Australia’s Aaron Baddeley created a bizarre career first in holing his tee shot at the par four 17th hole in a round of 68 on the opening day of the Valero Texas Open.
After snap-hooking his opening tee shot and not being able to find the ball, Baddeley teed-up again only to see his ball travel the 336-yards downwind and into the hole for a birdie on the Greg Norman designed TPC San Antonio course.
“I got up onto the 17th tee and thought to myself I will hit a cut driver but I pulled it left straight into the trees and couldn’t find it,” he said.
“So okay, I just teed up another ball that was my third shot and then hit it straight. I then started walking towards the hole and everyone around the green started going nuts so I made birdie with my second ball (smiling).
“So that was pretty amazing and suffice to say I’ve never done anything like that before in my career.”
The birdie was the last of five birdies for Baddeley who is seeking a fourth PGA Tour success and a first taste of victory since capturing the 2011 Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.
However Baddeley’s efforts in San Antonio continue a remarkable run of good performances for Australians in the Lone Star State of Texas.
Aussie Aaron Baddeley holes a bizarre 336-yard tee shot on route to a four under par 68 on day one of the Valero Texas Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Of course, Adam Scott is a former Valero Texas Open winnner while Stephen Bowditch is this week’s defending champion and Matt Jones will head to next week’s Shell Houston Open as the defending champion.
Stuart Appleby will also tee up in Houston having won the 1999 and 2006 event and joining him will be Robert Allenby who captured the 2000 Shell Houston Open.
And if you delve further into the history books Bruce Crampton won the 1973 and 1975 Houston Open and double Major winning David Graham lifted the 1983 Houston Open trophy.
As well, Australians have a great record of success in the Bryon Nelson Championship with Peter Thomson winning in 1956, Bruce Devlin in 1969 and more recently Adam Scott won the 2008 event and two years later Jason Day broke through at Fort Worth to claim a maiden PGA Tour victory.
“Growing up back home in Melbourne, it always windy so that seems to be the key,” said Baddeley.
“If you had a still day in Melbourne it was unusual. Whether it was blowing 20 mph or 10mph, there always seemed to be wind.
“So I think you get used to playing in the wind.”
Baddeley is returning to the PGA Tour after a month’s break from competition after missing the halfway cut in the Northern Trust Open with scores of 76 and 71.
However the 33-year old Aussie was also recovering from a knee injury sustained through the ‘wear and tear’ of playing golf.
“My season this year has been good as I have been close on a number of times and except for San Diego and missing the cut in L.A. I have been right on the edge at some point in each of the tournaments I have played,” he said.
“And on top of that I have been home the last few weeks and working hard on my game.
“My right knee is still a little bit sore but that’s all just wear and tear in playing this game but the majority of the swelling I had around the knee has gone.”
Baddeley feels also he is finally benefiting from his work with coach, Chris Como who also coaches 14-time Major winning Tiger Woods.
“It’s been great working with Chris and he makes everything very simple and never complicates matters,” said Baddeley.
“For the most part when we go out onto the practice range it is what is and I have this program I work on, so it’s never like we would try one thing this day and another thing the next.
“I stick with these three main things Chris has devised for me and that is working well for me.
“Chris and I have been working together since late 2013 and I am starting to see the benefits of our work together, so that is great.”
