Notah Begay doesn’t need Tiger Woods’ help to impact the AT&T National. The college teammate of the tournament host fired a 3-under 67 Thursday to join the first-round leaders at Congressional Country Club.
Sponsor’s exemption, my five iron.
Yes, Begay accepted a sponsor’s invitation to enter. No, he didn’t ask his buddy for help. Yes, it helps Begay is old friends with the planet’s greatest player. No, it’s not the only reason he was invited.
“Obviously, there’s probably a little bit of special consideration given,” Begay said, “but you know, I feel like I’ve been granted the invitation based on the merit of my accomplishments.
“Sometimes you just need some opportunities to sort of help prove that you can play again.”
Begay has game. That is, when chronic back problems let him swing like those a decade younger whom he teed off with in the morning’s third group. Steve Marino (5-under) and Begay set the early pace before much of the crowd reached the Potomac course.
It’s another comeback after a series of setbacks for Begay. After four wins in his first two years on the PGA Tour, Begay suffered a disc fragment in his lower back while weight training in 2000. His earnings dropped from $1.8 million that year to $19,245 in 2007.
Begay formed a new support team of trainers and doctors, even a swing coach. Yoga and meditation are as important as the putting green and driving range. He traded distance for a worry-free swing. A better diet keeps him from becoming “too fat” which would strain his back. Essentially, Begay is trying to feel like 25 instead of 35.
After missing two cuts. Begay finished 62nd in his last outing. He surprised even himself yesterday by birdieing the first two holes and finishing with his second best round of the year. Begay missed a couple short putts, but also benefitted from a free drop on the 18th when hitting into the temporary stands.
Begay isn’t fooling himself by confusing Thursday with Sunday or one round remedying an injury-riddled career that remains one bad swing from retirement. The Native American formed a consulting company to help a southern California tribe with education and health initiatives; his Stanford economics degree finally gaining use.
Yet, Begay knows a bad day on the golf course is still better than a good day in the office.
“Playing injured out here is, I think, better than not playing at all, because so many people dream about being on this Tour and playing at this level and being at places like Congressional,” he said. “I think for me to turn my back on that … would be a shame just out of respect for the game and my talent.”
Begay needs more days like yesterday to keep going, though.
“If something doesn’t improve here in the next couple years,” he said, “I’m probably going to call it quits.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
