Danny Woodhead’s golf fairy tale won’t include a return trip to New England.
The former Patriot’s quest to qualify for the U.S. Open, set to begin in a little more than a week at The Country Club in Brookline, fell short on Monday.
Woodhead, a long shot to make it at the outset, couldn’t get over the final hurdle.
The former Patriots running back was one of 77 golfers vying for eight spots in a 36-hole final qualifier at Springfield (Ohio) Country Club.
Woodhead started out pretty well as he was even-par through eight holes, but then his opening round unravelled, with holes 9-thru-14 basically killing his bid.
He double-bogeyed the Par-3 9th hole, then carded three bogeys and another double on the first five holes on the back side en route to shooting a 7-over-par 77.
After opening with a triple-bogey 7 to start his second 18 of back-to-back rounds, Woodhead did manage to steady the ship but it was too little, too late.
He shot 3-over-par on the second 18 to finish 10-over-par, which left him well off the pace. He would have had to shoot 4-under-par or better on the day to qualify.
Following the round, Woodhead tweeted: “Incredible experience at sectionals! But cant have the 3 doubles and a triple.”
Del Mar Country Club’s Rick Johnson, who has been Woodhead’s golf instructor, said following the two-round qualifying event that the former Patriot got sped up a bit with his tempo but will learn from the experience.
“This will make him such a better golfer because of this,” Johnson said of Woodhead. “It’s almost like boxers who fight a world champion, some of the good from the champion rubs off on him. So I think what will rub off on him is being more patient and then understanding he doesn’t have to be perfect to move on.”
Woodhead had advanced in local qualifying last month, recording an even par 71 at the Omaha Country Club to advance to the final qualifier in Ohio.
Many Patriots, including Bill Belichick, were following and cheering on Woodhead throughout the process.
Prior to Monday’s event, Woodhead told the Herald it was neat that his former teammates were paying attention to his golf exploits.
Said Woodhead: “It’s just a cool deal, the whole thing all around is pretty neat.”
Johnson didn’t see Woodhead, who’s 37, being deterred at all with respect to his future golf aspirations.
“The equivalent of this is when he was cut by the Jets,” Johnson said. “This will be another learning opportunity and zero percent a negative deterrent. This will light a bigger fire under him.”
