During his NFL career, running back Danny Woodhead played in one Super Bowl. Now, he’s one step away from taking the stage at one of the biggest events in another sport — golf.
Woodhead is attempting to qualify for the U.S. Open, which will be held in June. On Wednesday, he teed it up at Omaha Country Club in a local qualifying event. Woodhead fired an even-par round of 71, which put him in a tie for third and made him one of five players from that qualifier to advance to final qualifying.
Four Other Qualifiers
Heading to #USOpen Final Qualifying@ConnorPeck25 70 (-1)@danny__woodhead 71 (E)@CarsonSchaake1 71 (E)@alex_schaake 72 (+1) pic.twitter.com/ajQpx3h6VH— #NebGolf (@NGAgolf) May 12, 2022
One of the highlights of Woodhead’s day was a long birdie putt on the 17th hole to move to one-under on the day — a putt Woodhead remained humble about.
Some people get lucky https://t.co/LoyfTqN3Nh
— danny woodhead (@danny__woodhead) May 12, 2022
While he bogeyed the last hole, the birdie gave Woodhead enough of a cushion to stay out of the playoff for the final qualifying spot.
Others, though, were left impressed by Woodhead’s achievement on the links and are pulling for him going forward.
The Danny Woodhead. He's turned himself into one of the top amateur golfers in the state. https://t.co/u8rztLQsM8
— Chris Basnett (@HuskerExtraCB) May 12, 2022
Unreal!!@danny__woodhead is going to US Open sectionals! https://t.co/cYJ6yyprAL
— D.J. Piehowski (@DJPie) May 12, 2022
Congrats @danny__woodhead have a day bro… https://t.co/xBwzz0EvK3
— West Texas Driving Range Pro (@jjkilleentcu) May 12, 2022
I need Danny Woodhead in the US Open more than I need air to breathe. https://t.co/HqaVkmZrnu
— Drewby (@DrewbyW) May 12, 2022
Good for Danny Woodhead….@boston25 https://t.co/XXqgCxmoHj
— Butch Stearns (@ButchStearns) May 12, 2022
Woodhead’s task will only get tougher from here. The next step is one of nine 36-hole final qualifying events in the United States. Per Dan Roche of WBZ-TV, that will be at Springfield Country Club in Ohio.
How cool is this? Former #Patriots RB Danny Woodhead was 1 of 5 players to advance from U.S. Open @usopengolf local qualifying when he shot even-par 71 at Omaha (Neb) CC, his home course. Woodhead will next play in final qualifying(36 holes) June 6 at Springfield (Ohio) CC – @wbz https://t.co/Qp87snvm8x
— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) May 11, 2022
The 2022 U.S. Open will be played at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts outside of Boston. That would be something of a homecoming for Woodhead, who played for the New England Patriots from 2010-12.
We can only imagine what kind of fan support he’d have there.
[Photo Credit: United States Golf Association Youtube]