Last week, Pro Bowler Tony Romo failed to qualify for the U.S. Open for the second year in a row. According to SportingNews, he shot five-over par 77 at the local qualifying tournament in Plano, Texas at Gleneagles Country Club. Of the 132 participants, only eight moved on to the next qualifying round which will take place on June 4 in New York.
The day was filled with narrowly missed shots that kept him from getting back on track. On more than one shot, he missed by inches, taking away any chance of reducing his score. He bogeyed the first of his first four holes and double bogeyed the sixth hole.
He also bogeyed the fourteenth and sixteenth hole, increasing his score beyond saving on a birdie on the tenth hole.
Second consecutive year of coming up short
At the 2017 qualifying tournament, USA Today reported that he shot three-over 75 par at Split Rail Links & Golf Club in Aledo, Texas. To qualify for the 2017 U.S. Open, he would have had to shoot at one or under par 69. Unfortunately, the three bogeys, one triple bogey, and a shot into the water did too much damage to his score to be offset by even the birdie he shot on the final hole.
His golfing career did not improve going into 2018 as he finished in last place at a PGA Tour event. He shot 77-82 and was last by six shots at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship.
The 2017 qualifying tournament was not his first attempt at qualifying for the tournament. In 2010, Romo did move on to sectionals, qualifying him for the U.S. Open. However, because of weather delays, the games interfered with official Dallas Cowboys team activities, causing him to have to withdraw. In 2011, the quarterback attempted to qualify again, but was unsuccessful.
Romo's exceptional 12-year career in the NFL
Prior to his budding golf career, Romo played for the Dallas Cowboys and USA Today reported that he passed for over 34,000 yards and almost 250 touchdowns. However, major injuries pushed him toward his 2016 retirement. His injuries ranged from broken fingers to broken bones in his back, as well as a broken collarbone.
His final injury sidelined him for the majority of the 2016 season, opening up the opportunity for the current franchise quarterback, Dak Prescott, to start and maintain the position.
When Romo retired from football, he turned to sports analysis and proved to be quite accurate at calling teams' plays before they happened. He, alongside Jim Nantz, became a sports analyst for CBS' "Sunday Night Football" and "Thursday Night Football," and received rave reviews for his accuracy. Unfortunately, it does not look like his golf career will be as promising or rewarding.