Boo Weekley Back from Injuries at RBC Heritage

Hilton Head, SC—After a couple of seasons in the hinterlands of golf, Boo Weekley has returned to the leader boards at the site of his two PGA Tour victories:  Harbour Town Golf Links.   As it happens, he also grew up in the same town as recent Masters champ, Bubba Watson.

“I’m not quite to where I feel as good as comfortable, as I was when I was here the first two times,” Weekley said.  He won the tournament in 2007 and again in 2008.

Unlike some who think the Harbour Town Golf Links is a tight, tree-lined unfriendly course for professionals, Weekley likes the look of it.

“It’s just one of those golf courses when you stand on the tee box, you can envision every shot,” he explained.  He said it is because the trees define the direction. “Every holes suits me in different ways, but it’s kind of like I can sit up there, no matter if I block it right or pull it left, I still feel like I’ve got a shot somewhere in my bag that I can get it up and down to make par.”

Weekley had been suffering with multiple injuries, a torn labrum in 2009, and a cyst in his shoulder and then a pulled rib muscle. The cyst was pressing on his shoulder causing pain. The doctors lanced it, removed it and as Bubba said, "pulled that thing out and stitched me back up.  And I felt like somebody put a new shoulder on me.”     

“I’ve still got a to do a lot more work,”  he said.  “I’ve gotten lazy where I don’t actually go out and pound golf balls like I used to.  I might now hit two or three hundred whereas before I hit four or five hundred (balls).”

He said he has also devoted more time to putting practice, principally because he was not able to hit balls for a while.

He has made changes off the course, a new instructor, Scott Hamilton, and a new caddie, John Connelly.  Connelly is a good reader of greens, according to Weekley, and that is an area where Weekley is not as strong.

However, one reason he enjoys the RBC Heritage is the atmosphere and the people.

“It feels like home,” he said. “The people are just as nice and genuine as they can be.  Even when you hit a bad shot, when you walk by the ropes ( they say), it’s okay, get this up and down.”   He said that meant a lot to players.

Weekley also had a special nod for Masters champ Bubba Watson.  The two of them and Heath Slocum all went to the same high school.  

“Granted, Bubba is a little younger than I am, and I didn’t get to hang out with him by no means, but it was cool to be able to say, hey I went to the same high school.  We know each other.”  Weekley added.  Watson is 34, Weekley is 39.

Weekley’s rededication means he is turning a new page. Whether inspired by Watson or just because his injuries have healed, it does not matter to him.

“What happened in ’09 or ’08, that’s ’08.  This is 2012,” he said.  “Let’s start a new career.  Every week is like a new career for us because every week, any one of us can win out here.  You don’t ever know what can happen.”

Just ask Bubba Watson. 

 

Kathy Bissell is a Golf Writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand or from official interview materials from the USGA, PGA Tour or PGA of America.