Las Vegas, Nevada (January 8, 2013)–After two false starts due to bad weather, the PGA Tour officially is underway in Hawaii with the playing of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. And three golfers with strong ties to the Las Vegas Golf Region are in the field. Scott Piercy, Ryan Moore, and Nick Watney each stated a goal for 2013. –By Brian Hurlburt, quotes courtesy Bill Bowman from Hawaii.
Moore, who qualified for the Hyundai by winning Las Vegas' PGA Tour event, the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, also is a new father. Both his wife (Nichole) and baby (Tucker) made the trip to Hawaii with him. "I just want to play a lot of golf this year and not worry about my health," said Moore. "It's really good to come into a season feeling healthy and playing well. I'm just looking for a good, solid season." Moore still lives in Las Vegas following his All-American career at UNLV. Click now for the official Ryan Moore website.
Want to play golf in the Las Vegas Golf Region, the home to more than 25 Tour players? Click now to our official guide to Las Vegas golf courses. Featured course: Wolf Creek Golf Club, located in Mesquite, Nevada, 77 miles north of Las Vegas. Wolf Creek is a Top 100 golf course. Click now for the official website of Wolf Creek Golf Club.
Scott Piercy earned his way to Hawaii with a win at the 2012 Canadian Open. "My main goal for this year is to win multiple times," said Piercy, now a two-time winner for his career. "I really hoped to get loosened up more this week but the weather didn't cooperate. But it's still a great place to be." Piercy grew up in Las Vegas and still lives in the city with his wife and family.
Nick Watney is in Hawaii yet again following another solid year on the PGA Tour, even if it didn't meet his standards. Watney won The Barclays during the FedEx Cup Playoffs after going winless during the regular season. He followed that up with a win at the CIMB Classic, an unofficial event. "I'm just looking to keep improving this year and get in contention as often as possible," said Watney. "I'm excited to get after it in 2013. I'd really like to play well enough to pick off a couple more wins this year." Watney moved to Las Vegas several years ago to be closer to his instructor, Butch Harmon, also a Las Vegas Golf Region resident.
These three PGA Tour stars join several other Tour players who live in the Las Vegas Golf Region including Natalie Gulbis, Charley Hoffman, Bill Lunde, Dean Wilson, and many more. Stick close to GolfLasVegasNow.com for news and notes from the Tour throughout the 2013 season.