Golf's Major Championships

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Cowboys’ Romo Advances in U.S. Open Qualifying
By KAREN CROUSE
CARROLLTON, Texas – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had to engineer a two-minute drill on the golf course Thursday to stay alive in his quest to qualify for next month’s United States Open at Pebble Beach.

After bad weather delayed the start of his round 90 minutes, Romo carded a two-under-par 69 at The Honors Golf Club, making birdies on three of the final four holes to inject himself into a four-way playoff for the final three spots. He was one of 113 golfers vying for 7 berths into next month’s final round of qualifying.

With nightfall chasing the golfers in the playoff, Romo sprinted from the ninth green to the 10th tee – the third extra hole — and stuck his tee in the ground. The fairway loomed like a dark alley. A few feet in front of Romo a sprinkler was watering the tee box.

Romo’s caddie stepped on the sprinkler head to stop the spray so Romo could launch his drive into the night. It was too dark to see where the ball landed, so the half-dozen people following the group ran ahead so they could hear where Romo’s golf ball landed.

He hit a six-iron approach shot to within 6 feet of the pin and two-putted for a par to advance to a 36-hole qualifying round at The Woodlands in Houston on June 7.

“That was amazing,” Romo said. “I hit more good shots in that period than I did all the other ones. I hit three really good shots to finish – the two drivers and then the dark six-iron to 6 feet was nice.”

He added, “It’s nice to know you can do things and get your emotions and blood pressure under control and do good things.”

While Romo’s day ended with a wild ride in a dark tunnel, it started with a steady, controlled round that included 27 putts, including 12 on his second nine. On the 17th hole, he struck a 38-foot birdie putt that died in the hole, then followed that by nearly driving the par-4 18th and making another birdie.

http://onpar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/cowboys-romo-advances-in-u-s-open-qualifying/