The tournament was moved from its regular position on the tour schedule due to numerous mitigating factors, among them television contracts and the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The event kicks off with the FBR/Xerox pro-am which has attracted such notables as Alice Cooper, George Lopez and Ray Romano. The tournament is being hosted by The Thunderbirds, a local charitable organization founded in 1937.

The tournament purse is $6 million dollars and 500 FedEx points are at stake.

Last year’s winner, Kenny Perry, is currently ranked sixth in the Golfweek/Sagarin power rankings. Perry had to scramble to victory last year, as he won on the third hole of a playoff, and the field looks equally daunting this year.

Other golfers that have committed to this year’s tournament include Y.E. Yang and Anthony Kim.

Some of the sponsor’s exemption may draw some notice as well. The golfer who was granted the final sponsor’s exemption is Sam Saunders, the grandson of golf legend Arnold Palmer.

Also, Martin Kaymer has gotten the Commissioner’s foreign exemption, and he is currently ranked fifteenth in the Golfweek/Sagarin power rankings.

If the tournament holds to form from last year, the toughest hole to play will be number eleven and the easiest hole will be the thirteenth. Be sure to watch the tournament on the golf channel, as another desert shootout appears to be looming.