After he lost his card in 2007, Branshaw's game slowly faded, and he lost Web.com status after the 2011 season, as he battled an increasing bout of overall golf frustration that he said began in 2010.
Prior to Hartford, Branshaw had made only one Web.com start in 2013, missing the cut in Brazil, along with failing to make it through two Web.com Monday qualifiers and one PGA Tour Monday bid in Tampa.
But this week was different. Encouraged by his love for the Hartford area, where his wife grew up, Branshaw traveled up from his home near Tampa in a bid to enter this week's field. His 2-under 68 in tough, windy conditions was enough to secure one of four spots in the field, and Branshaw prepared to tee it up at TPC River Highlands.
The veteran has been in the world of golf for a long time, so Branshaw said he wasn't even nervous as he headed to the first tee on Thursday. He didn't show any nerves, either - the Oswego, NY native jumped out to 3-under thru seven holes and weathered two mid-round bogeys to post a 3-under 67. He hit 12 of 14 fairways and missed only six greens on the day, 'missing a few putts but making a few, and only missing a few shots,' by his estimation.
After signing his scorecard and lighting a cigarette near the scoring trailer, Branshaw seemed content as he reflected on his last six years. A few tournament-related personnel waved and said hello as they drove by in golf carts, recognizing him and telling him it was good to see him back again. Branshaw played the event all three years he was PGA-Tour exempt, making the cut twice, with a high finish of T21 in 2006.
Branshaw said that he didn't have too much to work on as he prepared for his Friday round, but that he would go to the range and work on tempo for a short time, trying to 'take a little off' and make some less-than-full swings with a few irons.
Branshaw gets his second round underway at 2 p.m. on Friday, in the final group of the day off the 10th tee, with Andres Gonzales and Bobby Gates.
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