You wonder if Sergio Garcia is still suffering from the side effects of his Roy McAvoy incident at The Masters?
Garcia, who pumped five golf balls into the water at the famous 15th at Augusta National two weeks ago, didn’t have much to show during Thursday’s first round at the Valero Texas Open.
Granted, the conditions were a bit breezy but the folks who showed up to watch the field’s only top-10 player probably walked away disappointed after Garcia’s opening 74. That left him on the wrong side of the predicted cut line and seven shots behind first round leader Grayson Murray. Murray, who won for the first time last season, has been an all-or-nothing type of guy this year — he’s either been finishing in the top 15 or outside the top 70.
This week it looks like the good Grayson has showed up.
“When I get off, it’s never far off but it seems like I’m always searching for something, and then I start compensating and then I create a new bad habit,” Murray said after his round. “Ball-striking for me gives me confidence with every other club in my bag when it comes to putting or chipping or anything. I know if I hit it well, those parts of the game are going to be good, too.”
He wasn’t the only unimpressive name player on Thursday at the TPC San Antonio.
Defending champion Kevin Chappell didn’t get into red numbers but did manage an even par 72 while Matt Kuchar did, shooting 71.
Murray found himself a shot clear of five players that included a couple of guys trying to re-discover their games — Keegan Bradley and Billy Horschel.
Chesson Hadley, Ryan Moore and Matt Atkins were in that group with them.
Overall, only 11 players broke 70 over the first 18.
