6-Way Tie At Top Of Web.com Tour Championship
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McKinney, Tex. – Tag Ridings says he’d like to take the fall off from the game of golf and spend some time with his family, including his newborn daughter who arrived less than two weeks ago. Ridings, a resident of Keller, also knows the only way he’ll be able to do that will be to lock up his PGA TOUR card for 2013 by virtue of a win in the season-ending Web.com Tour Championship.
The 38-year old Ridings, No. 51 on the money list, took a step in the right direction Thursday with a 6-under 65 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney. Ridings is part of a tournament-record, six-way tie for first place in the Tour’s richest event.
Justin Bolli, Cliff Kresge, Michael Putnam, Canada’s Brad Fritsch and Justin Hicks join Ridings at the top of the leaderboard in the 60-man field. Dallas’ own Matt Weibring is just two shots off the lead at T9.
Tennessee rookie Phillip Pettitt, Jr. is at 5-under 66 and tied with two-time winner Luke Guthrie, one shot back after the initial 18 holes. Dallas-area residents Edward Loar and Matt Weibring head a group of four players logged together at 4-under 67.
“There’s a lot of opportunity for me to make some more time with my family,” said Ridings, who
entered the week No. 51 and would need a win or a solo second to accomplish his goal. “If I play well I don’t have to go to work this fall and that’s what I want. I want to be able to hang out with my new baby and my other two kids who need to see what Daddy looks like. The last stretch of six or seven weeks was tough.”
Ridings was forced to withdraw after 54 holes of the Miccosukee Championship two weeks ago when his wife went into labor with their third child.
“She was five weeks early. She’s not supposed to be here yet,” said Ridings of young Charli Elizabeth. “I guess she wanted to see the finish.”
The season finale features several storylines, in addition to the final money list, which still remains the primary goal.
“You try to focus on the golf tournament, recognizing that this is a tournament and you’re trying to win the money list or finishing 21st like I am now,” said Fristch. “If you freak out every time the guy in front of you makes a birdie, that’s too much to think about and I’m way too tired to be thinking about that.”
Fritsch, 34, knows he’s close to joining the PGA TOUR for the first time, but won’t worry about it.
“Play good and the rest takes care of itself,” he said. “If I was in a different spot and knew I had to finish first, second or third to be in the top-25, you might play a little different and you might think a little different. I know if I play solid, it will take care of itself.”
Thursday’s opener was perfect for scoring early in the day when the warm winds came from the south. At mid-day a front blew into north Texas, dropping the temperature by 15 degrees and turning the wind 180 degrees.
“We hit it perfect,” said Putnam of the wind shift. “We were on 16 fairway when it hit and we played the last three holes downwind. On 18 (par-5), I hit 9-iron. In the practice round, with the wind from the south, I couldn’t get there in two. I tried to hit 3-wood and still couldn’t make it.”
