Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!







Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

Quite frankly, I think it is pretty amazing that Tony Romo is this good at two sports. We already know how good he is at football; after all, he's a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback...

Cowboys' Tony Romo Holds Own at Torrey Pines, Still Proves Talent of Pros

by Ben Weixlmann (Senior Writer)

25

11729 reads

Opinion

June 07, 2008


Quite frankly, I think it is pretty amazing that Tony Romo is this good at two sports. We already know how good he is at football; after all, he's a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback.

Golf giant Tiger Woods said last year at Oakmont that he believed no 10-handicapper could break 100 at the difficult Torrey Pines. Woods' declaration proved true, as even 6-handicap Matt Lauer struggled to a 100. But Romo, who has a 2.2 handicap, dropped an 84 on the card.

Romo played the first nine holes just five over, which may very well be better than some do at the U.S. Open next week.

His golf ability must be fine-tuned during the offseason, because shooting an 84 at Torrey Pines is just unbelievable. It is pretty obvious that he has the power to subdue the length of Torrey Pines, but to couple that with pinpoint accuracy is something you credit to only the PGA pros.

Woods may have been correct that no 10-handicapper would break 100, but it's doubtful that he would have predicted Romo's impressive score.

I am well aware that the superstars of the NFL have a lot of days off during the offseason, but to be able to shoot an 84 at one of the most difficult courses in PGA Tour history? Now that’s astonishing.

I’m going to stop immortalizing Romo for a little, because I think Woods' message might be the most important part of this remarkable round.

It goes to show the public just how hard these major courses are. Just because fans expect Woods to birdie each and every hole, it doesn't mean it's going to happen. I mean, the guy will most likely go down as the greatest player in the history of golf, but it's simply unrealistic to expect him to throw a 64 on the scorecard at such a hard place.

Even Romo and his playing partners, Lauer and Justin Timberlake, echoed that sentiment.

"It's just inhuman how well they strike it," Timberlake said in an interview with the Associated Press

Timberlake also noted that the greens were tough to read and the rough might have been nearly impossible to hit out of. After all, there is a reason why they call it Torrey Pines.

I often remark to friends that I don't think any one of us could break 150 on a major-level course. One of my friends, who regularly shoots in the high-70s/low-80s, said he thinks he would be close to breaking 100 on a course such as Torrey Pines.

That theory may have been given its correct answer today, as Lauer, who shoots an average of 78, had to scribble triple-digits on his card.

Romo's round may have been impressive in its own right, but to think that Woods and his PGA company shoot under par on courses like this four times a year is simply unthinkable. Hopefully after hearing of this story, the golfing nation will have a more lenient way with Woods if he puts up a mere 2-under-par round sometime this week.

PGA players deserve credit where it is due. This course can be summed up in one phrase: "Amateurs not welcome."

Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

25 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. John Fennelly about 1 year ago

    This new ability will come in handy when Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora are ripping him to shreds

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  2. Amy Klein about 1 year ago

    Wow could you possible be any more vulgar taboyd? At least this writer has one thing over you a better vocabulary. I guess if that is the only way you can get your point across that is what you have to do. I think the story is pretty lame myself, but I am not getting all worked up about it.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  3. James Pittman about 1 year ago

    News Flash Taboyd: Inserting as many curse words and vulgar terms as possible into your post does not make the opinions in your post more convincing. It just makes you look childish and incompetent. Not that you are, but....

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  4. R. B. about 1 year ago

    Taboyd:

    Did you even read the article? The writer was trying to emphasize how high the expectations are on golfers like Tiger, when in reality his ability is incredible. He gave Romo kudos for an impressive score, but also said that Tiger's comments about Torrey Pines were basically affirmed. It is remarkable that Tony Romo could do so well on such a tough course. It's Tiger's career to play golf and shoot 10 under par. Do you think he could throw for 200 yards in a NFL game? THAT's the point. Not that 84 is incredible. Nothing against Tiger Woods. It's really impressive (and unfair) that Tony Romo is so multi-talented. Give the guy credit. He's an all-around athlete. It IS impressive.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  5. Jim Henson about 1 year ago

    When a 6-handicap shoots 98 or 100, how is that considered beating the course? Shooting 84 with a 2-handicap just plain SUCKS! Tiger's statement was right on the money since I don't recall seeing that there was a 10-handicapper in the group that broke a 100

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  6. Glenn Keilman about 1 year ago

    Completely disagree.... 84 for a 2.2 handicap on this setup is exactly what is expected. If you don't believe me, take a look at the USGA specs sheet for this couse (U.S.Open Fact Sheet from the 2008 US Open web site). For this Open, the course is playing 7,643 yards (the longest in USGA history). The USGA estimates the course rating at 79.7 (the average score a zero handicap should shoot on this layout) and a slope of 153 (which makes Tony a 3 handicap on this course).... Round the rating score up to 80... add 3... Tony should average 83 on this setup. It's pretty incredible that he shot 84 with all the media attention this round of golf has been getting.

    Jim - learn your facts... and taboyd: What the heck is a "bonner" anyway?

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  7. John Baistoh about 1 year ago

    Romo is a beasttttttttttttttttttt

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  8. R. B. about 1 year ago

    Read the second paragraph before criticizing the article.

    "Woods' declaration proved true, as even 6-handicap Matt Lauer struggled to a 100"

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  9. Wendy about 1 year ago

    Good God, Taboyd. You can say a lot of things. Can you say "OVERCOMPENSATING"? It's a word you should know well, it seems.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  10. Riken about 1 year ago

    Romo's feat is impressive. But then, having the Cowboys stink in the Playoffs cold very well help Romo with more Golf Link time! ha ! Looser..... Go Chargers!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  11. Joe Miles about 1 year ago

    Some of you guys dont get it. All the pro's and most analyst didnt give any of these guys a chance in hell to shoot better than 100. For Romo to shoot an 84 is impressive, he is a freaking football player that shoots a 12 over at one of the toughest golf courses on tour. You guys are tools, give em props.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  12. Ben Weixlmann about 1 year ago

    Thank you all for your comments, I flagged Taboyd, because what he said is simply ridiculous! Romo's feat IS impressive!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Greg Adams about 1 year ago

      I flagged it, too, Benjamin. Totally unnecessary. I also agree that Romo's score actually speaks to the significant skill level of the PGA'ers.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • L.J. Burgess about 1 year ago

      Taboyd is a client of mine and I apologize for his actions and words. We were in therapy last week and when the subject of his ex ... Jessica ... came up I suggested "Expunge" exercises. I had no idea that he would bring it here.

      We are now medicating as we type.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Greg Adams about 1 year ago

      Taboyd's Nick Lachey!!!

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  13. Riken about 1 year ago

    Now that Romo is playing golf with a Professional singer like Mr. Timberlake maybe they can both review the Romo performance at the Chicago Cubs game. you know, the one where Romo butchered the "take me out to he ballgame" song. Google it. It's hilarious !

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  14. Joe Willett about 1 year ago

    Good stuff, the man can't sing, but apparently, he can swing. (the sing reference is from the Cubs 7th inning stretch as Riken mentioned above)

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  15. Ben Weixlmann about 1 year ago

    Thanks, Joe. I don't think you want to see this guy's comment, either. It was absolutely ridiculous.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  1. JJ Stankevitz about 1 year ago

    Was Jessica's dad his caddie for this round?

    Seriously, though, I think I might crack 175 on Torrey Pines. It really speaks to just how good these pros are.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Ben Weixlmann about 1 year ago

      Ha, maybe. Yeah, I think I'd be around 175 as well, I shoot around 95 on a normal course.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • JJ Stankevitz about 1 year ago

      Same here. I'm not great, but most courses I play are extremely open and don't have long rough. I can only imagine how bad I'd be on Torrey Pines or TPC Sawgrass...

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  2. Don Leo about 1 year ago

    what did Timberlake and the amatuer shoot, anyone know. Ben?

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

    • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »

    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.