To these guys, a golf vacation means not playing.
Hal Sutton hasn’t made a cut this year, but in his first competitive round in nearly two months, the 47-year-old jumped onto the leaderboard of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol.
“I hadn’t played golf since I don’t know when,” Sutton said. ” I hadn’t touched a club . . . the last round of golf I played was the second round at Westchester (June 24). I hit some balls. I played a practice round [Wednesday]. That’s it.
“I don’t think that’s the answer, though. I’ve been working hard on other things.”
Coincidence or not, the 2004 U.S. Ryder Cup captain nearly sank a 60-foot eagle on No. 18, settling for the bird that left him 1-under after the first round, six shots better than Tiger Woods.
It was 22 years ago that Sutton won the 1983 PGA at Riviera wire-to-wire, the last to accomplish that feat. While yesterday might not have rekindled those feelings, he seemed pleasantly surprised at his showing.
“I played good. I hit a couple of bad irons early, but I drove the ball really well and I started hitting my irons well. I just played a solid round of golf,” Sutton said. “I hit the ball solidly.
“If I play like that all week I’ll be real happy. I feel good about my game.”
The husky winner of the 1980 U.S. Amateur said he wasn’t bothered by the heat.
“If I can handle it, anybody can. It’s bearable,” Sutton said. “This is what it is in Louisiana.”
Sutton said the early absence of a rabbit on the leaderboard sends the field a message.
“It lets everybody know the golf course is up to the challenge,” Sutton said. “I don’t think distance is the big thing. I think it’s accuracy.”
The opening day bore out that assessment.