Just call it a major hangover.
Gary Woodland showed up in Detroit to play at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, his first outing since his sensational U.S. Open win at Pebble Beach.
Woodland showed up but his “A” game didn’t on Thursday.
Talk about a slow start, Woodland was basically sleep-walking around the front nine at the Detroit Golf Club. Four bogeys? Seems like he didn’t make that many in four days at Pebble Beach.
It wasn’t pretty as one of the tournament’s big-name draws was floundering. And yes, Woodland is now a big-name — winning majors will do that. Previously he was just another guy who hit it pretty far off the tee. Now he’s among golf’s elite.
Things didn’t get much better for Gary as he started the back nine. He went bogey-bogey and was five-over par on a day when non-household name Nate Lashley was shooting 63 while Nick Watney and Ryan Armour were good enough to shoot eight-under 64s.
At five-over, Gary was writing himself a fast ticket out of town and that wouldn’t sit well with the weekend sell-out crowd.
Woodland came to life and made four birdies over the final six holes to get it back to one-over. But all that got the newly-minted major champion was a tie for 131st. Yuck.
“I had one of my best warmups of the year on the range,” said a flustered Woodland after posting 73. “The crowd energy was great out there. It seemed like my swing was just quick out there. It was nice to get it back to one-over.”
Perhaps Woodland’s finish will give him some momentum and motivation for Friday when he’ll get out early. He’ll need a low one to stick around for the weekend. There were 74, count ’em, 74 players at three-under par or better after the day one assault on the Donald Ross layout.
With few big names on hand, the organizers will hope Woodland plays better as well as world’s No. 2, Dustin Johnson. D.J. looked pretty average at best during his first round. He had double-bogeys on two par fives. Shocker.
At one-under, D.J. was tied for 101st and like Woodland, he’ll need a superior performance on day two to stick around.
Unofficial tournament host Rickie Fowler, who stars in all those awful Rocket Mortgage commercials, did his part. Rickie’s 68 was only good for a tie for 33rd but at least Rickie doesn’t have to go that low to make the weekend with the cut looking like it could be four or five under.
With all the no-names working their way to the top, Rickie, Gary and D.J. need to be around for the final 36.
Tickets for the weekend are sold out in this PGA Tour first-ever appearance in downtown Detroit.
It’s a town driven by football, baseball and basketball and the tour needs the few stars on hand to be on hand for all four days. In the case of Fowler, Woodland and Johnson, the best ability is availability.
They need to be there.
Gotta have someone that people will recognize.
