Wu in contention in first PGA TOUR start as a pro
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HUMBLE, TEXAS - OCTOBER 12: Brandon Wu of the United States plays his shot from the sixth tee during the third round of the Houston Open at the Golf Club of Houston on October 12, 2019 in Humble, Texas. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
HOUSTON – Brandon Wu, who received his diploma from Stanford this summer near the 18th green at Pebble Beach, will enter the final round of the Houston Open with an opportunity to produce a rare feat - winning in his first PGA TOUR start since turning pro.
And no, Wu is not surprised he’s in this position.
“I felt like if I was playing well, I could go out and contend and try to win this thing,” said Wu, who’ll start Sunday just three shots behind leader Lanto Griffin. “I’ve been playing well for three days, so yeah.”
On Saturday, Wu shot a 3-under 69 in the third round to finish at 8 under. That leaves him tied for sixth with five other players.
In 1988, Jim Benepe won the Beatrice Western Open in his first TOUR start. Wu wouldn’t qualify for that record because he made two TOUR starts this summer as an amateur at the U.S. Open (T35) and the Open Championship (MC).
Emiliano Grillo was the last player to win an event in his debut as a PGA TOUR member, having claimed the Safeway Open in 2015. Wu, of course, wouldn’t qualify for that record, either, since he’s not yet a TOUR member.
Wu is making his second start since turning pro, having already competed at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the European Tour, where his amateur partner was Houston Astros owner Jim Crane. No surprise, then, that Wu’s first TOUR start as a pro came at this week’s event being run by the Astros Golf Foundation. He’s playing on a sponsor exemption.
Should Wu win on Sunday, it would give him bragging rights over the game’s greatest names. Tiger Woods couldn’t win in his first TOUR start as a pro (60th at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open in his “Hello, World” debut). Jack Nicklaus couldn’t do it, either (T50 at the 1962 Los Angeles Open).
Of course, there’s still 18 pressure-packed holes left. But he’s used to the heat.
Winning a national team title with Stanford in May was a great way to cap off his college career. This summer, Wu missed his graduating ceremony at Stanford after making the cut at the U.S. Open, so arrangements were made to present him his diploma that Sunday at Pebble Beach.
Now he’s hoping to follow former college competitors Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa as early winners on TOUR. Wolff won the 3M Open this summer in third start as a pro, while Morikawa won the Barracuda Championship in his sixth pro start.
He’s moved into contention by avoiding trouble. Wu had made just four bogeys through 54 holes, fewest of any player at the Golf Club in Houston – especially impressive given the windy conditions that had impacted the scoring this week.
“Luckily I’ve played in some strong wind the past month or so,” Wu said, “so I felt well prepared for that.”
While he has a chance to make a statement Sunday, Wu is not looking at the big picture. He’ll keep his focus on the task at hand.
“I think I just go out and try to play my best,” Wu said. “I’m not too concerned with where I end up falling. I think just kind of add them up at the end and see how it goes.”