Four good rounds elusive

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/07/2011 (5481 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Going back to the drawing board isn’t quite as lost as it sounds in the case of Strathmore, Alta.’s Dustin Risdon.

The 30-year-old Canadian Tour player is back to the home circuit in 2011 after spending two years on the Nationwide Tour.

A shoulder injury is the main reason. He wasn’t having the best of seasons in 2010, but the shoulder problem was no doubt a factor and his prescribed rest and recovery period pre-empted him from trying the PGA Tour’s qualifying school to try to regain his Nationwide status or better.

“I guess I’m getting a little older,” Risdon smiled Tuesday at Pine Ridge, where he prepared for this week’s Players Cup Hosted by Jonathan Toews by teeing it up in the Winnipeg Free Press Jonathan Toews and Friends Celebrity Pro-Am.

“I’ve had a lot of aches and pains here lately, but I guess that’s just part of the game, too.”

Mostly healed, Risdon is back in Canada doing what he knows how to do — get results.

The three-time winner of the Canadian Tour has been in the top three three times already in 2011 (Victoria, Fort McMurray, Calgary) and not worse than 20th in his five starts.

The $38,337 he’s earned puts him fifth on the tour’s money list today, and with a good week here, he’s a good bet to be at next week’s RBC Canadian Open in Vancouver.

“I would say I’m really happy with how I’m playing,” said the former Canadian junior champ. “I just haven’t put four good rounds together yet. I’ve had three out of four, but hoping maybe to put four together this week.”

There’s evidence to suggest he’s a prime player to watch this week.

The last two times he played the Players Cup, he finished tied for second in 2008 (courtesy of a Sunday 62) and third in 2007.

“It’s probably my favourite tournament of the year,” Risdon said. “I love the course and I always love coming back to Winnipeg. I’m looking forward to this week.”

There’s also evidence Risdon may be a better player than when he previously challenged at Pine Ridge.

When he earned his way to the Nationwide Tour in 2009, he was a factor. He earned $153,579, posted three top-10s, made 18 of 26 cuts and finished 37th on the tour’s money list.

That’s not that far away from earning an automatic PGA Tour promotion.

“Yeah, I would think golf is a lot about experience,” he said, asked if he’s a different player than in 2008. “The more you have at different levels, it makes you a better player.”

Another reason many will look Risdon’s way this week is putting. He’s known to be able to handle the flatstick — top 10 in putting in his 2009 Nationwide season will tell you that — and it never fails to be a factor at Pine Ridge.

The course is one of the shortest tour tests of the season at just more than 6,600 yards, but the canted, sloped greens are not easily mastered.

A short course does not necessarily change the tournament, Risdon said.

“They’ve got the rough up; I can see that already out here,” he said. “The fairways are a premium on this course and keeping it below the hole is pretty important, too, with the sloped greens.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

The Players Cup

When: Thursday through Sunday.

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Where: Pine Ridge Golf Club.

What: Canadian Tour regular event.

Who: 156 players; the elite tour field includes 16 Manitobans this year, seven of whom are amateurs.

Prize: $36,000 to the winner, along with an invite to next week’s RBC Canadian Open.

Tickets: Available online at www.theplayerscup.ca or at the Pine Ridge gate.