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NBC Sports
28-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Long-hitting Massa, aka 'Bobby Speed,' among Byron Nelson qualifiers
When it comes to hitting bombs, Aldrich Potgieter could get a run for his money this week outside of Dallas. Potgieter is the PGA Tour's current leader in average driving distance (324.1 yards) entering the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. But 37-year-old Bobby Massa, one of four Monday qualifiers, has some serious speed, too. Massa is a sports performance coach from Dallas who has recently become one of the top mid-amateurs in the world. He reached the quarterfinals of last summer's U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine before falling in the final of the U.S. Mid-Amateur. And he hits bombs – 127-plus mph swing speed, ball speeds in the 190s. Massa was once a pro golfer, for five years after graduating from Texas-Arlington. Then he gave up the game, forced into exile by the swing yips. 'I couldn't break 90 to save my life,' Massa told last year. Brentley Romine, The break from competing led to Massa's current career. He now works at Sanders Fit, where his clientele ranges from pro and elite amateur golfers to NFL, NBA and MLB players to even USGA president Fred Perpall. For Massa, it's all about unlocking his golf clients' flexibility and fast-twitch fibers for increased speed and distance. Perpall says some people call Massa, 'Bobby Speed.' Massa got his amateur status back in 2019, but with golf's distance boom, he's been plenty busy with his day job. His last world-ranked tournament was the East West Matches at Maridoe last November. This won't be Massa's PGA Tour debut. He's played in two previous editions of the Byron Nelson, first in 2013 (MC) and then 2023 (MC). He averaged 324.8 yards off the tee two years ago to rank inside the top 10 in driving distance for the week. Massa is joined in this week's field by fellow Monday qualifiers Ross Steelman, Nick Watney and Nelson Ledesma.
USA Today
19-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former U.S. Senior Am champ Bob Royak finds way to top of Golfweek Pirate's Classic leaderboard
Former U.S. Senior Am champ Bob Royak finds way to top of Golfweek Pirate's Classic leaderboard Bob Royak spent Tuesday at the Golfweek Pirate's Classic clawing back into contention. Royak, the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur champion, was the only man in any division to break 70 in the second round at TPC Tampa Bay, and it moved him to the top of the leaderboard in the Senior Division. Royak, of Alpharetta, Georgia, left himself with some work to do after opening this tournament with 74. It was a round in which the 63-year-old played the last two holes in 3 over. He had played the previous five holes in 3 under. Still, on Tuesday, Royak bounced back with only two bogeys to take away from his five birdies. Royak wound down 2024 with a team win at the International Senior Invitational before competing in the prestigious East West Matches. He also reached the third round of match play at the U.S. Senior Amateur last year and was a semifinalist in 2023. This week, Royak is teeing it up at the inaugural Pirate's Classic just days after a T-2 finish at the Gasparilla Senior Invitational, played just down the road at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club. Even though Royak broke away for the solo lead at the end of the day, the senior division was close for most of the second round, with as many as three players tied for the lead at one point. Jerry Slagle of Southlake, Texas, the second-round senior leader, had a second-round 73 that included an eagle at the par-4 12th. He is 1 over for the tournament and one shot behind Royak. Bryan Hoops of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Brian Keenan of Tampa, Florida, are 2 over and tied for third while Todd Doss of Mandeville, Louisiana, is 3 over in fifth. In the Mid-Master division (for players aged 40-55), Thad Hudgens of Longwood, Florida, only pulled farther ahead. After opening with an eagle on the first hole on Monday, Hudgens cruised to 67. On Tuesday, he came back with 70 and now leads his division by 18 shots. Byron Whitman of Bonita Springs, Florida, leads by one shot in the Super Senior division after back-to-back rounds of 75. The leaders in both the Legend and Super Legend Divisions managed to distance themselves on Tuesday. Greg Osborne of Lititz, Pennsylvania, is 2 over and up by five shots in the Legend Division. Frank Polizzi of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, is 3 over and also has a five-shot cushion among the Super Legends.
