United States
he Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School (the main tour's qualifying tournament, popularly referred to as "Q-School") to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level. Those who are on the top 25 of the money list at year's end are given PGA Tour memberships for the next season.
Fresh Express Classic 2010
Match scheduled:
Start: 17-04-2010 from 22:30 until 01:30
Day 3 :: Nationwide Tour 2010 - TPC Stonebrae :: Hayward, Calfornia, USA
Jerry Rice had trouble sleeping Thursday night. He struggled mightily in his Nationwide Tour debut earlier that day, and he was eager to take another crack at the hilly TPC Stonebrae course in Hayward.
"I woke up at 2 staring at the clock," Rice said Friday. "I couldn't wait for the sun to rise. I had to get out here and redeem myself."
He achieved his goal, in many ways, by posting 5-over-par 76 in the second round of the Fresh Express Classic. That didn't prevent him from missing the cut by a country mile, but it provided some satisfaction - he pocketed three birdies and 10 pars and improved on his opening-round 83 by seven strokes.
Rice soon will get another chance on the Nationwide Tour. His manager, Sasha Taylor, told The Chronicle that Rice has agreed to play in the Nationwide event in South Carolina (May 13-16) on another sponsor exemption.
He also expressed interest in returning as tournament host - while also playing - when the tour returns to Stonebrae next year.
So, no, Rice was not deterred by going 17-over in his inaugural whirl on a professional tour. He entered the event with realistic expectations, knowing tournament conditions would make scoring difficult.
"I'm just going to continue working at it - this is a game you have to work at every day," Rice said. "... I had to fight my way back, but I'm very happy about shooting 76."
Rice regretted changing his swing (and his putter) before Thursday's opening round; he wanted more distance off the tee, but the tinkering led to several wayward shots. He returned to his old ways Friday, with better results.
David Hearn, a 30-year-old Canadian who attended the University of Wyoming, took the lead by shooting 65 on Friday. He moved to 13-under, two shots ahead of Miguel Angel Carballo and Frank Lickliter after two rounds.
A grueling Masters finally caught up to K.J. Choi on Friday at the Verizon Heritage — and Jim Furyk, Charles Howell III and Greg Owen took advantage to top the second-round leaderboard in the PGA Tour event.
Furyk (68), Howell (67) and Owen (69) were tied at 7-under-par 135, a stroke ahead of a group that included two-time Verizon champion Boo Weekley (68) and Stuart Appleby (67).
Choi, who played alongside top-ranked Tiger Woods all four rounds at Augusta National, opened with a 64 Thursday at Harbour Town Golf Links. After a second-round 74, Choi was tied for 22nd place at 138.
"Yeah, the fatigue is setting in right now," said Choi, who tied for fourth with Woods on Sunday at the Masters. "But no excuses today. I had a tough time reading the greens."
Furyk didn't have Choi's problem entering this tournament. "I didn't play enough to get tired," he said of the Masters.
The world's sixth-ranked player missed the Masters' cut for the second time in 14 appearances. Furyk wasn't happy with the early exit. But instead of dwelling on it, he enjoyed what was left of Masters festivities.
He stayed late at a Friday-night party with friends and sponsors. He drove to Myrtle Beach with his wife, Tabitha, for a "Monday After the Masters" outing put on each year by Hootie and the Blowfish, including a concert by the group.
