New England’s love affair with Danny Woodhead began early and appeared to develop exponentially with each recreation he performed for the Patriots.
It was arduous to not fall for the pint-sized working again, who fell into the Patriots’ laps after being launched by the Jets one recreation into the 2010 season.
Woodhead was the little engine that might, a 5-foot-8 dynamo popping out of Division II Chadron State in his native Nebraska, defying lengthy odds to make it to the NFL.
And now, a decade after his run with the Patriots ended, Woodhead is as soon as once more making the inconceivable come true.
After advancing in his native qualifier in Omaha, Woodhead is a step away from qualifying for the U.S. Open, which is being performed at The Country Club in Brookline from June 16-19.
If he makes it by means of a 36-hole remaining qualifier on June 6 at Springfield (Ohio) Country Club, Woodhead will return to New England, solely this time, as a burgeoning golfer.
Speaking with the Herald final week, Woodhead stated he even has to pinch himself occasionally when he thinks about how far he’s are available a distinct sport, and what may lie forward.
“Would it be special? Oh my gosh, it would be special to somehow qualify. Not a lot of people get to do stuff like this,” he stated. “And for (the U.S. Open) to be in Brookline? That’s the craziest thing about it. That’s where everything started for me in my career. Yeah, sure, I was with the Jets, but (New England) is really where it all started.”
The legend of Woodhead as cult hero started with him being greeted by Bill Belichick within the Patriots locker room shortly after being minimize by the Jets, being handed the playbook, and in flip, having to take a crash course studying New England’s advanced offense in a matter of days, not weeks or months.
Almost on cue, Woodhead scored a landing in his first recreation, a 22-yard scamper off a draw play, and in the end developed right into a worthwhile and trusted weapon for Tom Brady and a fan favourite by extension.
“It was a wild, wild ride that week. It was a lot of fun,” stated Woodhead. “I was embraced so ridiculously by the New England community. And, it’s funny, in the grand scheme of things, I only played there three years, but everyone there treated me so well. And the fans were so amazing to me. I have a huge place in my heart for New England.”
Well, Patriots followers may as soon as once more have the prospect to reconnect with one in all their favourite alums and cheer him on, solely in a a lot totally different venue than Gillette Stadium, and in a totally totally different sport.
From a interest to getting severe
Woodhead had performed golf principally as a interest throughout his soccer years, however took it up extra significantly after retiring in 2017. It was simply one thing he needed to strive in earnest, and see the place it took him.
Five years later, he’s on the verge of saddling up subsequent to Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Justin Spieth, et al in Brookline, at one of many oldest and most storied nation golf equipment within the United States.
“I love the game. So It’s just something I went after, and I’ve been trying to get better, have fun with it, and compete in events,” he stated. “You must have a aggressive nature once you’re within the NFL, and the subsequent factor you understand, you retire, and also you don’t have any competitors.
“So I said, well, I’ll have some fun with this. That’s how it started.”
The extra he performed, the higher he acquired. At this stage, Woodhead is best than a scratch golfer, so something is feasible in his thoughts.
Last yr, the 37-year-old certified for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at Chambers Bay, so he’s no fluke.
And earlier this month, in his first try and qualify for the U.S. Open, he carded an even-par 71 at Omaha Country Club, incomes one of many website’s 5 Final Qualifying berths.
Talk about having a aggressive nature, Woodhead battled all through the spherical, overcoming 4 bogeys with as many birdies in an effort to advance and provides himself a shot at touchdown in Brookline subsequent month.
“He’s got some game, and he’s really working on it,” stated Dominick Mitchum, the top professional at Omaha Country Club. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make it to the next level.”
Mitchum raved concerning the enormous following Woodhead has in Omaha. Apparently, Woodhead’s quest to earn a spot within the U.S. Open has actually captured the lots.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s not only the talk of the club, but of Omaha, for sure,” stated Mitchum. “He’s a small-town, western Nebraska boy. When he made it to the NFL, everyone knew who he was. Even when he was in college, everyone knew. He’s always been kind of a big deal in Nebraska. People love and respect Danny Woodhead.”
He was an enormous deal in New England, too. Fans grew to like his fireplace and toughness, alongside along with his competitiveness and talent to make large performs.
Hit contained in the locker room, too
Perhaps it ought to come as no shock that many former Patriots are following Woodhead’s golf journey. Shane Vereen, who was within the working backs room with Woodhead throughout his Patriot days, isn’t essentially stunned about his former teammate’s promising profession change.
“He always had a great work ethic, and focus,” stated Vereen. “To me, he at all times appeared like an athlete who might do all the pieces effectively, and simply determined to decide on soccer.
“Now, he’s on to golf. That’s really cool. But I’d say I’m more impressed, than surprised (at his success).”
Vereen was one in all a slew of former teammates — Julian Edelman and Brian Hoyer among the many others — who texted Woodhead in latest weeks to congratulate him on making it this far, and cheer him on down the highway.
“It’s just cool that the guys pay attention to it,” Woodhead stated when requested about former teammates reaching out. “It’s just a cool deal, the whole thing all around is pretty neat.”
Vereen stated it wasn’t uncommon for “Woody” to go out to play golf in his spare time away from soccer, with different teammates becoming a member of him. Vereen even hit the hyperlinks as soon as with Woodhead, having fun with a spherical.
Asked if Woodhead took his cash, Vereen laughed, claiming there have been no stakes connected to their match.
“I was just getting started back then,” stated Vereen. “He was helping me more than anything.”
During his NFL profession, Woodhead amassed 2,238 speeding yards and a pair of,698 receiving yards to go together with 32 touchdowns. As a Patriot, he rushed for 1,199 yards with 10 speeding touchdowns, and 4 receiving TDs.
After his three-year stint in New England, he signed with the Chargers, the place he made some extra noise alongside Philip Rivers as a pass-catching change-of-pace again in San Diego.
The golf bug, nevertheless, nonetheless tugged at him late in his profession and ultimately drove him to take it up full time as soon as he was finished taking part in.
Working on his ‘sickness’
Woodhead jokingly referred to as his dependancy to golf “a sickness, that’s what it is.”
It’s additionally the ticket to his subsequent nice journey.
To hone his expertise, Woodhead has been working with Rick Johnson, a golf teacher at Del Mar Country Club in Rancho Sante Fe, California. The two met when Woodhead was with the Chargers.
With Woodhead’s house base in Nebraska — he’s a member at Omaha Country Club — they principally join just about or by way of FaceTime.
Mitchum stated Woodhead, who’s married with 4 kids, exhibits up recurrently at OCC however takes day without work on the weekends to spend along with his household.
“He’s here all the time, but now, you see him on the range a little more than you used to,” stated Mitchum. “He was never a range rat. He’d practice, but he was more of a go-play-golf kind of guy.”
So how did Woodhead go from being your backyard selection hacker to being on the verge of becoming a member of {golfing} greats at a significant?
Johnson defined.
While Woodhead had an honest brief recreation after they met, his golf swing was nothing to brag about. So Johnson went to work fixing it as soon as Woodhead formally retired.
He mainly “modernized” Woodhead’s swing using all the fashionable pivots getting by means of the ball and PGA launch angles.
It took a few yr and a half to 2 years earlier than the swing was locked in.
“He’d call me 10 times a day,” stated Johnson. “He’d never stop until it was perfect.”
Johnson stated along with his previous swing, Woodhead might carry roughly 240 yards, 250 if he crushed it.
Now? He carries it 320-330 yards, which permits him to be aggressive with nearly anybody.
“Once he changed golf swings, it was like, ‘Game On,”‘ stated Johnson. “Now, he hits the ball like a Tour player.”
With the brand new swing, Woodhead went from taking pictures within the excessive 70s, low 80s, to recurrently breaking par.
Johnson stated the previous Patriot checks off each essential field proper now when it comes to getting over the subsequent hurdle to the Open. For starters, he has the size off the tee, Second, the second actually received’t be too large for him having competed in a Super Bowl with the Patriots, and scored a landing within the championship recreation.
It’s additionally uncertain that he’ll be intimidated by the competitors.
“So would I be surprised if he qualified? Zero percent,” stated Johnson. “Would I be impressed? Yes. I mean, it’s so ridiculous when you think about it on paper. But he’s got a punter’s chance.”
It’s not unusual for soccer gamers to show into respectable golfers. Indy’s Matt Ryan is a 2 handicap. Former Cowboy Tony Romo is a plus-1.
Then there’s Brady, who has a handicap of 8.1. Aaron Rodgers, his accomplice within the upcoming golf problem towards Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, is listed as a 4.6 handicap by the Wisconsin State Golf Association.
That foursome will compete in Capital One’s The Match, a 12-hole exhibition on June 1 in Las Vegas.
Woodhead is definitely higher than all of them. Naturally, he couldn’t assist however have interaction in a little bit pleasant trash discuss aimed toward No. 12, who hasn’t precisely lit it up within the celeb occasions.
Cracked the previous Patriot: “Maybe Tom needs to pick his partners more wisely.”
Continues to shock
Even although the notion of athletes stepping into golf after retirement isn’t precisely novel, what Woodhead is doing continues to be fairly mind-blowing.
The child who hails from North Platte, Nebraska, which isn’t precisely often called a breeding floor for skilled athletes, is a number of putts away from making it to one of many greatest phases in golf.
If being a hit within the NFL was thought-about a protracted shot, he’s now poised to show heads in a totally totally different area.
“I’m a small kid from small-town Nebraska. I feel like I’m just on this adventure. It’s even crazier with this golf deal,” stated Woodhead. “I feel so fortunate, so blessed that I’ve been given gifts and allowed to do different things athletically that I really want to do and it’s been an unbelievable experience.”
Naturally, it will be disappointing if Woodhead fell brief, and didn’t make it by means of the sectional for that fairytale journey again to New England.
But he’s not pondering that approach. Right now, his focus is on enhancing. The relaxation will maintain itself.
“I love the game, as long as I continue to be passionate about it, I think I can get better. And that’s really the main goal,” he stated. “If you ever want to qualify for anything, you have to keep getting better. That’s really my focus.”
Last week, Woodhead despatched out an amusing tweet questioning if Bill Belichick can be his caddie within the upcoming sectionals, as a result of he knew his former head coach would come well-prepared for the job.
“I don’t know why. I thought maybe Bill could be my caddie,” Woodhead stated of his former head coach with amusing, “but I think he has other things to do. So my little brother Joel is on the bag. That works, too.”
As a lot as Woodhead cherished taking part in soccer, he stated there’s simply one thing about golf that’s gripped him like no different sport.
“I don’t know if there was anything in football that’s as exhilarating as this, because I’m not supposed to do this,” he stated. “And that’s what’s fun. That’s what makes it crazy. And I’m having a ball doing it.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com