Cook is happy to have his card

Austin Cook is playing in the Houston Open for the second time. He has more playing status in 2019 than he did in 2015, when he got into the field as a Monday qualifier, shooting 8 under. That was an eventful week as he tied for 11th.

“It was a great experience, and especially not having a PGA card, and that was the second PGA Tour event I ever played in,” said Cook, who shares the first-round lead with Talor Gooch at 8 under. “It was awesome.”

In 2015, Cook played the weekend with Phil Mickelson on Saturday and Johnson Wagner in Sunday’s final round.

There’s a big difference between having to get into a tournament as a qualifier as opposed to having PGA Tour privileges.

“You can be a little more aggressive on some shots being a card-holding member because you’re going to play next week,” Cook said. “As a Monday qualifier, it’s like all right, inside the top 10, I’ve got to not be stupid here, get a par and play next week.”

Beem makes his return

Rich Beem is making his first appearance in a non-major on the PGA Tour since 2014. The 2002 PGA Championship winner opened with a 3-under 69 on the Golf Club of Houston’s Tournament Course, giving him a share of 23rd after Thursday’s first round.

“I wish I was this good back in the old times, Beem, 49, said. “I’m surprised. I don’t think I played this good toward the end of my career. It was nerve wracking (Thursday). I can’t say I was ever fully comfortable out there. Every shot grabs my attention.”

Beem is playing on a sponsor’s exemption. He recently spent two weeks in the United Kingdom, where he reported on the BMW PGA Championship and Dunhill Links Championship for Sky Sports and has barely touched a golf club in that time.

From carts to course

Nine months ago, Michael Perras was washing golf carts at the Golf Club of Houston. On Thursday, he shot an even-par 72 on the course in his first PGA Tour round.

“Happy with the way I played and how my game feels,” said Perras, who played college golf at the University of Houston and is coached by his grandfather Fred Marti, who played on the PGA Tour.

Perras, who received one of five sponsor’s exemptions in the Houston Open, is a regular on PGA Tour China and has made one start on the Korn Ferry Tour. He admitted that he experienced some nervousness during the 18 holes.

“You want to be out there and feel nervous,” said Perras, a product of Deer Park High School. “Overall, it will help me down the road being in this situation, a PGA Tour event in my hometown, feeling uncomfortable here and there and being able to figure it out and learn from the day. Golf means a lot to me and I want to play professionally, so it’s good to be on this stage playing.”

Straka gets fast start on field

Playing in the first threesome off the 10th tee, Sepp Straka got a head start on the 144player field and started out hot, making birdie on his first four holes en route to a first-round 7-under-65.

Taking advantage of little wind conditions for his 7:15 a.m. tee time, Straka posted nine birdies. He plays fast, not taking a lot of time between shots, and makes quick decisions.

“It’s pretty instinctual,” Straka said. “I don’t take a lot of time thinking about it. I don’t know if I could break 80. Once I see the shot, I’ll hit it and go from there.”

Scoring in good weather

Lanto Griffin wanted to get ahead of the cooler weather and windy conditions predicted for Saturday’s second round by posting a solid openinground score. He accomplished that by shooting a 6-under 66 that places him in a share of fourth.

“If it gets windy, I don’t think the scores will be as low, especially if it gets cold,” Griffin said. “So I wanted to get off to a good start to give myself a little cushion with the weather coming in. I’m in good shape.”

Weather change is in the air

A strong cool front is expected to move through the Houston area on Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, bringing a likely chance of showers (60 percent rain probability) and a narrow band of thunderstorms (30 percent lightning probability).

There may be a few lingering showers behind the front Friday afternoon in which temperature are expected to drop from 77 degrees to 62. Blustery north-northwesterly wind is expected to develop behind the front, with gusts between 25-30 mph Friday afternoon.