Wofford's McGirt enjoyed week off from game of golf

Wofford's McGirt enjoyed week off from game of golf

Many of the average population forge through a long work week in anticipation of a relaxing weekend on the links, but William McGirt couldn't wait to put his golf clubs away for a short stint.That's what happens when you play to pay the bills and the Boiling Springs resident and Wofford graduate finally took a break last week after eight consecutive weeks on the PGA Tour to begin his rookie season.The 31-year-old didn't exactly get a lot of down time as two straight months spent traveling to tournaments in Hawaii, California, Arizona, Mexico and Florida leaves a lot of simple chores to pile up back at home golf practice drills.“Two months worth of stuff to take care of, but it was nice to be home,” said McGirt, who went seven days without hitting a golf ball. “I was mentally and physically worn out.”He had expected to be left out of the field for at least one if not two events, but ended up with a slot for every tournament since the first full field event began Jan. 13 in Honolulu. After missing the cut in his first three tournaments, McGirt has made four of his last five, including a season-best tie for 19th at the Mayakoba Classic the end of February and a tie for 41st in his last outing two weeks ago at The Honda Classic where he overcame an opening five-over 75.“I began expecting to be rusty, and I was, and kind of expected to start out slow so it really didn't bother me when I did,” McGirt said. “I knew as I got more comfortable and kind of got everything going I'd be okay and all in all its been a pretty successful two months.”His first made cut on the PGA Tour (he also played two previous events prior to this season) came Feb. 2 at the Phoenix Open where he tied for 22nd with rounds of 65 and 68 sandwiched between a pair of 70s to earn nearly $55,000. It was there, where the host venue TPC Scottsdale annually draws the largest and craziest gallery, that McGirt underwent what he called his first official “golly-gee moment” of being a Tour rookie Good Morning America Interview of Tiger Woods.“My first cut and it just happened to be at the rowdiest and biggest stage I've played so far,” he said. “There's nothing like standing on the (par-3) 16th hole with thousands of people screaming at you. That was my golly-gee moment more than saying, there's Tiger (Woods) or Phil (Mickelson).