Rose flourishes as PGA Tour returns to action
● Former world No 1 back to his best with opening 63 at Charles Schwab Challenge
Golf is back. So is Justin Rose. The former world No 1 was on a slippery slope before the Covid-19 shutdown. Three months on, he was back to his best in the opening round of the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas.
The Englishman, who won the same event two years ago, carded a seven-under-par 63 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. The bogey-free effort set the clubhouse target in the PGA Tour’s eagerly-awaited return behind closed doors.
Ridinghighintherankings16 months ago, Rose has slipped to 14th in the world. A decision to change clubs at the end of the 2018 season looked to be a mistake. They have been binned. On this evidence, it is onwards and upwards once more.
Rose, pictured, who had missed three cuts in four starts on the US circuit before the enforced break, birdied three of his first four holes after starting at the tenth.
He then trundled in a 12-foot downhiller for a 2 at the 16th before reeling off three birdies on the trot at the start of his back nine. “Enjoyed the first day back in the office,” admitted the Olympic champion.
The course fell silent at 8:46am, the time having been set aside by the PGA Tour to honour George Floyd, who prosecutors claim was knelt on for eight minutes and 46 seconds by police, killing him in the process, in Minneapolis last month, prompting widespread civil unrest.
“As the PGA Tour commits to amplifying the voices and efforts to end systemic issues of social and racial injustices, we have reserved the 8:46 tee time to pause for a moment of silence, prayer and reflection,” said Jay Monahan, the circuit’s commissioner, in an announcementonthefirsttee.
As the hooter sounded and players out on course stopped their rounds, Rose and his two playing partners, Bryson Dechambeau and Dustin Johnson, all took off their caps as a show of respect.
Testing carried out in the build-up to the event showed no cases of the coronavirus among players and caddies inthe144-strongfield.
It had emerged overnight, though, that there had been four positive tests, one player and three caddies, for the return of the Korn Ferry Tour, the circuit’s feeder tour, at TPC Sawgrass in Florida on the same day.
Even at the top level, golf’s return is happening with social distancing measures in place. While doing their best, at times that wasn’t being adhered to on day one, though Rory Mcilroy had been right in saying there needs to be a “little bit of leeway” as people get used to things. Dechambeau, who has bulked up by 20lbs during the lockdown, opened with a 65. “It was awesome,” he said of the return. “It’s great to be back, and shooting fiveunder is nice.” On playing with no fans, he added: “It reminded me of US Open qualifiers.”
Gary Woodland, the US Open champion, covered his final seven holes in five under to match Dechambeau’s effort, as did 61-year-old Tom Lehman, playing as a former winner. “I would be probably lying if I said I fully expected to shoot such a low score,” admitted the 1996 Open champion.
On a day when the caddie bibs bore two names – the player’s and also the name of a healthcare provider who has worked at the frontline of the pandemic – Ian Poulter made his 66 with a front nine of 31.
“It’s refreshing,” said the Englishman of being back at the coalface.
“I think they’ve done an incredible job. I feel very comfortable with everything that’s taken place this week.”
Phil Mickelson, the 2013 Open champion, felt “a little bit rusty/nervous” as he opened with a 69, six shots better than Russell Knox as the Scot made a disappointing return. World No 1 Mcilroy was among the later starters along with Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka.
World No 1 Rory Mcilroy believes the Covid-19 crisis could be the catalyst for change in golf, including a possible merger between the European Tour and the PGA Tour.
“I think for the health of both tours, a world tour is something I’ve always wanted,” said Mcilroy, speaking at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas.
“I think this pandemic has highlighted the fact that the game of golf at the highest level needs to be simplified.
“I think there’s too many funnels, there’s too many channels. I don’t know if everything being under one umbrella is the solution, but definitely fewer umbrellas I think is a way forward.”
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley were part of discussions earlier in the year with the R&A, USGA, Augusta National and PGA of America that led to a revamped schedule from August onwards.
Four-time major winner Mcilroy added: “Trying to sort of figure out everything as we’ve been going along, I think the major championship organisations and the bigger governing bodies in the game have realised that there’s so many moving parts, and I think more cohesion in the game is better.”
“I’m not saying that it [the coronavirus lockdown] has been a good thing, but, at the same time, I think it’s opened some people’s eyes up to the fact that we can all sort of work a little bit better together in this world.”
“It’s refreshing. I think they’ve done an incredible job. I feel very comfortable with everything that’s taken place this week”
IAN POULTER