PGA Tour pro and Jackson, Michigan native Brian Stuard will be one of the first PGA Tour golfers back in play with a 7:12 a.m. tee time Thursday at The Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas.
He plans to play the first six Tour events on the revamped schedule, including Detroit, where he finished T5 last year in the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Stuard won the Zurich Classic on the PGA Tour in 2016. Prior he was the state champ at Napoleon High in 2000 and was conference player of the year at Oakland University, in 2005.
Stuard shared some insights only with Michigan Golf Journal the day before the Tour’s restart on June 11:
QUESTION: Are you going to commute back and forth to your home to maintain your own ‘bubble’ (Fort Worth has been his hometown since soon after getting his Tour card)?
ANSWER: “Yes, that is the plan so far and it’s what I’ve been doing. It’s about 35 minutes from my house.”
Q: Since Colonial is close by did you go practice at the course more than normal to prepare?
A: “I played it once a couple weeks ago. I feel like I’ve played it enough that I know it; I didn’t think I needed to see again. I feel really comfortable on all the tees and it’s a course where you’ve got to hit it in the fairway, and I think that’s one of my strengths. Really looking forward to the week because it’s one of my favorite courses. I always feel comfortable coming back here. It’s tree-lined and you’ve got to shape it a little bit, and I enjoy playing these kinds of courses.”
Q: Does it resemble any Michigan courses?
A: “It definitely reminds me of the courses up north in Michigan. We don’t play too many old-school courses anymore (on Tour) and this is definitely one of those. Detroit Golf Club is too. But many Michigan courses remind me of that, so it takes me back a little I guess.’
Q: What format changes has the PGA Tour set up that stand out the most to you as a first event back from Covid-19 shutdown?
A: “As soon as you get here you have to be tested. Then every morning that we get here they check your temperature and ask you some questions. Other than that, it doesn’t seem too different other than they are pushing the social distance aspect, keep using your hand sanitizer. But probably starting with the first round (Thursday), that’s going to be the biggest change, trying to stay away from everyone on tees, and greens. It will take some getting used to.
“They are encouraging the caddies to carry (sanitary) wipes for wiping down the flag and the rakes in the bunkers. We’ve got to get used to some things.”
Q: You’re likely glad to not have any pool noodles in cups?
A: “On the practice green they’ve got the cups flipped up so the ball doesn’t drop all the way in. It’s going to be nice to see the actual hole with the ball going in.”
Q: What are pros and cons of not having to do a Wednesday pro-am?
A: “It’s nice that course is free (on Wednesday) to go play another nine of you feel like you need to, and it’s nice to take something off your plate, I guess. But the cons are it’s always fun on a Wednesday to feel the excitement. It’s a different atmosphere out there for sure. Today (Wednesday) felt like a Monday or Tuesday, just pretty quiet and everybody doing their own thing. It’s different.
“It’s going to be a strange vibe probably (with no fans on the course), if you make a long putt or make a great shot and you don’t hear anything.”
Q: Your thoughts on the Colonial field this week.
A: “It’s exciting, I think for Charles Schwab and exciting for the Colonial, and for the PGA Tour to get such a strong field. I think everybody is just ready to get back and get after it. It has a little bit of a major feel. There were a lot of guys here on Sunday practicing. I’d like to think that you play up to (the competition) and when you know you need to play well you can do it. The fields for the next little while are going to be strong, so I, and everybody, is going to have to play well to have a good finish.”
