Holmes makes good FBR impression -- again

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When big-hitting J.B. Holmes broke through in 2006 and won the FBR Open for his first -- and so far only -- PGA TOUR title, many called it the day Holmes arrived.

He's back.

J.B. Holmes had a bogey-free round on Friday at TPC Scottsdale. (Halleran/Getty Images)

Inside the Numbers

J.B. Holmes through 36 holes at the FBR Open

Eagles 1 Birdies 9 Pars 24 Bogeys 2 Driving Distance 294.3 Putts Per Round 26 GIR 69.4

Holmes posted a 65 on Friday and took the clubhouse lead at the FBR at 9 under, a mark that was matched later in the day by Monday qualifier Doug LaBelle II.

"Played well. Hit my irons good, putted well, so just a good day," he said.

Holmes has had many good days at TPC Scottsdale, seven in fact, as in seven rounds in the 60s in eight tries.

"Yeah, it's always great to come back here, good memories," he said. "I always play well here. So I'm always excited for the FBR Open to come back around every year.

"When you've got better memories, you always have more confidence when you get to a golf course that you really, really like, that you feel sets up good for you than a golf course that doesn't set up as good for you," he said. Just mentally you just have a little bit better mindset, I think. You can still play well at other golf courses and still win at other golf courses, but me coming out like I did my rookie year and winning in this tournament, I have nothing but good memories here. Positive thoughts are always good."

Since that fateful day two years ago, not all the memories have been good ones for Holmes, he's had four top-10s and eight top-25s.

"It's a different lifestyle," Holmes says of days on TOUR compared to his college days at the University of Kentucky. "You go from being around your friends all the time to being gone six, seven months a year traveling. It's a big change.

"It just takes getting used to," he said. "It's like anything else. When it's different from what you've known your whole life, you go from a college player where you get 15 people to watch a tournament to you're hitting it in front of 25,000, 30,000 people on one shot, it's a big difference."

But, Holmes says he has learned to adjust.

"I've gotten adjusted to the lifestyle more now, getting in more of a routine," he said. "This is a tough sport to play for a living. You're not always doing good. You know, just keep your head up and keep plowing and do the best you can."

Holmes certainly did his best on Friday, posting six birdies, no bogeys -- and a great sand save on No. 18.

"It was a pretty good yardage for me, 120, I had like a half wedge," he said. "I had a good yardage on it. I pushed it just a little. I was planning on hitting it a little closer, but I'll take that shot every time out of there."

As far as the weekend goes, Holmes said Mother Nature could make things interesting on the field.

"The greens are firming up quicker than the fairways," he said. "I think it's just going to get a little bit tougher from here on out because they've got run-offs and the greens get firmer. It should be fun out here this weekend."

And what will he spend the $1,080,000 winner's check on should he be hoisting it Sunday? Don't expect much, especially considering what he did with the check he got two years ago.

"I haven't spent it yet. It's in the bank."