Any golfer with his name on his bag can do that.
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Highlights from day one of the John Deere Classic.
The round was the US Open winners’ first 18 holes since Chambers Bay. With the final spots for St. Andrews up for grabs, it’s sure to be another classic week at TPC Deere Run.
“That’s the pressure of this place”, said Steve Stricker, who is 121-under par here since 2009 and has won three times.
“Just looking to get a little better each day”.
Stricker, of Madison, got the job done in Round 1 on Thursday, firing a 6-under 65 on a course that played long and soft after being soaked by 3 inches of rain earlier in the week.
As Justin Thomas walked out of the interview room Thursday, his eyes quickly gazed toward the John Deere Classic “Wall of Champions”.
“It’s been a while since I’d seen that many go in”, said Thomas, who made nearly 190 feet in putts.
“I’m comfortable here, as I keep saying”.
Spieth is having a year for the ages after winning the first two major championships of the season and is hoping to use the John Deere event as a springboard for success at the British Open which begins in one week. He opened with a 71 past year, but finished 16-under, tied for seventh place.
“Just a rusty round”, said Spieth.
“I didn’t put on much of a show”. Menomonee Falls native Mark Wilson had a 72. He had three birdies and three bogeys in his first round yesterday, missing several putts from inside 10 feet along the way. He fired a career-low 60 in the first round in 2010, when he won the second of his three consecutive JDC titles.
“If you’re approaching these greens from the fairways, you’re going to shoot good numbers”, Thompson said.
“I’m here because I believe I can win this week”. I’ve had other opportunities. After a full year of playing disgusting, it was wearing on me. “I believe that it’s advantageous for me to try and win this week and to get any kind of momentum I can or continue the momentum that I can into the Open Championship”. He didn’t expect to make birdie from that distance, especially when he felt he left the putt short. 11, 12, 15 and 16. He is eight strokes behind co-leader Justin Thomas, his good friend and occasional roommate on the road.
“I’m like, ‘That looks pretty nifty, ‘ so I tried to do the same thing”, Stricker said.
That was the refrain from the marshals in bright green golf shirts as they pleaded with the spectators scrambling to get the best view of two-time major champion Jordan Spieth on Thursday, July 9.
“It was just a poor decision. I go around here with such good feelings”. “Nicki was like, ‘Well, make two birdies.’ I guess I listened”.
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Top-ranked Inbee Park birdied two of her last three holes before play was stopped and was at 2 under through 14.
