. 1, Brian Harman, Matt Every, Martin Laird; No. 10, Mark Wilson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry
1:40 p.m.: Kevin Chappell, Kevin Kisner, S.J. Park; No. 10, Will MacKenzie, Daniel Summerhays, Scott Langley
1:50 p.m.: No. 1, Charlie Beljan, Chad Campbell, Carlos Ortiz; No. 10, J.J. Henry, Tim Petrovic, Troy Merritt
2 p.m.: No. 1, John Huh, Cameron Tringale, David Hearn; No. 10, Lee Westwood, Justin Hicks, Andrew Svoboda
2:10 p.m.: No. 1, Sam Saunders, Derek Fathauer, Emiliano Grillo; No. 10, Kyle Reifers, Adam Hadwin, Rod Perry
2:20 p.m.: No. 1, Max Homa, Jonathan Randolph, Ollie Schniederjans; No. 10, Alex Prugh, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Jimmy Brandt