LAS VEGAS – Monday qualifier Dylan Wu produced an incredible start to his PGA TOUR career. The former Northwestern star punched out six birdies without a bogey in his opening nine holes, shooting 30 to begin the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. And while the 23-year-old – whose scoring average at his alma mater is the second-best of all-time, behind only Luke Donald – was unable to maintain that form over the final nine holes, he still shot a 5-under 66 to be inside the top 10. RELATED: Leaderboard | Tee times | Chase Koepka bests brother Brooks in opening round: “He’ll hear it over dinner” “I kind of surprised myself. Of course I was nervous. I mean, the first tee, that was the probably the most nervous I was. Once I hit a good tee shot, just tried to have fun out there,â€� he said after his round. “I just tried to play well. Just treat it like any other tournament. Good golf translates no matter where you’re playing, so that’s what I’ve kind of learned this year. Hopefully there are more PGA TOUR events in the future.â€� When he first arrived at TPC Summerlin on Tuesday, Wu admitted he was a little overwhelmed. He and fellow Monday Qualifier Andrew Novak stuck together to play a practice round. But in a twist of fate, Adam Scott and amateur Jack Trent were about to start their own round and invited them along. “It’s pretty cool just seeing your name against all the guys here. It’s hard when it’s your first time out here not to be star struck when you see players like Brooks Koepka and Adam Scott,â€� he said. “And to see how many young guys have had success out here, just shows how much better trained we are and how well-prepared we are when we do get out here. It’s just a testament to them. Just when any young guy plays well, it helps any guy that’s playing college golf or amateur golf.â€� Wu said having former teammate Sam Triplett, son of Kirk who won three times on the PGA TOUR, helped keep things light. Even when he bogeyed his penultimate hole and three-putted his final green for a slightly-annoying par. “If you told me I would be 5-under par after the first round of my first PGA TOUR event, I would take it, let alone shooting 30,â€� he smiled. “I know you’re going to make mistakes, especially in your first PGA TOUR event, but to be able to make eight birdies to counteract the three bogeys today was kind of unbelievable in my first tournament out here.â€� Interestingly, Wu wasn’t a stranger to everyone when he arrived for his TOUR debut. Some savvy TOUR staff recognized the youngster. “I did an internship my junior year. It was part of like a grant I won at Northwestern, the Northwestern Student Athlete Program, and it was basically a business internship learning the business side of golf,â€� Wu explained. “That entailed going to THE NORTHERN TRUST tournament. Kind of just being a sponge and learning all about the golf tournament, but also the corporate and golf side. And then I got to take a two-day trip to PGA TOUR headquarters and meet a bunch of PGA TOUR people. “So I got to see people this week, a couple days ago, that I haven’t seen in two-and-a-half years. It’s cool to see. Like being on the outside of the ropes back then and seeing myself here, it’s kind of pretty cool.â€�
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