Elkington marvels at Watson's driving range

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Mar 28, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:28 a.m.

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AVONDALE — Steve Elkington, one of two player consultants who helped Pete Dye design the TPC Louisiana layout four years ago, got a close-up look at Bubba Watson’s driving skills during the first round of the $6.2 million Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Thursday.

After firing a 4-under 68, Elkington, the winner of the 1995 PGA Championship, marveled at Watson’s prodigious drive at the par-5 No. 7 hole, which was playing 561 yards downwind.

Elkington said Watson, who had a 1-over 73, had just 156 yards to the front of the green after ripping his drive about 388 yards.

Watson leads the PGA Tour in driving distance for the third straight year.

“If I gave up the Tour, I couldn’t give it up just because I love watching shots go in there,” a smiling Elkington said. “Not only mine, I like watching the other guys. I like seeing Bubba Watson hit it 350 (yards), too. I’m a bit of a fan in that regard.”

Veteran Steve Flesch was one player who hated leaving the English Turn Golf & Country Club course for TPC Louisiana.

In eight tournaments at English Turn, Flesch averaged 69.2 strokes per round and won his first PGA Tour title in 2003 with a 21-under 267.

In his first two tournaments at TPC Louisiana, Flesch missed the cut each time in shooting 74-74 in 2005 and 72-74 in 2007. But on Thursday, he proved he might finally be getting the hang of it with a 3-under 69.

“I could have fallen asleep in a rocking chair at English Turn and probably played well,” Flesch said. “And at this place, I feel like I’ve got rattlesnakes in my bag. It’s just an entirely different place, and I’m getting used to it.”

Former LSU golfer Scott Sterling, who had a 1-under 71, posted the low score among the four players in the field with Louisiana ties.

Brian Bateman and Phil Schmitt, who also played at LSU, shot 73 and 74, respectively. Schmitt is the head pro at The Bluffs in St. Francisville and is in this tournament as the 2007 PGA Gulf States Section Player of the Year.