Worley family hangs in there on and off the golf course

Heavy rain, howling wind and a roughly two-hour delay Friday were not enough to keep golfer Brock Worley's parents, Blaine and Judy, away from the golf course with him during his opening round in the Greater Cedar Rapids Open golf tournament at Hunters Ridge Golf Course.

In fact, Blaine had to be there. He was Brock's caddie.

“I love having him on the bag,” Brock said. “I'm just glad he survived, because it was a long day out there.”

Worley, 25, teed off at 7:30 a.m. While he was on his second hole, the siren sounded and players were forced to head back to the clubhouse for two hours because of inclement weather.

“The two-hour wait was not a lot of fun, especially when you've already gone through your whole routine,” Worley said. “It would've been nice to start things fresh.”

But Worley said, that his father always knows what to say and when to say it to keep him focused on his game, which was crucial during a day when it may have been even more difficult than normal to stay mentally focused.

“The course played a lot longer today because of the wetness,” Worley said. “It felt like playing St. Andrews in Scotland. The wind was howling right in your face as the rain was pouring down. You had to laugh it off almost.”

After a first-round 76, Worley said he will hang tough and get some rest so he can be ready for today's second round.

This is his third Greater Cedar Rapids Open since becoming a professional in 2008 and his seventh GCRO overall. Worley won the 2007 Cedar Rapids City Amateur tournament in a field of about 230 golfers.

Worley took over as men's and women's golf coach at his alma mater, Cornell College, in November. While playing golf at Cornell from 2003 through 2005, Worley became the only Cornell golfer to make All-Iowa Conference as a freshman. Making that honor team is one of the challenges he presents to each of his players.

After all the success Worley has had on golf courses, he said his family has been the greatest influence in his career. He enjoys having “brotherly golf battles” with his younger brothers, Chad, 23, and Dane, 17.

“The battles are friendly but heated,” he said.

Worley said his mother played an essential role in his career by frequently driving him and his brothers to the golf course. He added it is special to him to have his parents' support at golf events, especially the Greater Cedar Rapids Open.

“Mom was watching and dad was caddying,” he said. “It was nice to have them along for the ride.”

Heavy rain, howling wind and a roughly two-hour delay Friday were not enough to keep golfer Brock Worley's parents, Blaine and Judy, away from the golf course with him during his opening round in the Greater Cedar Rapids Open golf tournament at Hunters Ridge Golf Course.

In fact, Blaine had to be there. He was Brock's caddie.

“I love having him on the bag,” Brock said. “I'm just glad he survived, because it was a long day out there.”

Worley, 25, teed off at 7:30 a.m. While he was on his second hole, the siren sounded and players were forced to head back to the clubhouse for two hours because of inclement weather.

“The two-hour wait was not a lot of fun, especially when you've already gone through your whole routine,” Worley said. “It would've been nice to start things fresh.”

But Worley said, that his father always knows what to say and when to say it to keep him focused on his game, which was crucial during a day when it may have been even more difficult than normal to stay mentally focused.

“The course played a lot longer today because of the wetness,” Worley said. “It felt like playing St. Andrews in Scotland. The wind was howling right in your face as the rain was pouring down. You had to laugh it off almost.”

After a first-round 76, Worley said he will hang tough and get some rest so he can be ready for today's second round.

This is his third Greater Cedar Rapids Open since becoming a professional in 2008 and his seventh GCRO overall. Worley won the 2007 Cedar Rapids City Amateur tournament in a field of about 230 golfers.

Worley took over as men's and women's golf coach at his alma mater, Cornell College, in November. While playing golf at Cornell from 2003 through 2005, Worley became the only Cornell golfer to make All-Iowa Conference as a freshman. Making that honor team is one of the challenges he presents to each of his players.

After all the success Worley has had on golf courses, he said his family has been the greatest influence in his career. He enjoys having “brotherly golf battles” with his younger brothers, Chad, 23, and Dane, 17.

“The battles are friendly but heated,” he said.

Worley said his mother played an essential role in his career by frequently driving him and his brothers to the golf course. He added it is special to him to have his parents' support at golf events, especially the Greater Cedar Rapids Open.

“Mom was watching and dad was caddying,” he said. “It was nice to have them along for the ride.”