Round 1: Reno-Tahoe Open

By Zak Kozuchowski, PGATOUR.COM

Blake Adams was happy with his opening round of 67 that currently has him two shots off the lead. But he’s even more excited about the way his body felt in Round 1.

“It was a good day; I hit it well,” Adams said. “But the most important thing is my body felt good.”

Adams has been plagued by injuries problems his entire career. The Georgian didn’t turn professional until the age of 25, and made his first PGA TOUR start last year at 34. While on the Nationwide Tour in 2008, doctors told Adams that he would need hip-replacement surgery, but he opted instead for an extensive rehabilitation program.

“I’ve got arthritis of a 60-year-old, three bone spurs, and a cyst; all the collagen is worn out in my left hip,” Adams said last year at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, where he finished tied for second.

Adams is 83rd in the FedExCup standings this year. After his best finish of the year at the Viking Classic (a tie for ninth), he dealt with intense pain that caused him to miss the cut at the RBC Canadian Open.

“(In Canada), I hit every fairway on Thursday, and I showed up on Friday and could hardly swing at it,” he said. “It was just my last straw. So I ended up getting a (cortisone) shot on Monday.”

Adams said he was still tentative on the hip at the The Old White TPC, but he made the cut — finishing tied for 32nd, giving him some momentum heading into this week.

“My hip is a disaster,” he said. “So last week I was a little bit scared on it. I mean, I feel good. Hopefully I’ll just keep on rolling.”