Romo makes USGA debut alongside 6'9 partner

Tony Romo makes his USGA championship debut on Saturday in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, and like a lot of his NFL days, the previous Dallas Cowboys quarterback’s blind aspect shall be nicely protected.

At 6 ft, 9 inches tall, Tommy Morrison, Romo’s partner for this week’s U.S. Newbie 4-Ball Championship, could possibly be mistaken for a left deal with. However the 18-year-old Texan is likely one of the high freshmen within the nation having not too long ago helped the Longhorns via final week’s NCAA regional spherical because the squad’s highest finisher.

Collectively, Romo and Morrison are one in every of 128 groups that can start the week at Kiawah Island Membership with hopes of successful Wednesday’s ultimate match.

“It is an thrilling week to have the ability to go and see how good we might be,” Romo informed reporters Friday. “I do know Tommy is enjoying nicely. He is actually dialed in. His recreation is sharp proper now. That is the perfect I’ve seen him in his younger profession and he is clearly younger, so he ought to have a development. He actually has progressed, and I feel you may see that this week. I am not younger, however I am younger so far as beginning this about 5, six years in the past, and I feel I am lastly turning the nook the place I even have gotten to be a reasonably tight recreation and I haven’t got evident weaknesses.

“I really feel like a lot of the stuff is giving me a possibility to attain on a reasonably good stage day in and time out and compete towards these guys.”

Romo and Morrison met about three years in the past via mutual pals and play a good variety of rounds collectively again house in Dallas. When Morrison wanted a partner for this championship, he, at No. 253 within the World Newbie Golf Rating, may’ve teamed up with one other top-400 participant and been exempt via qualifying. However as an alternative, Morrison texted Romo about teaming up.

“I used to be like, nicely, I acquired myself a partner,” Romo recalled, “so right here we go.”

Then final October, the pair fired a 9-under 63 at Winter Creek Golf Membership in Blanchard, Oklahoma, with Romo carding eight birdies on his personal ball, to advance to this championship.

Romo, who now works as an NFL analyst for CBS, had beforehand tried to qualify a number of instances for each the U.S. Open and U.S. Newbie however had been unsuccessful every time.

“I feel folks underestimate him on the golf course,” Morrison mentioned of Romo. “I feel he’s acquired a variety of expertise, and when he putts it nicely, he can shoot a very low quantity, and that’s precisely what he did in our qualifier to get right here. … I didn’t have my finest stuff within the qualifier, and he did.”

These days, although, it’s been Morrison on the high of his recreation. The towering frosh, who wears a measurement 14 shoe, enrolled at Texas in January and cracked the lineup 4 instances within the common season, although he completed within the high 35 simply as soon as and didn’t make the journey to the Large 12 Championship. Nevertheless, Texas head coach John Fields opened up a couple of spots within the workforce’s NCAA regional lineup to qualifying, and Morrison closed the six-round competitors with a 63 at Escondido in Austin. He then tied for ninth this previous Wednesday at Eagle Eye Golf Membership in Tub, Michigan, as Texas earned the fifth and ultimate ticket to Grayhawk.

“It’s a good time to have some stuff click on, particularly with the following two weeks being tremendous necessary,” mentioned Morrison, who tees off within the first spherical of the NCAA Championship on Friday afternoon in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Morrison isn’t frightened about burnout, even with probably 9 aggressive rounds and eight matches in 17 days ought to he attain finals at each the 4-Ball and NCAAs.

“Coach [John] Fields was very good to let this occur,” Morrison mentioned. “However I’ve performed a number of weeks back-to-back in a row. I feel any time you come to a USGA venue, you get a little bit hearth in you to maintain enjoying. I feel the adrenaline I’ve will hold me going.”

Romo then chimed in: “And he is so younger.”

Added Morrison: “Loads of naps.”

Romo mentioned there is no such thing as a elaborate recreation plan this week regardless of the workforce construction. They know they’ll must make a bunch of birdies whereas on the identical time, Romo says, retaining issues easy and centered on the basics. Extra runs up the center, fewer Statue of Liberty play calls.

“Finally, you need to be going on the market to play your individual recreation and simply doing what provides you the perfect alternative to create the perfect rating on that gap, and so that you make the choices based mostly on that,” Romo mentioned. “Whenever you begin desirous about the opposite issues, I feel extra folks harm themselves. … Group stuff is completely different since you’re letting down anyone and so issues grow to be – should not be. All the pieces ought to be the identical. … Do not let your thoughts go locations.

“We’re not dumb both. If he hits a ball or I hit a ball within the water, the opposite man won’t hit a sure shot. When that comes up, we’ll then regulate. Earlier than then, you are simply enjoying.”

Romo’s stretching routines is perhaps extra intricate.

“I most likely should heat up my physique a little bit bit lower than he does,” Morrison quipped, inciting a couple of laughs from reporters.

To which Romo responded: “You guys will all get previous at some point. After a pair again surgical procedures, you don’t have any selection.”