Floyd of old shows up at new tournament  PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator PALM COAST, Fla. -- It rained and poured on Friday at the Ginn Championship Hammock Beach Resort, but one of the oldest men in the field didn't snore through the first round. Shooting a 68 in windy, cloudy conditions, Raymond Floyd more than hung in there on a Champions Tour heralded in 2007 for its rookie class of World Golf Hall of Fame members rather than its more experienced members of that august body like Floyd.  Raymond Floyd got off to a great start with a 68 in trying conditions on Friday. (Shamus/WireImage)
The 64-year-old Floyd sits near the top, as Brad Bryant and Keith Fergus share the lead at 5 under after the first round. Floyd, Des Smyth, R.W. Eaks and Joe Ozaki are all tied for third at 4 under, scores surprisingly low on the breezy ocean-side course. "The scoring with the wind, certainly I'm surprised myself, but it goes to show you if you hit the ball solid and you make some putts, the caliber [of golfers] out here, you can get some scores put up," Floyd explained. "The golf course is fair; it allows you to play in these conditions so it's a good course." When asked if this was his low starting round of the year, Floyd joked it was the "start of the decade." The 14-time Champions Tour winner is being humble, of course, since he still has what it takes to compete in any given round. Floyd shot a 68 in the second round at the 2007 ACE Group Classic and matched his age for the first time last year when he fired a final-round 63 at the Boeing Championship at Sandestin and fell just short in a bid to become the Champions Tour's oldest winner. But Floyd says he doesn't let things like becoming the oldest champion and setting records get into his mind at a golf tournament. He just wants to stay in shape, contribute to the Tour as a marquee name and enjoy the time he has left in golf. "You know, I don't come to golf tournaments any longer with the thought of winning," he said. "I'm playing... I don't want to come out here and embarrass myself. I don't want to let myself go, so I work out a little bit and try to stay fit so I can compete. "I will not play golf when I [would] embarrass myself." As the Tour returns to Florida this week for the inaugural tournament at the Ocean Club at Hammock Beach, Floyd's back in the state where he currently resides and where he had nine victories during his PGA TOUR career. He may have had success in Florida, but never had much luck early in the year. In 22 victories on the PGA TOUR, Floyd never won an official event in the month of January or February. So the four-time major winner is not surprised that his game is picking up in late March. "Throughout my career, this is about when I would start playing (well). California, the weather was always cold and damp. Other than the desert in Palm Springs... I never got started until we got back to Florida," said Floyd. "My wife said before I got up here 'this is the time of year where you start playing well.'" Maria Floyd didn't have to peer into a crystal ball to predict that her husband could have success this week. And the rest of the field isn't shocked to see Floyd, a steady player who is consistent around the greens, perform well at this venue either. "This is a Raymond Floyd kind of day," said Bryant. "He has a great feel and such a great short game. "Raymond is just amazing. When he drives the ball straight, he's going to shoot a good score, and he always has been that way. I'm sure none of the players in the locker room will be surprised that Raymond played well today." It's ironic that Bryant felt that way, since Floyd doesn't actually enjoy nasty weather.
"All of us at this level know how to play in inclement conditions," the former Masters champion said. "In one respect, that, to me, means rain, but I'm not fond of playing in the rain. But when it's windy, all of us know how to play at this level... you need to be hitting the ball solid. "The key is to hit it solid, commit and go. And patience." Floyd's scorecard reflected a battle with the elements and one between the birdies and the bogeys. With just six pars, Floyd's round featured eight birdies -- including a hat trick of them on Nos. 10, 11 and 12 -- and four bogeys. "I played very well; I hit the ball solid," he said. "I think I hit 14 greens and obviously that's why -- and that wind. To do any good you have to get the ball on the green." Floyd has hit 69.44 percent of his greens in regulation in 2007 and is second on the Champions Tour in sand saves at 70.59 percent, but it will take a strong performance in all aspects of the game to outlast the field. Floyd isn't so optimistic about his chances, but could he really win? "If I played three rounds the way I played today," he said. "But right now I haven't played three rounds of golf ." Copyright 2007 PGATOUR.com. All rights reserved. |
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