Who’s leading the John Deere Classic?
That’s not the question of the day out in Silvis at the TPC Deere Run.
What did Matt Wolff shoot?
Suddenly, with a dramatic win last week in Minnesota, rookie Matt Wolff is a walking PGA Tour curiosity.
Things started out pretty hum-drum for Wolff during Thursday’s first round. He cranked out nine straight pars to start his day on the back nine. Then he gave his gallery what they came to see. Wolff peeled off four birdies coming home and put a nice four-under par 67 on the board.
Sure, he’s tied for 20th but that finish? He’s got momentum.
By day’s end he was just five behind first-round leader Roberto Diaz, who shot a dazzling 62.
No worries.
Collin Morikawa, the tour’s other newest member (he finished tied for second last week), didn’t do as well. His 70 left him needing a good round on Friday to make the 36-hole cut.
One player who may not survive that cut is defending champion Michael Kim. Kim won here last year by shooting a whopping 27-under par. He won by a mind-boggling eight shots and earned himself a plane ride to the Open Championship at Carnoustie. He got a top 40 finish there but then his game started a long, long downhill slide. Since Carnousite, he has made only one 36-hole cut, at the Safeway Open. He is credited for making three other cuts in Malaysia, South Korea and Kapalua – tournaments that had no cut. He has missed the cut in all 17 tournaments he has played since the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Ouch.
Kim struggled once again and shot 73 on a course he found quite easy last year.
Sad but true.
