Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Qualifier battles nerves, shoots 67

Mike Ruiz never felt settled in during his first PGA tour start Thursday at TPC at Summerlin.

After shooting 5-under 67 in his opening round, imagine what Ruiz might do when he gets comfortable.

Ruiz, a former UNLV standout and Las Vegas resident who caddies part-time at Shadow Creek, won the Las Vegas Founders Shootout in August to earn a sponsor's exemption into the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas. He took full advantage of the opportunity, firing an eagle at No. 3 and carding his only real mistake with a bogey to close at No. 18.

"I don't think I ever got settled in," Ruiz said. "Once I qualified and got the sponsor's exemption, I was OK until about Tuesday this week. Then I got nervous."

Still just three shots off the lead, Ruiz feels like he will be more prepared to make a run at a better score today after getting his first round out of the way. The pro-am experience also bothered Ruiz, who had players walking in his line and putting out of turn.

"It's kind of hard playing with the amateurs because they don't know what to do," Ruiz said.

Ruiz was to tee off today at Bear's Best at 8:40 a.m. Among locals, Ruiz narrowly loses low honors for the opening day to Henderson resident Craig Barlow, who posted a 6-under 66 at Summerlin.

With last week's American Express Championship being played in Ireland, only 11 hearty players opted to make the 11-hour flight to play in Las Vegas: Zach Johnson; Stuart Appleby; Justin Leonard; Alex Cejka; Jim Furyk; Bob Tway; Chris Riley; Scott Verplank; Charles Howell III; Robert Allenby and Steve Flesch.

Playing in Europe this week are a number of PGA tour regulars including Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Nick Price and Adam Scott. European Ryder Cup players Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, David Howell and Thomas Levet are also entered.

UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger played at Bear's Best with former Rebels standout Chris Riley, while San Diego Padres slugger Phil Nevin went around with Geoff Ogilvy at TPC at Summerlin. Former Nevada Gov. Bob Miller played with Tom Byrum at Bear's Best.

Colin Cowherd, an ESPN Radio host and former KVBC-TV sports anchor, was in the group with Jason Bohn at TPC at the Canyons, while former NFL player Seth Joyner went around with Brian Gay at Bear's Best. Las Vegas Motor Speedway general manager Chris Powell played with Briny Baird at TPC at Summerlin, while Rene Angelil, husband of Celine Dion, played with Ruiz at TPC at Summerlin.

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