Australia’s Steven Bowditch created a PGA Tour career first in leading a tour event at any stage in his professional career.
Despite taking a double bogey at the final hole, the unshaven Bowditch’s round of 67 was razor sharp for an overall eight under par tally and a one stroke lead at the halfway stage in the $US 6.2m Valero Texas Open being playing on the TPC Marriott course in San Antonio.
The 30-year old Dallas-based Aussie was among 45 players who were unable to complete their first round on Thursday due to a two-and-a-half fog delay at the start of play.
And the overnight delay was worthwhile as Bowditch who returned to the 16th hole and then proceeded to birdie his closing two holes in a round of a three under par 69 that officially placed him in a share of fourth place and just two shots from the lead.
Steven Bowditch sets his sights now of being the third Aussie to win on the 2013/14 PGA Tour. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
Then after a short break the Newcastle-born Bowditch picked up from where he left off with a birdie at his second before the outstanding highlight of his round when he holed an 85-yard wedge shot at the par four 12th hole he was playing as his third.
He then birdied the 17th and 18th holes for a second day running and then picked up birdies at second and third holes, or his 11th and 12th holes, before the drama at the ninth when he leaked his second shot right and then took four shots to get down from just 60 feet out from the flag.
After ending his round near lunch it was around 7pm local time when Bowditch was confirmed as the second round leader and it is the first time in 110 PGA Tour events he has ever led any round of any PGA Tour event.
“It has been two nice rounds of golf,” he said.
“I got my round off to a good start both days and holing out for eagle at the 12th or my third today was just the sort of thing you need to get any good round going.
“I’ve also putted pretty well these two days so I am happy also with that aspect of my game.”
In fact, Bowditch had 28 putts on day one and just 25 on day two that, apart from his stroke of brilliance at his third hole, also including nine one-putts.
And Bowditch was very complimentary of Greg Norman’s TPC San Antonio design and likening it to Norman’s Brookwater Club course in Queensland, and the golf course where the coach to Bowditch’s good friend John Senden, and that being Ian Triggs, is attached.
“I like this golf course a lot and it reminds of some of Greg’s courses he’s designed back home,” said Bowditch.
“It’s much like Brookwater and that’s one of my favourites.
“However this San Antonio course has taken a little bit more time to develop and now they’ve got it to the point where it’s a really good golf course. Now, the runoffs a few years ago were a bit of a problem and now they have sort of leveled themselves out a little bit and they’ve got some rough around the greens.
“It’s a fair golf course. In my opinion this is one of the best golf courses in a long, long time condition-wise.”
And Bowditch singled out Senden for special praise saying that he draws inspiration from his recent victory at the Valspar Championship while also drawing similar inspiration from the efforts of two other Queenslanders in Adam Scott and Jason Day.
“It’s always great to see your fellow countryman doing well over here as it sort of rejuvenates you a little bit,” said Bowditch.
“Guys like Adam and Jason are world class players and they always give you a life but to see players like ‘Sendo’ winning in Tampa Bay is extra special because he’s been waiting a long time, about six to seven years, for that second win out here.
“But then it’s always great to see your mates win.”
Of course, if Bowditch was to break through for his first PGA Tour success he would join Scott, Day and ‘Sendo’ in next fortnight’s Masters.
But Bowditch is smart enough not to start thinking of that first-ever drive down Magnolia Lane.
“I haven’t thought about the Masters and I will just wait and see,” he said.
“If it happens, then it would be great but we’ll just wait to Sunday.”
