Bertsch's Long Road Back To PGA Tour Paying Off In Bob Hope Classic

Sports News - January 21st, 2010 - Written By John

The West Coast Swing on the PGA Tour is officially underway. This week, players traveled to La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, California for the unique, five day, four course Bob Hope Classic.

On day one, veteran Shane Bertsch blazed through the vulnerable golf course in the opening round. Firing a 10-under 62 was good enough for Bertsch to secure two-shot lead heading into the second round on Thursday. Bertsch had not played La Quinta in nearly 10 years, but judging by his performance on Wednesday, it was seemingly his own backyard.

Despite the impressive performance on the first day, it has been a tough journey for Bertsch to work his way back on to the PGA Tour for the 2010 season. After being absent from the PGA tour from 1997-2006, Bertsch returned in 2007 only to be stricken by a case of Vertigo which kept him from playing most of the year. As a result, Bertsch received a medical exemption for the 2008 season, however he was unable to finish any higher than 126th on the money list. In order too retain the PGA Tour card, a player must finish 125th or better on the money list or they face the dreaded PGA Q-school.

For Bertsch, Q-school was nothing but a snack. His performance there earned him his PGA Tour card for the 2010 season, a performance which has seemingly to carried over to his play on the tour.

En route to shooting 62, Bertsch played a bogey free round while accumulating 10 birdies during the Pro-Am round of the tournament. Making putt after putt, all the while, lining up, and reading greens for his amateur playing partner, was the key to Bertsch's success.

"I was just comfortable," Bertsch remarked in a post-round interview. "I always like these formats, because I help the guys out, and it keeps me maybe not so focused on myself until it's time to hit, and then I just go and hit."

Bertsch's lack of focus worked beautifully, as he is two-shots clear of the field, despite the rainy and windy conditions that plagued the entire field later in the afternoon. Alex Prugh and Jeff Quinney are tied at eight-under, and a group of four are three shots back at seven-under.

"It was Palm Springs golf -- not a lot of wind, starting to warm up," said Heath Slocum, who is in a large group knotted at six-under. "And then all of a sudden when I made the turn, it definitely kicked right back up. The wind started blowing, and it cooled off. I put the sweater back on, and obviously golf is a little more difficult."

While conditions might have been more difficult for Slocum who still shot 66, Bertsch was seemingly unaffected as evidenced by his score of 10 under par. Overall, most played well despite the adverse conditions.

Historically, La Quinta Country Club has surrendered low scoring to the PGA Tour during the annual event, despite unanticipated shifts in the weather. The course is short by PGA Tour standards, measuring at just over 7,000 yards. The open fairways and relatively flat greens provide the players ideal scoring conditions provided that the weather cooperates. Wind causes indecision and puts a premium proper execution. Rain softens the greens which allows the golf ball hit and stop.

Though Bertsch is leading the field, oddsmakers aren't so sure he'll win. Typically, the leader becomes the favorite, however this is not exactly the case. At 14/1, Bodog Sportsbook's best odds to win the Bob Hope Classic, 3 players are listed, one of which is Bertsch, according to PGA Betting Odds. He along with Jeff Quinney and Mike Weir are tied as being favored to win.