Martin’s Golf Not All Good Disabled Player Shoots Well, But Slow Play Rule Ends Round

Casey Martin rediscovered his lost golf game.

The disabled golfer, who hasn’t played much because of his lawsuit against the PGA Tour, showed Wednesday in a Pro-Am for the Greater Austin Open why he’s a threat to leave the Nike Tour and join the big time.

Despite high winds on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Hills of Lakeway course, Martin drove well, hit beautiful knock-down iron shots and chipped and putted solidly.

Worried about his “rusty” game, Martin was 1-under-par for 15 holes - but that was all he played.

His Pro-Am team was pulled off the course because it had exceeded a 4-1/2-hour limit.

Tournament official Bob Hyde made the decision just as Martin was to hit a 7-iron on the 173-yard par-3 waterfall hole, played as No. 16 in the tournament.

Martin, playing in his first event since a federal magistrate ruled Feb. 11 he could use a cart because of a damaged left leg, said: “I’ve already teed my ball up. Can’t we play this hole?”

Hyde said no, so Martin limped around signing autographs for his playing partners and spectators.

“I’m very optimistic about my play now,” Martin said. “I only hit one bad drive today.”

Martin’s sudden fame has brought a cascade of endorsements and appearances on national television.

“I imagine the love affair will last as long as I play well,” said Martin, who won the first Nike event of the year, then missed the cut in the second one. “It will fade quickly if I don’t play good. It all depends now on the scores I shoot.

“I have money now. It’s not astronomical but it’s great for me. Right now, I’m David going against Goliath.”

When play starts today, Martin can use his cart under certain restrictions.

PGA Tour official Jim Duncan said Martin “can’t have a roof on his cart or be protected from the elements. He can carry anything in the cart that you normally would on the golf course like a towel or a water battle.”

Martin can drive on the fairway until such a point where the elements come into play.

“If it rains, he would have to stay on the cart path,” Duncan said.

Martin, who passed on a sponsor’s exemption at the Doral-Ryder Open this week, said he is eager to get his game to a point where it is ready for the regular PGA Tour.

“I do have the talent to be successful,” Martin said. “But I have to get better. It’s still up in the air how good I am.”

Eric Johnson, who won the last Nike event, said Martin’s game is good enough for the regular tour.

“He hits it a long way, and he hits it right to left,” Johnson said. “His disability helps him in a way because he keeps his lower legs quiet on the backswing. He has nice balance.”

Johnson said the question of preserving energy by riding a cart is overplayed.

“It doesn’t matter how you get to the golf ball,” he said. “You still have to get out and hit it.”

Today, Martin is paired with two former members of the PGA Tour, Mike Sullivan and Robin Freeman.