Kokrak sets goal: better putts, drives
Jason Kokrak is ranked fourth in driving distance and tied for fourth in eagles per hole, according to the PGA Tour statistics through Sunday’s play.
The Warren JFK High graduate’s 314.2-yard average driving distance trails Jamie Lovemark’s 322.3, Kyle Stanley’s 316.4 and Vijay Singh’s 314.9.
And he shares a fourth-best 36 holes-per-eagle rating with Ben Crane, Danny Lee and Bobby Gates. They trail Brett Quigley’s 24 and the 27 attributed to both Steve Wheatcroft and Anthony Kim.
But Kokrak not putting a lot of stock in the early stats after his first two tournaments.
“It’s still a work in progress,” Kokrak said of his January starts. “It’s not the same as the Nationwide Tour. Here, it’s not the same person with a chance to win each week.
“It’s not as easy as some people think it is.”
So far, Kokrak has six rounds under his belt.
He carded 69-70-72 for a 3-day total of 1-over 211 and earned $10,340 in the Sony Open in Honolulu won by Johnson Wagner, then had 68-66-78 in last week’s Humana Challenge at LaQuinta won by Mark Wilson.
His 78 came during a round which was interrupted by high winds.
“It was a bad round, including the wind and a couple other things,” Kokrak said. “I played bad in one round so far. Of six rounds, five have been pretty decent.”
In the Sony Open, Kokrak survived the initial 36-hole cut, but was the victim of a second cut (after 54 holes) because more than 78 golfers still were alive.
One benefit is traveling to pristine places week-in and week-out.
“You try to have fun while working at your game, but it’s still work,” Kokrak said. “I’m trying to make a life for myself and be out here for lot of years.
“It’s not easy for a rookie to keep his card. One of my main goals is to keep my card and maintain top 125.”
Now comes the Farmers Insurance Open in La Jolla, Calif.
“I’ve only seen nine holes of Torrey Pines, but I can’t foresee any problems,” Kokrak said. “I didn’t putt particularly well so far, and my driver hasn’t gone as well the last four rounds.
“But we’ll work on that and figure it out.
“We’re hitting irons well and wedging pretty close, so those are keys to playing well.
“When we square away my putter and driver we’ll be pretty dangerous out here.”
Although he led in driving distance last year on the Nationwide Tour, Kokrak said it’s too early to gauge the validity of that stat this season.
“I expected to be in the top five or six, but some longer-hitting players don’t always hit drivers on some of the holes they measure,” Kokrak said. “Each week is my first time seeing a course, so it’s tough to map out. That’s why I have a veteran caddie [Steve Kay].”
His eagle rating means that, technically, he should make two eagles for each 36 holes.
“That will fluctuate more at the beginning of the year. Later, it may be [an eagle] after every 54 holes.”