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Steven Bowditch broke onto the Nationwide Tour in spectacular fashion, winning the first tournament of 2005 and losing a playoff in the second.
It’s been a struggle ever since for the Australian, who’s finished no better than 99th on the tour the past three seasons.
But a turnaround may be in the works. His 63 in Thursday’s first round of the Cox Classic tied for the lead and his best score of the year by four strokes. It also matched his career low and came on the heels of his season-best finish this year, a tie for 17th last week at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational in Columbus, Ohio.
“I played the best there I had the last four or five years, yet I was missing momentum putts that keep a round going,’’ said Bowditch, 27, whose one year (2006) on the PGA Tour was forgettable.
“Today, I holed a 10-footer on the first hole for par. After last week, putting bad, it was a great start to the round.’’
Full ignition to the round didn’t come until the eighth hole, where he made the first of his eight birdies in the final 11 holes at Champions Run.
“I’ve been working hard with my coach, Scott Hamilton, who’s really helped me with my ball-striking,’’ Bowditch said. “I’ve been working with him for about a year now, and it’s all starting to piece back together.’’
He said his mental game is much better than in 2005. Patience on the course hasn’t been his strong suit, but it’s improving with experience.
“When it comes to the physical side, length-wise and scoring-wise I don’t think I’m quite where I used to be when I came out in 2005,’’ he said. “There have been some mechanical issues that snuck in there, and I’m just starting to get it back.’’
Contact the writer:
444-1041, stu.pospisil@owh.com
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