Rollins is early leader at McGladrey Classic
John Rollins took a one-stroke lead after the first round of the PGA Tour Fall Series McGladrey Classic at St Simon's Island, Georgia yesterday, despite a late charge by David Toms.
The 35-year-old Rollins shot an impressive seven-under-par 63 on Thursday to lead the field by a stroke, including four consecutive birdies on the back nine. And Rollins revealed that he had been galvanised in part by a conversation with his wife, after a disappointing performance in the FedEx Cup play-offs last month.
Rollins had looked more than capable of progressing to the third round of the playoffs until the final day at the Deutsche Bank Championship, where he shot 79, thus missing qualifying for the BMW Championship and a chance at that $10m payday.
But after that little talk with his wife, Rollins seems to be in better form this week. The American's flawless round of seven birdies was enough to keep the pack at bay, with Troy Merritt and David Toms a stroke behind on six-under 64.
Merritt had shot seven birdies, but finished with a bogey on the 18th, while Toms started the back nine with a bogey before going on to card five birdies, to add to the three he'd already picked up on the opening nine holes - along with his first bogey, on the 9th. Even with two bogeys in a row for Toms, though, the 43-year-old looked impressive.
Joe Durant, Michael Letzig and Rich Barcelo were all tied for fourth place on five-under, while Justin Leonard and Heath Slocum, along with Australia's Aron Price and Sweden's Mathias Gronberg are all on four-under and tied for seventh place.
A couple of the USA Ryder Cup team were in action too, Matt Kuchar tying for 11th place after shooting three-under, in a round comprised of five birdies - four in a row between the 4th and 7th - and a double bogey on the 16th. Meanwhile, Zach Johnson could only finish on level par, carding three of each in both the bogie and birdie department.
This is the inaugural McGladrey Classic, but it may well be the first and last time the tournament is played here at the Seaside Course. The PGA tour's visit this week comes just before an auction on Monday that will see the bankrupt Sea Island resort being sold off.
Tournament host and Sea Island Club board member Davis Love III is resigned to a new chapter in the club's history, which has been around since the late 1920s.
"I think it's time for it to just come to a close," he said Wednesday before playing in the pro-am at the Seaside Course. Maybe John Rollins can make it a farewell to remember, at least for Mrs Rollins.
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