BARRINGTON, R.I. - They are no longer part of the PGA Tour on a regular basis. Injuries, age, and the ever-changing state of the game, in which 300-yard drives are now the norm, have put Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, with their retro games off the tee, into golf limbo.
Perhaps that will change in the future when Faxon, who turns 48 Aug. 1, and Andrade, who is 45, ponder moving to the Champions Tour at 50.
For now, however, Faxon and Andrade are content as ambassadors of the game in Rhode Island, New England, and to a large extent, the PGA Tour. While 60 of their PGA brethren were taking care of business a few hours south as the US Open wrapped up at Bethpage Black, Faxon and Andrade were filling their familiar roles as hosts and anchors of the
In the Ocean State, permanent resident Faxon and Andrade, who spends his summers here, are still the main attractions. It makes no difference that Faxon’s last Tour victory was at the Buick Championship in 2005 and Andrade’s last win was in Las Vegas in 2000. In the club’s parking lot, Faxon and Andrade inhabited spots Nos. 1 and 2 next to the clubhouse as they went about the business of raising money and playing golf on a fall-like, misty afternoon in the two-day, 20-player, best-ball tournament.
What is significant is the more than $12 million the event has raised for charities in the area since its inception 11 years ago. That does not mitigate the competitive instinct of both golfers.
Andrade, who has earned $12.3 million on tour, combined with Helen Alfredsson for a round of 6-under-par 65, a shot better than the four teams tied for second - favorite sons Brett and Dana Quigley, David Toms and Nick Price, Brittany Lincicome and Brad Adamonis, and Boo Weekley and Chad Campbell, who posted 5-under par 66s on a day in which the course had a British Open feel with swirling winds and steady rain.
“I grew up with this kind of weather,’’ said Adamonis, who was a last-minute replacement when five scheduled participants - Anthony Kim, Todd Hamilton, Camilo Villegas, Bubba Watson and Retief Goosen had to cancel when the US Open extended into yesterday because of inclement weather. “It was fun.’’
It was certainly fun for Andrade, who grew up in Rhode Island with visions of competing for major titles as a youngster. Those dreams have faded over the past several years as Andrade struggled to keep his game together.
“It was fun,’’ said Andrade. “The thing about it is that even if you aren’t having success, the competitive instinct in you doesn’t go away. It has been frustrating, wondering if you are going to make the cut each week. What’s the saying, ‘I’m not that far off, but I’m so far away?’ ’’
Andrade says the main goal for everyone yesterday was enjoyment, but having never won this event, a victory today could give him a boost this week at the Travelers Championship at Cromwell, Conn.
“The tough thing when you are in that 45- to 50-year-old range is to keep it going if you aren’t doing well,’’ said Andrade. “Playing with Helen was fun. The format is fun.’’
Faxon and Juli Inkster shot a 2-under 69 and are tied for eighth. Faxon has earned $17.6 million in a career that began in 1983. A knee injury has limited his activity the past two years, but he also knows his career is on hold in terms of direction.
Winning a two-day charity event on your home turf would be only a footnote, of course, although neither Faxon nor Andrade have won. But for both players, the dreams that began more than 20 years ago, when Andrade was coming out of Wake Forest and Faxon was coming out of Furman, still are flickering with the lure of the Champions tour still ahead.
