Children's Miracle Network Classic round one: Beckman puts his back in it

I never like to see a player I’m backing leading the first round of a tournament. How many times do they go on to win? Something in the order of one in 10 if I recall the last time I did the maths? So I’m very grateful to J P Hayes for going a shot clear of Cameron Beckman Thursday afternoon to take the lead.

Hayes, I learn from the PGA Tour website, has done this five times already without converting any into victory. Can’t see him doing it this week either, with him switching to the Palm course Friday. That played slightly the more difficult of the two courses Thursday (70.9 stroke average to 70 for Magnolia), especially in the morning when I am assuming the wind made it trickier. It’s going to be fairly windy Friday too.

Beckman also plays the Palm Friday and when you hear him talk about his back troubles (not really painful but heavy enough that it’s difficult to get up from a chair!) you start to think of reverse engineering any bets on him. Still, he’s seems highly relaxed, describing Thursday’s outing as feeling like a practice round. Ah, the joys of not having to worry about your Tour status!

Scott Verplank certainly has no worries about his status and he sounds even more relaxed than Beckman, to the point where doesn’t seem too fussed whether he wins or not. Don’t be fooled: he wants to win. We’ll have to see though how he copes with a soggy Magnolia, the longer of the two courses. The first round stats suggest accuracy is more important than distance off the tee this time round, but Verplank is not exactly starring in that department. He missed four of them Friday.

Virtually all the big boys look like they want to play this week after all. One of the biggest surprises was Sean O’Hair hitting all but one fairway. A pity his putter is still letting him down. He should ask Hayes what the secret is. On his most recent performances our leader ranks 107th for putting. In round one he was top dog.