Graham DeLaet was definitely a presence at the Sony Open in Hawaii during PGA Tour competition last week.
Some of the conversation was around the fullness of his beard, while others were talking about the second round — when DeLaet was one shot off the modern course record.
For many DeLaet fans, the #fearthebeard is not a strange sight to see on Graham’s face anymore. His most recent growth has been a five-month project.
DeLaet finished the Sony Open tied for seventh, earning $187,050 at the event. He was the top Canadian who participated in the Sony Open. DeLaet also improved his FedExCup standing to 64th.
The seventh-place finish also adds some points to DeLaet’s Official World Golf Ranking, which will play an important role in July, when golfers are selected to represent their countries at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The Olympic Games, starting Aug. 5, 2016, will mark the return of golf as an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904.
During the first round of the Sony Open, DeLaet definitely struggled to find his pace. Starting on the back nine, Graham had a double bogey on hole 11, then shot a birdie on hole 16 and a bogey on hole 17.
For the front nine, DeLaet shot a bogey on hole one, a bogey on hole three, and ended the round with a birdie on hole nine. His score for the round was 73, three-over-par.
When DeLaet returned to the course for the second round, he had a rejuvenated spirit, and golfed an incredible rebound.
DeLaet made an 11-shot improvement from his opening round, with a perfect second round with no bogeys taken.
Starting the round on the front nine, DeLaet had shot birdies on holes two and six, and then back-to-back birdies on holes eight and nine.
Then during the back nine, DeLaet had a birdie on hole 10, a birdie on hole 14 and back-to-back birdies on holes 17 and 18.
It was noted that DeLaet was close to shooting an eagle on the 18th hole. If he had made the eagle, DeLaet would have scored the modern course record.
With a final score of 62, eight-under-par, DeLaet was well above the cut line after two rounds at the Sony Open, which had been set at three-under-par.
Back on the course for the third round, DeLaet started the day on the front nine. He juggled the holes, scoring a birding on hole one, a bogey on hole three, back-to-back birdies on holes four and five, and then a double bogey on hole six. He was able to finish under par with a birdie on hole nine.
DeLaet had a much better handle for the back nine of the third round. He kept away from bogeys, and scored birdies on holes 10, 12, 14 and 18. His score for round three was 65, five-under-par.
For the fourth and final round of the Sony Open, DeLaet once again started with difficulties on the front nine. He shot a bogey on hole 1, birdies on holes three and five, a bogey on hole six and then a birdie on hole eight.
Then for the back nine, DeLaet found his pace again, shooting a birdie on hole 10, and finishing the found with back-to-back birdies on holes 17 and 18. His round four total was 66, four-under-par.
Graham will return to the PGA Tour this week, as he is on the field for the Career Builder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation. The tournament will run Thursday, January 21 to Sunday, January 24 in La Quinta, California.
DeLaet will have a busy couple of weeks ahead of him, according to his online schedule.
Other upcoming tournaments included the Farmers Insurance Open, which runs Jan. 28 to 31 in San Diego, California; the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which runs Feb. 4 to 7 in Scottsdale, Arizona; the Northern Trust Open, which runs Feb. 18 to 21 in Pacific Palisades, California; and the Valspar Championship, which runs March 10 to 13 in Palm Harbor, Florida.
