Texas Children's Houston Open

Memorial Park Golf Course



The Loop

Jodie Mudd's return begins with a flourish

April 30, 2010

SAUCIER, MISS. -- Rust? What rust?

Jodie Mudd, playing in his first tour event in 14 years, started his Champions Tour career at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic in textbook style.

Mudd drove in the fairway on the 543-yard par-5 first hole at Fallen Oak, placed his second in ideal position 40 yards short of the green then wedged to 12 feet. He broke into a broad smile and got congratulations from fellow competitor Bob Gilder after rolling in the birdie putt.

Competing for the first time since the 1996 Buick Invitational, the 50-year-old Kentucky native couldn't sustain the magical start, finishing in the front nine in three-over 39.

-- Bill Fields