Mathew

Goggin

Goggin has returned to the PGA TOUR this year but he’s off to an awful 1-for-5 start with a T35 at Pebble Beach. Today’s round could has been a continuation of that poor play if he didn’t bring his greenside touch. He missed 10 greens in regulation but suffered just two bogeys. The Tasmanian took just 21 putts and circled five birdies to finish two strokes off the clubhouse lead.

Goggin was the second alternate when the field was released on Friday afternoon. He gained entry this morning thanks to three withdrawals. After starting 2012 with promise, he’s started terribly, cashing in just one of his six events. He may be set for a decent week at Redstone, however, as he’s 3-for-4 at the host track with a pair of top 20s.

Goggin withdrew during the first weather delay in the second round of last week’s Travelers, but an explanation was not released for his decision. It was merely the latest setback in a poor season. He’s 5-for-13 with no top 30s. In his only previous start at Greenbrier, he tied for 45th place in the inaugural edition in 2010.

Out since calling it quits during the first weather delay of the second round at the Travelers Championship two weeks ago due to reasons unknown -- he wasn’t going to make the cut anyway had he returned to finish -- he hit 15 greens at The Old White TPC today but needed 33 putts. He managed only two birdies which were promptly erased by a bogey and one double. It’s been an exceptionally disappointing year for the veteran after a superb comeback campaign on the Web.com Tour in 2011.

The Nationwide Tour grad has made just four (of 11) cuts and has yet to crack the $100k mark. He last played in Memphis in 2010 where he finished T37. With his lack of success, it seems odd he still ranks 56th in the all-around ranking.

The Tasmanian called it quits when play was suspended due to inclement weather at 12:50 p.m. ET. At 7-over-par through 35 holes, he wasn’t going to make the cut anyway. Nevertheless, if an official explanation is released, we will relay it to you.

The opening round restarted at 8:30 a.m. CT today. Goggin finished with a flourish, scoring 5-under on his last seven holes. The run included a 41'4" eagle conversion at the par-5 fifth hole sandwiched by birdies of 14'8" and 11'11" at Nos. 3 and 6, respectively. The Tasmanian entered the week 5-for-15 with no top 30s on the PGA TOUR this season.

Goggin posted a T13 at the Justin Timberlake in what was his seventh payday in 20 starts. Goggin has two runner-up finishes in 273 TOUR starts and won twice on the Web.com Tour in 2011, making his struggles this season a little curious. He is 40th in GIR, but 155th in Strokes Gained-Putting.

The Tasmanian is gunning for a third straight top 25 in the Fall Series, but he’ll need to do better than that to think about securing his PGA TOUR card for 2013. He arrived at Sea Island ranked 178th on the money list. However, he’s in terrific position to do something about it on the weekend. Through 36 holes, he’s hit 30 greens and taken just 58 putts. Today’s bogey-free loop included four of his nine birdies, all of which ranging greater than 11 feet. Both of his highlights were of the zero-putt variety. First, he pitched in from the greenside rough 27 yards out at the par-4 first hole. Then, to add some symmetry to his round, he chipped in from 18 yards in front of the green at the par-4 18th.

Goggin began the week a distant 178th on the PGA TOUR money list, but has responded with a solid 54 holes on Sea Island’s Seaside Course. He circled his first birdie of the round on the par-4 eighth hole and followed with his second, and final, birdie on the par-5 15th. He will try and capture his first top 10 of the season in Sunday’s final round.