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A YEAR after back surgery almost entirely wiped out his 2011 campaign, pain-free Canadian Graham DeLaet made a near-perfect start to his 2012 season.
In last Thursday’s opening round of the Sony Open in Hawaii, the 29-year-old from Saskatchewan took advantage of the conditions at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, firing a seven-under-par 63 to surge into a two-shot lead.
DeLaet, who competed in only four events last year, recorded six birdies, a chip-in for eagle and a lone bogey to set a sizzling pace in the PGA Tour’s first full-field event of the season.
"I’m just so excited to be back out," DeLaet told reporters. "Just being in Hawaii, period, is a great way to start the year and to come out and fire a nice round in the opening round was great."
Asked to assess his all-round fitness, DeLaet replied: "I’m feeling great. I wouldn’t say I’m 100 per cent, but better than three years ago, even before the real bad injury.
"There were times after the surgery when I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play again. I was in a bad place mentally and physically, but it’s just nice to be back.
"I had a good season in my rookie campaign in 2010 and then it was all basically just taken away. And, I realise now how fortunate we are to be playing golf for a living."
DeLaet had surgery on his lower back in January last year and returned to competition in June before lingering pain forced him to abort his season after playing just two events apiece on the PGA Tour and its feeder Nationwide Tour.
He is competing on the 2012 PGA Tour in the major medical extension category and has 26 events to earn a total of $657,694 to secure his card for 2013.
