By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — On his first year on the PGA Tour, Cody Freeman said it wasn’t one or two particular things that kept him from having more success last year.
“It’s more of a trust in my own game,” he said. “I didn’t trust myself enough. You start getting out there under the microscope and the big city lights, you feel pretty small at times. You need to stick with what you do and the way you do it. I didn’t do that well enough.”
Freeman, who lived in northeast Oklahoma before moving to Edmond last year, shot a 2-under-par 70 in Thursday’s opening round of the Buffalo Run Casino Classic at Peoria Ridge Golf Course.
Freeman’s round started with a double-bogey on the par-5 10th hole after hitting a ball out of bounds. He made the turn at 2-over but came back with a 32 on the front nine with birdies on Nos. 1, 5, 8 and 9.
“It was a rough start, but I played pretty solid golf in the middle and then birdied my last two holes,” he said. “Finishing off with about a 40-footer on the last hole, that will make lunch taste a little better.”
He’s playing this week’s NGA Hooters Tour event on a sponsor’s exemption.
“Since I lived in Grove and around this area for a few years, I like to call this my home course when I’m here,” Freeman said. “Chief Froman was nice enough to offer me a sponsor’s invite and let me play here.”
Freeman has been playing much of the last two months on the Adams Tour around Texas and Louisiana.
“I’ve been chasing a few (Monday) qualifiers,” he said. “Lately I’ve been playing well, just haven’t played quite well enough. I’m kind of one swing away right now.
“I’ve been finishing 10th to 20th about every week (on the Adams Tour). I still haven’t put four rounds together and got up there for a top-5 yet. I’m putting a lot of good rounds together, just not four in a row.”
Freeman earned his 2008 PGA Tour card with a strong performance in the tour’s demanding Q school. He made the cut in six of 26 tournaments, with a high finish of 45th in the Viking Classic in Madison, Miss. He averaged 72.52 per round and earned $68,673, not enough to retain his card.
“That (PGA Tour) is like heaven for a golfer,” he said. “That’s the place that we all want to be.
“If I look at it just lifestyle, it was great. I got to take my family, my wife and my two boys, all around the country to some beautiful places. We have some wonderful memories. I didn’t play well enough, but I learned a lot and I know more what it’s going to take for me to be successful at that level.”
Asked to select a favorite course, “Being able to be at Pebble Beach, that was a lot of fun,” Freeman said. “That’s one golf course that you can’t find anywhere. That is a pretty good memory. Obviously there are a lot of great golf courses out there, but more it’s the good times and good memories with my wife and two boys.
“The way I look at it, if I get another opportunity, I’ll be that much better prepared and should have more success than I did last year.”
The biggest thing he learned last year?
“Really the guys aren’t that much better,” he said. “From this level to that level, they are not that much better. You have to take advantage of the weeks when you’re playing well. Everyone is going to have bad weeks. Everyone is going to miss cuts, have bad rounds. As long as you take advantage of the weeks you’re playing well, that’s all that matters.”
Freeman’s plans for this year include another journey through Q school in an attempt to return to the big tour.
“It’s just a matter of playing well at the right time,” he said. “When Q school comes around, you need to be ready to go mentally more than anything. If you’re mentally prepared, then your game should follow suit.”
Sports
Related Photos
Discussion
Freeman reviews year on PGA Tour
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
