PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Freddie Jacobson did not want to shake hands. He wasn’t trying to be rude, but after three hand surgeries – two to his left thumb, one to his right wrist – it’s best to avoid anything that might cause pain or a relapse. “Can’t afford any more hand injuries,� Jacobson said. Fist-bumping is OK, though. So that’s the preferred greeting for now. There’s been lots of opportunities for Jacobson to fist-bump the first two days at The Honda Classic. With rounds of 69-67 that left him at 4 under and near the top of the leaderboard entering the weekend, the Swede shot consecutive rounds in the 60s for the first time at a PGA TOUR event since the 2016 Wyndham Championship. That might not sound like much, but given what he’s endured since then, any positive achievement is worthy of celebrating. It was soon after the 2016 FedExCup Playoffs that Jacobson underwent his third hand surgery. He didn’t return to action until the 2017 Honda Classic but was not competitive in his next few starts. Then at THE PLAYERS Championship that year, his left thumb became a problem again. He tried to fight through with one more start but couldn’t find any stability, as the thumb weakened. So he shut it down for the rest of the year. He considered having another surgery but opted instead to hold off, hoping that rest and proper rehab would be enough. Meanwhile, he and wife Erika also were starting the process of moving their family to their native Sweden, wanting to give their three children – including son Max, who underwent open-heart surgery after being diagnosed with a heart defect in 2015 – the opportunity to enjoy their home country’s culture and language. Jacobson ultimately missed the entire 2017-18 TOUR season, finally returning last fall at Las Vegas. Playing out of the Major Medical category, he has 18 starts to earn 333 FedExCup points to keep his TOUR card. Through his first seven starts, he has just eight points, as he’s missed five cuts. He started off this week thinking his struggles would continue – he had lost the feel of his swing while battling the winds at the Genesis Open and Puerto Rico Open. “On Monday, I thought no chance,� Jacobson said. But after two productive practice days with swing coach Mark McCann, his spirits improved. He teed off on Thursday in a positive frame of mind and has mostly stayed out of trouble on a tough PGA National course. He was a bogey-free 2-under on his last 13 holes Friday. ‘It’s the first week I’ve felt since I kind of disappeared on TOUR that my short game and focus around the green was back,� said Jacobson, who once lived nearby in Hobe Sound. “That’s a good base for me. I need that base.� And he just needs to stay healthy, get back into a rhythm, get some rounds under him. The problem, of course, is that there are no guarantees. A handshake that’s too strong, an unexpected bend of the wrist – anything could set him back. “I just hope it holds up for awhile, so I don’t have to do any more surgeries,� he said. “Get some continuity, playing and practicing. That’s the key. “It’s tough when the body can’t recover after practice. You practice for a day or two, and the you have to take a number of days off. That doesn’t really work out here if you want to make the cut, at least.� Jacobson, the 2011 Travelers Championship winner, has battled through several injuries during his lengthy pro career. Mentally, he’s always been able to bounce back and regain his form. This time, though, it’s been a challenge. “It’s been the toughest one to get back from,� he said. “… This was too long. I lost my feel. Hard to get my head in the game.� But now, he says, he’s ready to put the pieces together. The first two days at PGA National confirmed that. Of course, the weekend will determine just where he stands when the pressure ramps up. And if he plays well this weekend and you want to congratulate him? Well, don’t take offense if he offers you a fist instead of a handshake.
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