Fast greens prompt defensive putting strategy

They’re not complaining, mind you, but for the PGA Tour pros who are competing at the Frys.com Open, the talk Thursday was about how fast the greens were playing.

“They’re really fast,” said Steve Lowery, who putted well and finished with a 6-under-par 66 at TPC Summerlin. “It’s defense when you get above the hole here. You’ve got to keep it below the hole and try to make them when you get the chances. Those downhill putts are quick.”

Jeff Overton had no problems with the greens in shooting a 7-under 65.

“The greens are phenomenal,” he said. “They’re rolling — probably 13 on the Stimp (Stimpmeter), I would think. You hit it 20 feet, and you’re almost scared of three-putting it.”

According to PGA Tour officials, the greens at TPC Summerlin on Thursday were measured between 11 and 111/2 while TPC at The Canyons greens were measuring 101/2 to 11.

• EX-REBELS PLAY WELL — The six-man UNLV alumni contingent competing this week got off to a decent start, particularly Charley Hoffman, who shot a 5-under 67, and Ryan Moore, who finished with a 4-under 68, at TPC Summerlin.

Andres Gonzales had a 3-under 68 playing at TPC at The Canyons, and Chris Riley finished with a 2-under 70 at TPC Summerlin after finishing with birdies on two of his last three holes. Bill Lunde also came in below par, finishing with a 2-under 69.

Chad Campbell had the toughest day of all the ex-Rebels, struggling early and winding up with a 4-over 75 at The Canyons despite carding two eagles and is last in the 144-player field.

Hoffman played with Las Vegan Robert Gamez on Thursday and said it was fun, though Gamez wasn’t happy after finishing at par 72.

“It was a good group,” Hoffman said of his foursome, which included local amateurs Scott Sibella and Mike Beezley. “Good amateurs. Good guys. And I played all right.”

• HOME-COURSE ADVANTAGE — Overton hails from Evansville, Ind. So how does he have a home-course edge in Las Vegas?

His caddie, Pat Cruise, lives here year-round and knows the two TPC courses intimately.

“He’s from my hometown, and he’s a professional poker player,” Overton said of Cruise. “He knows the courses here. He’ll be a big help.”

Overton already was familiar with the courses, having spent a week or two the past couple of winters with Cruise playing them.

“It definitely helps,” Overton said of his familiarity with the TPC layouts. “We’re just out here having fun and making a lot of birdies.”

• PROJECTED CUT — With 110 players breaking par Thursday and 125 at par or better, the cutoff figures to be either 4 or 5 under for Saturday’s third round. Today’s forecast calls for windy conditions with gusts of 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon and temperatures in the lower to middle 80s.