Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Friday 4 May 2018
Peterson’s 2 eagles carries him to lead at Quail Hollow

By DOUG FERGUSON when he drove the green
AP Golf Writer on the par-4 14th to 6 feet,
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — and then hit the green on
John Peterson started his the par-5 15th hole and
rookie season on the PGA made a 45-foot putt. He
Tour about the time Tiger wound up in the group of
Woods started to experi- five players at 67 that in-
ence back problems. cluded PGA Tour rookie
One of them is closer to Keith Mitchell and Tyrrell
walking away than the oth- Hatton.
er. Rory McIlroy, a two-time
Peterson, the 29-year-old winner at Wells Fargo, was
free spirit who has pledged among 10 players at 68.
to retire from golf’s vaga- Paul Casey and Jason Day
bond lifestyle if he doesn’t were among seven players
earn enough money to at 69.
keep his card in three Even with Peterson’s big fin-
events, made back-to- ish, there was some truth to
back eagles late in the Woods’ assessment when
opening round Thursday for he finished at 71.
a 6-under 65 that gave him “The way this golf course
a two-shot lead in the Wells is set up and the way it’s
Fargo Championship. playing right now, the guys
Woods had an unspectac- are going to be stacked,”
ular round of 71 in his return Woods said. “We’re all go-
to Quail Hollow after a six- ing to be close. There’s
year absence — mostly due going to be probably, I’m
to his balky back — and fig- guessing, 15 guys or so with
ured it would keep him and a chance on Sunday.”
everyone else fairly close to Woods had back-to-back
the lead on a course that birdies on the holes where
made it tough for anyone Peterson made his eagles,
to get separation. getting him to 1 under. But
That was before Peter- he hit a poor wedge that
son came to life late in his led to bogey on the par-5
round. 10th, atoned for that with
He holed a bunker shot from a birdie on the par-5 15th,
just under 60 feet away on only to give back that shot
the par-5 seventh hole. with a three-putt bogey
Then he holed a 56-degree from 15 feet on No. 16.
wedge from 107 yards in It was a tough adjustment
the fairway for eagle on for Woods and everyone
the next hole. It almost got else. The greens were firm,
even better. From the trees with balls bouncing high
left of the ninth fairway, upon landing. But the sur-
his approach cleared the face was a little on the
bunker and was headed slow side, and several play-
for the flag as the crowd — ers left putts extraordinarily
“seven or eight people and short.
a Golden Retriever in the “I hit the ball fine today,”
grandstands back there,” Woods said. “If I just make
he said — began to cheer a few putts, I should be 2- or
in anticipation. 3-under par, which is fine. I
It missed. He missed from 8 John Peterson lines up a putt on the ninth green during the first round of the Wells Fargo just didn’t make anything
feet. All was well. Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, May 3, 2018. today.”
Peterson had never led af- Associated Press He was tied for 35th, his
ter any round in 89 starts go Championship, or the be just as happy in real es- nament out here.” worst position after the
on the PGA Tour, and he two tournaments he has tate development with a But it’s early, and he knows opening round since he
didn’t seem all that worked left. Because of surgery on few friends in Fort Worth, that from experience. Pe- was tied for 61st at Riviera in
up over it. his left hand two years ago, Texas, than chasing around terson was in the final group February. This is his seventh
“I’m kind of free-wheeling Peterson started the year birdies and bogeys from going into the weekend at PGA Tour start since return-
it at this point,” he said. “I needing to make $375,165 one coast to the other. the Sony Open, three shots ing from a fourth back sur-
know a little bit has been in eight tournaments to If he wins this week? Or out of the lead, when he gery, and Woods said he
said about me retiring if keep his card. Five events even if he makes enough shot 74-69 and tied for 47th. now is used to the rhythm
I don’t make the neces- later, he still needs $318,096 money to keep his card? Peterson was only part of and flow of tournament
sary money for my medical and has this week, and then “Either way is fine with me,” the show on a warm and golf. He has four months left
starts, and all that’s true. If I the FedEx St. Jude Classic Peterson said. “I’ve got ev- breezy day at Quail Hollow, in the season.
don’t make it, I’m not play- and Travelers Champion- erything in place for both site of the PGA Champion- “I don’t see him retiring
ing golf anymore.” ship. sides of it, so I’m not going ship last summer. anytime soon,” Peterson
He made clear on more He loves golf. He also is a to be bothered if I make it. Johnson Wagner, a mem- said with a smile. “He can
than one occasion he father — his son was born in Obviously, I would never be ber at Quail Hollow, also obviously still play with ev-
wants to win the Wells Far- October — and he would bothered to win a golf tour- had back-to-back eagles erybody out here.”q