Kenny Perry was the story on Thursday at the Travelers Championship. He fired a first-round 61, good for 9-under and two shots clear of the field. (Also, I have to mention how Bacon "Eddie Mush-ed" Perry midway through his back nine, sending me the following e-mail: "Kenny P is 8-under through 14 holes at the Travelers. Nobody has ever shot 59 on a par-70 course, but three more birds and Mr. Perry would be there." Shane also likes to remind pitchers that they're in the middle of a no-hitter. So, yeah, Perry didn't stand a chance.)
But he wasn't the only story of the day. Yesterday I wrote that Ricky Barnes, just off a second-place finish at the U.S. Open (on Saturday, he had a six-shot lead before finishing two back of Lucas Glover), was headed to the Travelers to build on his Bethpage coming out.
Since winning the U.S. Amateur in 2002, and turning pro in 2003, Barnes hasn't had much success. In fact, it took him five years to earn his PGA Tour card. And although he made seven of 13 cuts this season, prior to the Open, his best finish was T47. I finished by writing:
"... While a second-place finish in the biggest tournament in the United States doesn't necessarily portend success, golf is just as much about confidence as it is about execution."
And based on Barnes' play Thursday, I'd say his confidence continues to match his execution. He's 5-under, T8. He went out in 33, came in in 32, and carded five birdies and no bogeys.
It's obviously too early to claim he's on his way to a top-10 world ranking, major victories and Ryder Cup glory. He could put up a 78 tomorrow, miss the cut and slip back into anonymity. But it's a start, and a particularly impressive one following the mental and physical exhaustion that is U.S. Open week.
