O'Hern shows the way in Reno
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2011 Reno-Tahoe Open | Preview | 05 Aug 2011
Earlier this season Nick O’Hern re-established his full credentials on the 2011 PGA Tour, now he gets the chance to secure his status for 2012. His opening round of 65 at the Reno Tahoe Open in Nevada has given the Australian a one shot lead over Chris Riley with Blake Adams and former winner Will McKenzie one shot further back.
Having endured double knee surgery in 2010, O’Hern played on a major medical exemption earlier this season but after finishing 20th in New Orleans he regained his full status and now he sets out on a different mission.
A victory this week would give him PGA Tour security for two more full seasons but as O’Hern is only too aware if it is a case of first things first. “We’ve got three more rounds to go. It’s a long way to go but I would love to be there,” said O’Hern referring to the possibility of a win and a start at the PGA Championship next week.
Despite currently standing at 204th in the World, O’Hern felt his game was coming around last week during the greenbrier Classic and is enjoying the thinner atmosphere in Reno which allows the ball to travel that much further.
“I do enjoy the fact that the ball goes a long way because I’m only a short hitter. So it’s nice to get the driving stats up. But at the same time, you do have to keep it in play here. There is a lot of trouble if you’re a little bit wayward.
“I kept the ball below the hole most of the day and gave myself a lot of birdie chances. So, yeah, I played really nice. I played well last week at the Greenbrier but had a cold putter, and it was nice to finally get the putter warmed up.”
Rod Pampling and Matthew Jones are the next best of the Australians at 4 under par and tied for 6th. Jones has missed his last seven cuts so this is a handy start as he too tries to improve his current 110th position on the money list.
Pampling is currently 118th on the money list while o’Hern is 121st so for all three Australians it will be important to take advantage of their good starts.
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