Golf is back, which means live sports are back.
After 90 days off, the PGA TOUR is returning this week with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Golf is still a niche sport, so it doesn't have the same audience as say the NFL or NBA, but it's likely it will have a bigger audience than usual this weekend.
Some in New England may be looking for reason to tune in, and Massachusetts native Peter Uihlein gives people someone to root for.
Uihlein, 30, grew up in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, but moved to Florida around age 13 to help improve his golf game and set him up better for his future. In 2010, Uihlein won the US Amateur before turning pro in 2011.
At the beginning of his career he played primary in Europe and won the Madeira Islands Open, a dual-ranked event on the European Tour and Challenge Tour, in 2013 on the way to winning the European Tour's Rookie of the Year.
Now, he's returned to the states and is playing on the PGA TOUR as well as Korn Ferry Tour.
Following the three month layoff, which he spent in Florida with his wife Chelsea and their three dogs, Uihlein is excited to get back to playing and into a routine, which he admitted isn't like it was before.
"It's nice to kind of break up what has been a routine for the last 12 weeks, or how ever long it has been," he said via phone from Texas Wednesday. "It's nice to travel again. It sounds weird, but it is nice to stay in hotel rooms and kind of get in a routine of golfing and playing in tournaments. You get the excitement and the blood flowing. It's nice to get back to what felt like normal before. With that said, the new normal is different."
Uihlein and all the players and caddies playing in the event needed to take a COVID-19 test at home before traveling to Fort Worth and then weren't allowed at the course until they passed another test, which was taken at a site close to the hotel.
At the course, things are much different too as instead of buffet meals for players, it's more of a grab-and-go and then there are limits of players allowed at the driving range and on the putting green. This all will happen at the tournaments in the coming weeks, too.
"It's a lot different and not having fans will obviously be a big part of that as well," he said. "It is nice to get out and play a different course and at least see everybody you're used to seeing. That part of it is nice. … It is not business as usual, but it is in a way."
Uihlein has played in nine events this year, making five cuts and has one top 25 finish. He believes the break came at a good time and he's hoping to have used it to his advantage.
"Probably get back into contention," he said when asked what his goals are for the remainder of the season. "Get the feelings, the juices flowing and those kind of vibes again. It's been awhile. It's been awhile since I have played as well as I have been playing.
"This break was kind of nice to work on some things and try and get better that way. To kind of get back in contention, get the juices flowing and see how I feel being in contention. Obviously, winning would be fantastic. That is always the main goal."
Even though he left the New England area at a young age, he's still a huge Boston sports fan, especially the Patriots.
Uihlein was able to play with Tom Brady at his home course, Medalist Golf Club in Home Sound, Florida last year, and while it was hard to see the quarterback leave for Tampa Bay, Uihlein had an idea it was coming.
"He's close to a lot of people (in Florida) so amongst his inner circle everybody kind of had an idea he was leaving, so at least kind of after the season, at least me personally I was kind of like already knowing he was gone," he said. "You saw reports that he was staying, but I just kind of knew he was on his way out. I felt like I got over it quicker because it just felt like he was going to go anyways. He's such a nice guy. He really is.
"It is what it is. I am happy for him. It's a new chapter for him. It's a new chapter for New England. It will be great to see what (Jarrett) Stidham can do with everything."
For Uihlein personally, he's hoping to write his own new chapter in what is being looked at as the start of a new season. And what better way to start at a place, Colonial Country Club, where he finished T-13 a year ago.
"I like Colonial. I like the old-school style of it," he said. "It's a very New England feel with (it being) short, in the trees, tough greens. … It's nice to get back to a place where you've had success."
Uihlein tees off at 3:01 ET Thursday and 9:51 AM ET Friday.
