John Rollins leads the McGladery Classic
John Rollins took the first round lead at the McGladery Classic at Sea, Island Georgia yesterday. The American carded four birdies consecutively and ended with a seven under 63 at the four million-dollar PGA McGladrey Classic.
John posted a six-foot birdie putt at the second, following which he wedged into a bunker at the fifth that turned out to be an unlikely birdie later. Carding a par after missing the green at six, Rollins swung for 25 feet and achieved a birdie two holes
later. He parred nine and made the turn at 3-under par.
After achieving par at the first four holes on the second nine, Rollins really dominated the course. Hitting his six-iron to 12 feet, Rollins birdied the fourteenth hole. He swung yet another amazing shot out of the bunker to eight feet to set up a birdie
at par-5 at the fifteenth hole. Following that, Rollins really caught fire when he made three back to back birdies with a 20-footer at 16.
Making his fourth birdie at the par-three 17th, he hit a six-iron inside three feet and aimed for a birdie, which consequently hoisted John to the top of the leader board.
Compatriots David Toms, who also won the 2001 PGA Championship and Troy Merritt, were one stroke behind with a 64. Joe Durant, Michael Letzig, Rich Barceló all ended at fourth place with a five-under 65.
Toms was tied with Rollins until he missed a six-foot par save on the ninth, which was his final hole. Graham DeLaet of Weyburn Sadk, who had a top-5 finish last week is at 24th place now and ended a 2 under 68 yesterday.
John turned professional in 1997 right after graduating from college. He was been triumphant three times on the PGA Tour, in 2002, 2006 and 2009 and once on the Nationwide Tour in 2001.
Recently watching his country’s heartbreaking defeat at the Ryder Cup, Rollins has made it his aim to make America proud through his game. His goals were set even before the Ryder Cup and he hopes to accomplish them by next year’s President Cup. Rollins
said that when one see’s these events, he really feels the need to compete in them and hence be able to represent his country.
With all the players worrying about keeping their earning their spot for next year, Rollins can be very relaxed. Rollins was triumphant in last year’s Reno-Tahoe Open and even though he doesn’t have exemption currently, he is number 41 on the money list.
His position is definitely attributed to the third place finish at the Wyndham Championship.
“Obviously I’m safe from winning last year, but also even money wise I would be safe either way”, said Rollins. “But I don’t really feel like I’ve played as consistent and steady as I would like”.
The McGladery Classic is among the five concluding PGA events after the Tour Championship. This event is basically meant for players, who are struggling to keep their tour playing status for the coming year. The players can achieve this if they end up in
the top 125 for this year.
Merritt, who was last year’s qualifying tournament winner, knows this situation very well. The player is at number 123rd with 669,073 dollars and really needs to do well in this tournament. Merritt is surely looking for his first PGA title or
a big day, any of which will lock his spot for 2011. In yesterdays round, he had three sets of consecutive birdies. However, a bogey at the 18th hole prevented him from heading the leader board.
Two of the Ryder Cup team players and a vice-captain also participated despite returning from Wales on Tuesday night. The tour’s leading money winner, Matt Kuchar, carded a 3-under 67. Zach Johnson and Vice-captain David Love III both finished the day with
even-par rounds.
The current leader of the game will play in the afternoon today. The next leader of the Classic will be decided when the players tee off for the second round of the McGladery Classic.
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