You by no means understand how issues will shake out on the golf course.
Simply ask Sam Ryder, who by some means posted a masterful 9-under 63 throughout the first spherical of the Valero Texas Open.
His terrific rating got here at some point after he withdrew from the Wednesday Professional-Am, as he felt soreness in his higher again and neck. He didn’t even contact a membership on Wednesday, so he opted to relaxation and watch Netflix as an alternative.
Ryder had a day tee time on Thursday, however he wished to get out to the course early, to see how he felt. He arrived at TPC San Antonio about three hours earlier than his 12:40 p.m. beginning time, and felt adequate to go. Actually, the nice and cozy Texas climate helped loosen no matter tightness he felt on Wednesday.
“I used to be a little bit gun-shy early, and as I constructed up the pace, I obtained extra confidence and belief in what I used to be doing,” Ryder mentioned.
“As soon as I obtained on the course, you’re actually not hitting — fortunately, I didn’t hit that many photographs right this moment, however you’re not hitting that many drivers, you recognize, so I used to be in a position to play.”
Ryder started with birdies on the primary two holes, rapidly leaping as much as 2-under for the championship. He added one other par-breaker on the par-5 eighth, rolling in a 13-footer to get to 3-under.
However the former Stetson Hatter caught fireplace on the again 9, warming up like the new Texas solar. He made six birdies on the again, all of which got here on his final seven holes. Ryder caught his third shot to a foot on the par-5 18th to put up a 63 and seize a one-shot lead over Keith Mitchell.
“I figured it was going to be something beneath par is all the time often fairly good out right here,” Ryder mentioned.
“Didn’t go in with any intentions of attempting to be extra aggressive or something like that, was simply attempting to place one foot in entrance of the subsequent and have a strong spherical, hit fairways and as many greens as potential.”
Ryder’s putter is an enormous motive why he has the lead. He gained practically six strokes on the greens on Thursday, rolling in 127 toes value of putts. He solely wanted 21 putts too — a preposterous quantity that doubles because the lowest of his PGA Tour profession.
“I believe placing for me is so much about my setup, so simply attempt to verify all the things, you recognize, all the things’s lined up,” Ryder mentioned of his placing.
“After which at that time I can simply form of free it up and simply deal with the goal and form of simply be extra of an athlete. Yeah, good to see some putts go in, construct some confidence.”
Maybe that confidence will proceed to develop over the ultimate 54 holes — however provided that his sore again and neck don’t flare up. If he can, an invitation to Augusta Nationwide will await him, together with a pair of Texas cowboy boots that go to the winner.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. Observe him on X @jack_milko.
