It’s a good day if he gets off to a fast start

Rory Sabbatini likes to play fast, which is like saying that John Daly enjoys games of chance, so when the defending champion drew a 7:40 a.m. first-round Nissan Open tee time Thursday, he was off quickly -- in the fourth group of the day.

That pleased Sabbatini, but probably not as much as his two-under-par 69. Sabbatini, the defending champion, had two bogeys on the front but said he found the firm greens more to his liking on the back.

At some point, references to Sabbatini’s preference for a speedy pace won’t include details of the fourth round of the 2005 Booz Allen Classic, when he completed the 17th hole before playing partner Ben Crane had reached the green, in a protest over Crane’s slow play.

However, that point has not been reached.

So here is a list of the golfers who Sabbatini said play faster than he does:

Mark Calcavecchia.

Lucas Glover.

Daly.

Of Glover, Sabbatini said: “You spend too much time over your tee, you might be involved in his backswing.”

But if it really comes down to it, Sabbatini knows he belongs in the same company.

“It depends if I’m playing good or bad.”

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Mike Weir’s funk continued with a three-over 74 that included back-to-back 6s, at the 18th (his ninth hole) and the first. Weir tied for 48th at the Hope, tied for 32nd at Phoenix and missed the cut last week at Pebble Beach.

Weir, who won at Riviera in 2003 and 2004, has fallen to 52nd in the rankings. It’s the first time he’s been out of the top 50 since February 2000.

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Phil Mickelson has played the Nissan Open only seven times, but he knows the strategy at the 315-yard 10th. He hit his drive at the par four 307 yards, into the back bunker, but he got up and down for a birdie. Mickelson said he’s always going to try to drive the green, and over the green isn’t bad.

Told that an alteration is in store for the back of the 10th green, where a dirt road may be restored to the barranca that used to be in that location, Mickelson had a quick reply.

“Well, it looks like this one won’t be back on the rotation,” said Mickelson, who shot a 66.

He said he was joking.

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Ian Poulter, England’s answer to MTV, had this opening-day outfit: purple shirt with matching purple visor and matching purple-tinted sunglasses. His pants were semi-bell-bottom, if there is such a thing. Blue and purple checked with white accent trimming, with two-inch slits at the ankles to provide better bell-bottom fit.

Oh, yes. And spiked hair.

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Vaughn Taylor and Ernie Els were so close after their drives on No. 9, their 18th hole, that Els climbed down into the bunker and realized that Taylor needed to mark his ball. Els then hit out about 100 yards and Taylor stepped up, swung and failed to get out on his first shot, a rarity for a pro. His next attempt went about 120 yards down the fairway, but he ended up with a double bogey.

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Ted Purdy played the back nine first, and he was hot. He had one stretch, Nos. 13-17, where he went 3-3-3-2-4. On the 475-yard 18th, he drove the ball 304 yards, hit a short iron in to 15 feet and was putting for a 30. His putt just slid past the hole. He shot a 38 on his second nine for a 69.

Times staff writer Bill Dwyre contributed to this report.

thomas.bonk@latimes.com