Kenny

Perry

The 58-year-old is having a good season on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit (five top 20s in seven starts) but he withdrew from his most recent appearance, the Regions Tradition. He cracked this week’s field via sponsor’s exemption but couldn’t make the most of the opportunity. He landed just seven greens in regulation and then lost 4.4 strokes around-the-green and another 2.5 strokes putting. Perry has now missed the cut in his last 10 PGA TOUR appearances, dating back to the 2015 Memorial Tournament.

The 58-year-old is playing this season on a Career Earnings Exemption. So far he is 0-for-4 including a missed cut last week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He’s also made one PGA TOUR Champions appearance (T18 at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai). He’s not in the listed field for this week’s Chubb Classic. The Kentucky native should not be on the fantasy radar until he at least makes a cut on the big stage.

The 58-year-old is playing his 27th Phoenix Open, first since a missed cut by one in 2015 (71-73). He made 25 consecutive appearances between 1988 and 2012 and still ranks 5th in all-time earnings, buoyed by a win in 2009 and two other top-5 finishes in 1997, 2002. The Kentucky native, who plays primarily on the Champions Tour, is playing this season via a Career Money Exemption (Top 50) and his making his third start after MCs at the Shriners and the Sony three weeks ago. He’s only cashed one time in his last eight events, a T16 at the 2015 Byron Nelson. Perry is a 14-time TOUR winner in 645 starts, most recently the 2009 Travelers.

The night after Trevor Immelman withdrew, the other primary pitchman for this week’s title sponsor sits just five strokes off the clubhouse lead after one round. Perry hit 14 greens and took a tidy 27 putts for his first sub-70 round of nine on the PGA TOUR this year. He circled six birdies, five of which disappearing from at least 12 feet from the cup. It included a five-yarder from the fringe at the fourth hole, a 24'6" gem at the eighth and a conversion of 22'8" at the 13th. He also rolled in a 12-footer for par at No. 17. Despite being fully exempt through 2014, he has minimal fantasy value as he will compete full-time on the Champions Tour.

A frustrating day for the 51-year-old. He buried six birdies but never got lower than 1-under his entire round. That was due to three bogeys and a double-bogey 5 at the 17th hole where he three-putted from 6'6". Four of his birdies disappeared from beyond 10 feet, the longest of which measuring 19'10" at the 15th. He’s at 6-under 136, just four strokes off the lead.

Perry made three birdies and three bogeys in the first round. Not a bad start since you can’t win the tournament in Round 1 but you can definitely lose it.

Perry is playing mainly on the Champions Tour, where he has a win and a runner up already this season. When he’s jumped back in with the younger crowd he’s held up nicely, making three cuts in four tries. He teed it up at The Old White TPC last season and finished T39.

Perry is still fully exempt on the PGA TOUR, but this will be his first start with the flat bellies in 2013. He last played here in 2010, tying for 16th. It will be interesting to see how he fares in a field that isn’t one of the strongest of the season.

Perry hit 13 GIR and converted one eagle and four birdies. The notables occurred at the 6th and 7th holes, where putts disappeared from 24'8" and 11'6", respectively. He also saved par from 17'0" on the 10th, eventually finishing as the sixth golfer one stroke off the clubhouse lead. It’s the second consecutive week that he’s opened with a sparkling score, but given that he went 79-75-72 after a 66 last Thursday at Quail Hollow, daily leaguers should proceed with caution this week.

Perry sits 3 shots back of the leaders. He was a little shaky at the start but got it going with 4 birdies in 6 holes during the middle of his round.