Tribune News ServicesTony Romo has withdrawn from a U.S. Open sectional qualifier after it was delayed for the second time due to bad weather.
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback, one of 36 players vying for two spots in a 36-hole sectional qualifier at The Club at Carlton Woods, just north of Houston, was four shots behind leader Casey Clendenon midway through the event.
He started his second round with a quadruple bogey and had played three holes when air horns signaled the day's second weather delay. Players were going to resume their unfinished second rounds on Tuesday, but Romo withdrew because the Cowboys return to practice then, and he says his first obligation is to his team
Photo: Tony Romo carries a driver during a Cowboys' golf outing in May (AP)
Romo bounced back from an early triple bogey to shoot a 1-under 71 in
his first round.
Romo played with Thomas Hagler and Dustin Wiginton on Monday. The field also includes former PGA champion Steve Elkington and PGA Tour pro Bob Estes.
Romo survived a four-man playoff May 20 to advance to the sectional qualifier. Romo passed up a qualifier for the Byron Nelson Championship that week because it conflicted with a Cowboys practice.
The star quarterback drew a crowd of about 20 fans as he hit balls on the practice range a half-hour before his tee time. A few of them wore Cowboys hats and shirts and one 11-year-old boy wore a blue Romo jersey.
Romo got polite applause when he was introduced by the starter on the first tee, waved to the fans and said, "Thanks, I appreciate it." He hooked his first drive toward a cluster of trees lining the No. 1 fairway, but scrambled for a par.
The 30-year-old Romo took a triple bogey on the par-5 fourth after hooking his drive on the water-lined hole. He botched two pitch shots from deep rough along the edge of the pond, hit his approach into a greenside bunker and two-putted from about 20 feet for an 8.
Romo dropped his approach to the par-4 fifth hole about 10 feet away and sank the putt for his first birdie. A young fan said, "Nice birdie," as Romo walked off the green and the quarterback answered, "I appreciate you."
Air horns sounded off seconds later.
"See you guys in a little bit, hopefully," Romo said to the fans as the cart drove away.
Wearing a light blue shirt, khaki shorts and a white baseball cap, Romo arrived at the practice range about 8 a.m. and hardly got a second glance from the players already hitting balls.
Romo munched on an energy bar and hit wedges with one hand as fans gradually gathered and clicked photos with their cell phones.
Tony Rodriguez, 61, a season ticket holder who lives in the Houston suburbs, planned to walk with Romo all day.
"I wanted to come and see him. I'd never seen him play golf," Rodriguez said. "I'm just a fan of the Cowboys; I just came to cheer for him. I follow the Cowboys everywhere."
Josh Friedman, 11, wore a blue Romo jersey as he watched the quarterback with his father, Dan.
"It's kind of exciting; it's interesting," Dan Friedman said. "He's a pretty good athlete. Football is such a commitment, so you wouldn't think he'd be able to practice golf, at least not to the extent of other pro golfers."
The United States Golf Association says Romo would become the fourth athlete from a professional team sport to qualify for the U.S. Open. He would join a group that includes former San Francisco 49ers quarterback John Brodie (1959, '81), former New York Yankees outfielder Sam Byrd (1938-41, 46-47, 1949-51) and former NHL player Bill Ezinicki (1947, '52, '56, '60-61, 63-64, 67-68).
NFL kickers Ryan Longwell and Josh Scobee and former major-league pitcher John Smoltz failed to advance out of local qualifying this year, according to the USGA. Former NHL goalkeeper Grant Fuhr, retired tennis players Ivan Lendl and Michael Chang and former Miami tight end Brian Kinchen have also fallen short in qualifying in recent years.
Romo played with Thomas Hagler and Dustin Wiginton on Monday. The field also includes former PGA champion Steve Elkington and PGA Tour pro Bob Estes.
Romo survived a four-man playoff May 20 to advance to the sectional qualifier. Romo passed up a qualifier for the Byron Nelson Championship that week because it conflicted with a Cowboys practice.
The star quarterback drew a crowd of about 20 fans as he hit balls on the practice range a half-hour before his tee time. A few of them wore Cowboys hats and shirts and one 11-year-old boy wore a blue Romo jersey.
Romo got polite applause when he was introduced by the starter on the first tee, waved to the fans and said, "Thanks, I appreciate it." He hooked his first drive toward a cluster of trees lining the No. 1 fairway, but scrambled for a par.
The 30-year-old Romo took a triple bogey on the par-5 fourth after hooking his drive on the water-lined hole. He botched two pitch shots from deep rough along the edge of the pond, hit his approach into a greenside bunker and two-putted from about 20 feet for an 8.
Romo dropped his approach to the par-4 fifth hole about 10 feet away and sank the putt for his first birdie. A young fan said, "Nice birdie," as Romo walked off the green and the quarterback answered, "I appreciate you."
Air horns sounded off seconds later.
"See you guys in a little bit, hopefully," Romo said to the fans as the cart drove away.
Wearing a light blue shirt, khaki shorts and a white baseball cap, Romo arrived at the practice range about 8 a.m. and hardly got a second glance from the players already hitting balls.
Romo munched on an energy bar and hit wedges with one hand as fans gradually gathered and clicked photos with their cell phones.
Tony Rodriguez, 61, a season ticket holder who lives in the Houston suburbs, planned to walk with Romo all day.
"I wanted to come and see him. I'd never seen him play golf," Rodriguez said. "I'm just a fan of the Cowboys; I just came to cheer for him. I follow the Cowboys everywhere."
Josh Friedman, 11, wore a blue Romo jersey as he watched the quarterback with his father, Dan.
"It's kind of exciting; it's interesting," Dan Friedman said. "He's a pretty good athlete. Football is such a commitment, so you wouldn't think he'd be able to practice golf, at least not to the extent of other pro golfers."
The United States Golf Association says Romo would become the fourth athlete from a professional team sport to qualify for the U.S. Open. He would join a group that includes former San Francisco 49ers quarterback John Brodie (1959, '81), former New York Yankees outfielder Sam Byrd (1938-41, 46-47, 1949-51) and former NHL player Bill Ezinicki (1947, '52, '56, '60-61, 63-64, 67-68).
NFL kickers Ryan Longwell and Josh Scobee and former major-league pitcher John Smoltz failed to advance out of local qualifying this year, according to the USGA. Former NHL goalkeeper Grant Fuhr, retired tennis players Ivan Lendl and Michael Chang and former Miami tight end Brian Kinchen have also fallen short in qualifying in recent years.
Ummm, he finished the day with a 71. And this is the SECOND phase of Open qualifying. The guy can seriously play, you don't get to the sectional round if you are a hacker who can't break 80. Maybe he would have a tough time breaking 80 on a course in Open trim, but there are a lot of guys out there who play the game for a living that won't do it, either.
I understand why someone as competitive as an NFL quarterback would want to try and qualify for the open. What I don't understand is that you don't get the message after scoring a triple bogey on a par five in a qualifying round that you will not break 80 at pebble beach (on your best day) when the course is set up to supremely challenge the best in the sport.
Stick to the celebrity pro-ams...you'll have more fun.