PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Stanford graduate Patrick Rodgers has had a great start to his first full PGA Tour season, kind of like fellow alumni Andrew Luck did in his rookie year with the Indianapolis Colts.
Rodgers has had two top-10 finishes this year as well as five top-25 results while playing in nine events so far, ranking 48th in the Fed-Ex Cup race.
If he keeps up with his pace he may just become a household name like Luck.
“For sure, Andrew Luck, I’ve always looked up to him, we both went to Stanford, which is pretty cool, and I got to know him a little bit after college,” said Rodgers, standing near his blue and white Colts golf bag. “I just really respect the way he approaches his craft, the way he works, the attitude he has when he wins.”
In the final round for the OHL Classic at Mayakoba Rodgers to a step back in the weather delayed round to finish in a seven-way tie for 10th. While competing in his first career start at the Frys.com open Rodgers would shoot a two under par to finish in a four-way tie for sixth place.
Rodgers driving ability was evident during the Tuesday practice round – at one point, the young golfer hit a ball the length of the driving range into the lake at the other end – around 400 yards.
“Well the first one I hit (Monday) I flew in the middle of the lake, and I’m like ‘Man, I wonder if I can hit it over it?’, so I spent a lot of the day yesterday trying to hit a couple drives over the lake and I was close but I never got it.”
“And then today, I hit one pretty far over the lake and that was fun so I always like to keep it loose and fun while I’m practicing,” he said, near the end of the day.
Rodgers is looking forward to this weekend, hoping to continue his strong play and move up in the Fed-Ex Cup standings.
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