Garrett Willis hunts down the lead in the first round of the Heritage tournament - Golf News
Garrett Willis smashed a score of 7-under par in the first round of the Heritage tournament to surge into lead. The US$5.7 million Professional Golf Association Tour event is being held at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head with
a winner share of $1,026,000.
The American teed off from the front and gave a tremendous performance on the front nine holes. He started the birdie fiesta from the second hole, when he hammered a beautiful second shot towards the green. The crowd screamed at the
accuracy and the distance covered by the shot setting Willis on a roller-coaster of energy. Utilising the energy and the motivation pouring in from the crowd, Willis rolled a putt from eight feet. The ball crossed the cup, stopped few inches away from it and
then swirled back into the hole.
The 37-year-old celebrated his first accomplishment with a small fist pump and proceeded to the next hole to replicate the deluxe. He rolled a similar birdie with his ‘Old Faithful' putter, which is a prototype of Scotty Cameron and
kept on pleasing the crowd for six consecutive holes.
The Charlotte native reeled six back-to-back birdies to rocket into lead and put a stop to his birdie streak at the eight-hole, where he settled for a par.
His first bogey arrived at the closing hole on the back, when the wind started to provide resistance. Trying to cope with the sudden wind and deflected shots, Willis capped the front nine holes with a score of 5-under par.
He marched towards the back discussing and planning a new strategy with his caddie. Less to his surprise, the plan worked and the American netted three more birdies, despite the inclement weather and wrapped the day as the leader.
When asked how he felt about his game, especially his putting, which led him to the top spot of the leader board, he replied, “Yeah, I mentioned earlier at the start of this week I haven't been really confident with my putter. I actually
showed up this week with about four of them, had two made and then had my dad FedEx me three more from back home.”
Willis has step into the second round as the leader, but will he continue doing that until the coming Sunday is yet to find.
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