The day Tony Romo lost his job as the lead NFL analyst for CBS could also coincide with the moment he got another step closer to his dream of playing professional golf.
Romo was taking part in a PGA Tour Q-School pre-qualifying event in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on Friday, Oct. 2, when he and CBS announced they were mutually parting ways. Romo was arrested and pleaded no contest to three charges related to operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Wisconsin in July. He had been placed on indefinite leave by the network since the incident.
But that didn't stop the avid amateur golfer from teeing it up at The Club at Forest Ridge. He is one of 75 hopefuls who began stroke play on Wednesday trying to advance to the first stage of the PGA Tour's Q School.
Entering the back nine of Friday's final round, Romo sat in a tie for 45th place at 8-over par (and +1 for his round).
The PGA Tour's Q School site lists him in a section labeled "not currently in contention." The number of players eligible to advance from each pre-qualifying tournament location is done on a pro rata basis, with all golfers tied also advancing. Romo is three shots off the projected cutline with nine holes to go at his pre-qualifying site.
Romo, 46, has been in pursuit of a professional golf career since his NFL career concluded. But he has never advanced all the way through the PGA Tour's qualifying process during five previous attempts. He has also attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open in several years and played in four PGA Tour events via sponsor's exemptions. He won the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in 2018.
Romo was arrested following a golf outing on July 23 and was charged with unsafe passing on the right, possessing open intoxicants and operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI). Police bodycam footage that was released following the arrest went viral.
J.J. Watt, who had been named Romo's replacement on an interim basis, will finish the season in CBS' top booth in place of Romo alongside Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tony Romo was playing at PGA Tour Q-School as CBS exit became official
