STATELINE - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo credited a newly found fade in his golf game for some of his success during the opening round of the American Century Championship on Friday.
During a press conference following his round at Edgewood Tahoe on Friday, Romo talked about the new facet of his game, the attention he has received from female fans, and what it was like to golf with John Elway and Dan Marino.
Romo - who was at the top of the leader board after day one of the tournament - described himself as a historically "right to left type of player," but said he worked specifically on hitting the ball left to right before this weekend's celebrity golf tournament.
With many of the course's holes ending up right of the tee box, Romo said the strategy paid off in the first round, which included seven birdies for the third-year American Century Championship competitor.
"It was a good start today," Romo said. "Any time you can get off to a good start, it makes it easier."
Despite jokingly saying that the would "stay up until four in the morning, get up early and roll out to the first tee," in preparation for Saturday's round, Romo discussed the mental toughness it takes to make it through a golf tournament.
While the links and the gridiron seem to have few connections, Romo said he often harnesses the mental focus it takes to be good at golf when he's in the huddle, and encouraged parents not to make kids focus too much on any one sport.
"It's a neat thing to kind of use that in something else," Romo said.
Playing with John Elway and Dan Marino was special to Romo, who said he'd never really gotten to hang out with the legendary NFL quarterbacks.
"I'll remember that for a long time," Romo said. "These guys are as good as they get."
But it was the women who really came out to show support for Romo on Friday. Female fans persistently let Romo know how much they appreciated him throughout Friday's competition.
Although he declined to comment on a recently reported break-up with singer Jessica Simpson, he said a houseboat full of woman holding a sign reading "Romo We're Single 2" was "interesting."
As far as what he needs to do to beat former Major League Baseball pitcher and defending tournament champion Rick Rhoden and the rest of the field and become a first-time winner of the tournament, Romo said it's all about consistency.
"I just need to be able to weather the storm when it happens and make some putts and birdies," Romo said.