Notebook: John Daly among golfers close behind the leaders

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

One of the most notable golfers participating in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open this week got off to a fast start Thursday afternoon.

John Daly played consistent all day and finished at 5-under par, two shots behind the leaders.

“Today without a bogey is a good sign,” Daly said. “I know the course isn’t the hardest we play all year, but you still got to hit shots out there.”

Daly is infamous for his outspoken nature and party lifestyle. The 44-year old said the annual Las Vegas stop was one of his favorites on the PGA Tour.

But it used to be for different reasons.

“I used to get so excited to come and gamble, have fun, not worry about the golf,” Daly said. “But the golf’s a little more important now. I’m kind of just concentrating on that. I’m staying at a great casino, I just haven’t been down there playing at all. I have been so concentrated on golf.”

“You get down there, get on a little roll. If you don’t get on a roll, next thing you look up, it’s 4 or 5 in the morning. Oh, God, I’ll miss my tee time.”

Rebel roundup

The start of the tournament was not kind to the UNLV alumni in the event.

None of the five Rebels playing were in the top 35 at the end of the day. Charley Hoffman, who had a breakout year on the PGA Tour and finished fourth in the FedEx Cup, had a particularly rough time.

Hoffman is near the bottom of the leaderboard with after going 2-over par. His 1998 national championship teammate and childhood friend Bill Lunde finished at 1-over.

Warren Schutte, who won the individual national championship in 1991 at UNLV, was 1-under. Chris Riley and Chad Campbell are still in contention at 3-under par, four shots off of the lead.

Hole-in-one alert

Webb Simpson won’t soon forget the first day of the tournament.

Simpson made a hole-in-one on the 239-yard eighth hole.

“We didn’t know it went in until we went to the green,” Simpson said.

The memorable shot helped Simpson post a 5-under par 66 for the day to put him near the top of the leaderboard.

He said he made the shot using a brand new 3-iron. When Simpson approached the hole and didn’t see his ball, he started to realize what he had done.

“It was a good feeling,” he said. “I saw the ball mark a couple feet short and I knew it went in.”

How former champs fared

George McNeill always saves his best for the Las Vegas tournament.

McNeill won the 2007 event and made it to a three-way playoff last year. Thursday, he shot a 6-under 67 to keep pace one shot behind the leaders.

“Obviously, I’ve had success here,” McNeill said. “I feel comfortable going around this golf course. I know where to hit it and where not to hit it.”

Last year’s champion, Martin Laird, finished 2-under and the 2008 champion, Marc Turnesa, is at 3-under. 2006 winner Troy Matteson didn’t fare as well, finishing at 2-over.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.