Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial
A crowded leaderboard after the first round at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club includes a few heavy hitters and a Canadian, who clawed his way up there, too, with the co-low score in the afternoon rounds.
Nick Taylor is actually having a pretty good week.
The 34-year-old from Abbotsford, British Columbia, qualified for next month’s U.S. Open in a 36-hole sectional qualifier at Bent Tree Country Club and Northwood Club in Dallas on Monday, and followed that up with 4-under par 66 at a windblown Hogan’s Alley.
Taylor is one of eight who turned in that score. Among the others was reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler of Dallas, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, and Patrick Reed and Webb Simpson, both majors winners. Former Colonial champion Chris Kirk, who was fitted for plaid in 2015, was also represented.
“I felt like I putted really nice on Monday, and that kind of led into today,” said Taylor, who had an eagle (on 12), two birdies and two bogeys in his round. “Drove it really nice today, hit a lot of fairways, which is tough to do out here. I think with the wind direction today, there was a lot shorter clubs into certain holes that I was able to take advantage of.
“Having good mojo Monday led into today. I was able to have a couple easy days of rest, which we talked about was important for me after a really long day. Yeah, hopefully can just keep it going.”
The wind was out of the west and played havoc on afternoon players. It generally does, but instead of the typical southerly winds, this one was out of west.
“It's typically a south wind from what I remember. It was mostly west, a little northwest today, so there were just certain angles today with downwind, into the wind that we just don't typically have,” Taylor said. “It was a bit of adjustment. I think it's back to south for the weekend.
“It was just an adjustment, so I felt like we did a pretty good job today.”
Our guys from TCU had trouble in the first round.
Tom Hoge, who teed off in the afternoon, signed a card that read 5-over 75. Another Froggy Paul Barjon, a French native, made the turn at 1 under, but his back-9 was pothole after pothole, an 11-over 46 for an 80 total. He recorded two double bogeys and triple bogey, on 13 after sending his tee shot into the very protective pond that safeguards the front of the green.
“I didn’t play very good, obviously,” said Barjon, who plays out of Mira Vista. “Just kind of hit it a little bit everywhere, and didn’t make as many putts. It’s tough. But we’ve got tomorrow to play good and put a good round in. It’s pretty much over, but … .”
Barjon will need to go as low as anyone ever has in Limbo for an opportunity to play this weekend. We wish him the best. A gentleman, he was, after a difficult round.
Jordan Spieth of Dallas, another past champion, was lurking and a little peeved. He shot 1 under and felt as if he left some strokes out there, believing his misbehaving driver did him no favors. Spieth also misread some putts.
“I was really frustrated for some reason,” Spieth said. “I didn't play very smart early in the round, and then I kind of got away with it through five holes. A little bit upset. My three bogeys were all just poor bogeys. Otherwise I'm up there right near the top of the leaderboard.”
He’s got his eye on a morning round Friday. The wind is expected to be calm.
“I would love to just putt it the way I've been putting it. I feel like more and more will go in. But I've just got to hit more greens in regulation, and that starts back on putting the ball in the fairway.
“Simple golf.”
Two words there together you will never see come out of my mouth: "simple golf." Ho-ho-ho.
Lots of holes left to play, 54 more to be exact.
The full leaderboard is here.