KAPALUA, Maui » Being a first-timer at the Plantation Course is usually a case of tough love.

Yes, it's great to be in the winners-only SBS Championship. Maui is lovely this time of year. The golf course has postcard views on practically every hole. But winning the championship the first time through? Well, that hasn't happened very often.

David Duval captured this prestigious event in 1999, the first time it was held at the Plantation Course, but he had played here before in the Kapalua International. The only two golfers to win this event the first time they appeared here were Sergio Garcia in 2002 and Daniel Chopra in 2008.

Not that any of that will be on the minds of Nevada-Las Vegas' Ryan Moore and Colorado State's Martin Laird when they prepare for today's final round of the PGA Tour's opening act of 2010. Laird is alone in third at 15-under 204 after shooting a 4-under 69 yesterday to trail front-runner Lucas Glover by only two.

Moore is alone in fourth, another shot back at 14-under 205 after carding a 5-under 68. They will be paired together, one group in front of the final twosome of Glover (71—202) and defending champion Geoff Ogilvy (68—203). Both hope they can go low enough to distract the talented twosome and come away with the biggest win of their young careers.

For Moore, he had one small advantage over Laird. Several years ago in his rookie season on tour, he played in the pro-am; he used those 2005 memories to good advantage.

“;It was nice having seen the course at least once, having been around and being somewhat familiar with it,”; Moore said. “;I have a pretty good memory of things. I played a bit early in the week to make sure I got really comfortable with it again. This course is pretty severe. There are a lot of slopes and a lot of things you can take advantage of if you know where to hit it.”;

For Laird, his practice round on Monday was the first time he challenged the rolling hills of the Ben Crenshaw-designed course. Yesterday, he was complaining of his shins hurting a bit from all the up-and-down walking required here, but he'll be ready today in pursuit of his second win on tour.

“;People told me it was very, very hilly and I obviously knew the wind could blow,”; Laird said. “;One of my friends who played here said it's one of those courses where you hit it in spot A and it can wind up in spot C. You can't get too frustrated where the ball goes. You have to aim it away from the hole on some holes. Some putts you have to hit it sideways to get there.”;

Laird and Moore are part of a seven-man contingent touring the Plantation Course for the first time. The other five aren't faring as well as these two, but all are having their moments. PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang wanted to play well for all his Korean fans watching back home.

He carded double and triple bogeys on Friday in his first appearance here en route to being the only golfer to shoot over par. But all that changed yesterday with a 7-under 66, the best round of the day, to leave him in a tie for 16th. Another first-timer is Pat Perez, who shot a 6-under 67 yesterday to begin today's final round in a tie for 12th.

Like all the first-timers, the wind changes this week have proved devilish.

“;We didn't get the tradewinds today, so I was really comfortable out there,”; Perez said. “;I hit the same shots I did the first five days, but with better numbers. I was real comfortable out there, and I hope it's like this tomorrow.”;

The other three making their first tours of duty here are: Nathan Green, who was in second after the opening round, but shot a 77 yesterday to drop to 23rd; Bo Van Pelt, who is tied for 24th; and world No. 8 Paul Casey, who is tied for 12th after shooting a 69.