Estes takes swing at tourney history
Former FedEx St. Jude Classic champion Bob Estes made history simply by teeing off Thursday in the opening round.
Estes, 47, tied Germantown’s Loren Roberts for the most appearances in the FESJC. It was the 25th start in the event for Estes, who won the tournament in 2001. Estes led each day of the FESJC during his victory and won by one stroke over Bernhard Langer.
Estes, who lives in Austin, Texas, said the FESJC is among the most-played events in his career along with the tour stops in Texas.
“There are probably some others that I’ve played 23 and 24 times, I just haven’t made it to 25 yet like I have here,” Estes said. “I’ve only missed this one, I think, one time.”
Estes missed the 1999 event, his only absence since 1988, to go to Pinehurst early to prepare for the U.S. Open.
“This was one of the tournaments that f irst gave me a sponsor invite out of college,” Estes said. “It helped me keep coming back.”
He said befriending Jerry and Lou Martin, who provided housing for Estes in the early years here, made the FESJC inviting too.
Estes opened Thursday with a 2-under 68, two shots behind the leaders.
ON THE LOCAL FRONT
Memphis-area golfers Shaun Micheel and Casey Wittenberg opened with 1-over 71s.
Micheel shot 2-under 33 on the front side before falling back with a 38 on the back side that included a bogey-par- double bogey finish.
Micheel, 44, is playing his first PGA Tour event of the season after five Web.com Tour tournaments. He has not made a cut this season and had to withdraw from last week’s Web.com event.
Wittenberg, who was the Web.com Tour money leader in 2012, was even on the front nine and 1 over on the back.
Wittenberg earned full-exempt status on the PGA Tour this season by being the money leader on the developmental tour. He has missed his last three cuts after a tie for eighth at The Players Championship in early May.
CHINESE TEEN GETTING RESPECT
Fi r st- round l eader Dustin Johnson said he was impressed with Guan Tianlang, t he 14-year- old amateur sensation from China, when they played nine holes together at the Masters in April.
Tianlang received a sponsor’s exemption into the FESJC and opened with a 3- over 73.
“He is very talented,” Johnson said. “To be only 14 and for him to compete at this level is spectacular. He’s very young, very young obviously. But when I played with him, he hit it really straight. He is a great putter. This could be a decent golf course for him.”
OFF THE COURSE, ON THE PITCH
Australian Nathan Green, who shot an opening-round 66, turned 38 earlier this year, but it hasn’t kept him from another athletic passion. Green is a soccer fan and works the sport into his schedule when he’s not on the golf course.
“I play indoor once a month back in Dallas, I play outdoor either on Sunday night or Friday night,” he said. “I generally look for ways to stay fit besides running on a treadmill. I just love the game and I have ever since I was a kid. It’s sort of my outlet.”
FAMILIAR POSITION
Davis Love III grabbed a share of the first-round lead by sinking a birdie putt on the 18th hole. It was the 25th time in his career that he has either held or shared a first-round lead on the PGA Tour. He has won four times in his career after taking a firstround lead, the last coming at the International in 2003.