|
Funk takes opening day
honours
Fred Funk has struggled
to find his game after a slow-speed tumble off his son's mini-motorcycle in June.
But Funk's left shoulder
and hand, left weak and aching after the accident because of a nerve injury, were
feeling better Thursday as he shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead after
the first round of the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.
``Right now I'm able to
swing and it's not bothering me that much,'' the 45-year-old tour veteran said.
Funk had seven birdies,
two bogeys and an eagle on No. 5 that he rolled in from the fringe about 20 feet
out.
Mark Brooks, Dicky Pride
and Cameron Beckman carded 66s on a bone-dry but breezy day that made the 7,199-yard
course at Annandale Golf Club play a little longer than usual.
``Being from Texas this
isn't real windy here,'' said Brooks, who birdied the last three holes.
Funk's mishap occurred the
week before the U.S. Open.
The 5-foot-8 father of two
was puttering around on a two-wheeler built for his 6-year-old son when the front
wheel hit a hole sending him head first over the handle bars.
``It was like slow motion,''
he said.
The impact pushed a fatty
tumor that he has had in his shoulder for some time against a nerve and he hasn't
been the same since.
``It's been frustrating,''
he said.
In the first seven tournaments
he played after the accident, Funk missed the cut twice, withdrew once and never
finished better than 21st. He rebounded with some good showings late in the summer,
but then regressed again, missing the cut in two of his last five starts.
He said his shoulder is
feeling stronger, but his hand still takes about 20 shots to loosen up.
Funk entered the final tour
stop of the season 48th on the money list, still with a chance to move into the
top 40 and qualify for the 2002 Masters.
``That's the reason I've
been grinding it out here at the end,'' said Funk, whose last of five PGA Tour
victories came here in 1998.
While the top 29 money winners
are competing in Houston at the Tour Championship this weekend, many of the field
here are scrambling to ensure their spots on tour next season. The top 125 earn
full playing status and avoid qualifying school.
Brandt Jobe, No. 126 on
the money list, was in a big group of five players two shots back at 67.
Jobe arrived in Mississippi
in better shape than he did last year when he was 129th and needed a final-round
surge to earn his card.
``It was a positive and
so I reflect on it positively. I've been there before,'' Jobe said. ``It went
my way that time. You just can't keep doing it too many times. It's not always
going to go your way.''
Bradley Hughes, who Jobe
is chasing at No. 125, shot a 72. No. 127 Brad Elder was at 71.
Jack Nicklaus was on hand
to watch his son Gary compete. A crowd gathered to get a glimpse of the 'Golden
Bear,' who saw Gary shoot a 71.
As for Funk, he was scheduled
to have surgery next Tuesday on his shoulder, but decided to cancel it because
doctors could not guarantee that an operation would help alleviate the discomfort.
Instead, he'll see if rest
and rehab do the trick.
And despite the fall, he's
still taking his son's little bike out for an occasional spin.
``My wife wants to kill
me,'' he said.
Email
this page to a friend | Return
to top of page
Genuity
International, sponsors Golf Today
|
