Tony Romo’s pursuit of a professional golf career is in serious jeopardy after the former NFL quarterback failed to make significant progress at a pre-qualifying tournament on Thursday.
The Oklahoma event marked Romo’s first public appearance since he reached a plea agreement stemming from his OWI arrest.
Romo, whose position with CBS remains uncertain after his arrest, is trying to advance through the opening stage of the PGA Tour’s qualifying pathway.
After 36 holes in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Q-School pre-qualifying event, Romo is tied for 49th. He is 15 shots behind the leader and three strokes below the current qualifying mark.
He opened with a four-over-par 76 before posting a three-over 75 on Thursday. The retired Dallas Cowboys star is competing against amateur and professional golfers from across the globe.
Earlier this month, Romo agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors in Wisconsin, two months after police stopped him while he was driving his Jeep and charged him with OWI.
Tony Romo’s bid to become a professional golfer is in danger at a qualifying tournament
The former quarterback was arrested after police pulled him over in Milwaukee on July 23
Bodycam video showing Romo struggling through field sobriety tests spread widely online, and CBS placed him on indefinite leave before the NFL season began.
A longtime golf enthusiast, Romo has previously tried to qualify for both the U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur.
He also played in three Korn Ferry Tour events during 2020 and 2021, while making several PGA Tour appearances, including at the AT&T Byron Nelson.
Romo has made several previous attempts to get through the PGA Tour’s Q-School pre-qualifying stage, but has yet to advance.
His OWI arrest in July came only hours after he was reportedly part of the final round of the Wisconsin Amateur Championship.
The Cowboys icon has regularly competed in the tournament, held at West Bend Country Club roughly 37 miles from Milwaukee.
Under the terms of Romo’s plea agreement, he faces jail time if he is convicted of another OWI-related offense during the next 10 years.
A further drinking-and-driving conviction within that period would trigger a “mandatory jail sentence.” Romo has also agreed to install an ignition interlock device in all of his vehicles.
Romo has remained on leave from CBS since his OWI arrest in his native Wisconsin in July
He was fined more than $700, lost his driving privileges for six months and committed to completing an alcohol assessment program.
Alongside the initial OWI allegation, Romo faced charges related to first-offense OWI, illegally passing on the right and having open intoxicants inside his vehicle.
Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining citations after Romo accepted the conditions outlined in the plea deal.
Earlier this month, Romo candidly opened up on his struggles with pain medication and alcohol dependency and took accountability for the incident.
‘Football has shaped nearly every meaningful part of my life,’ he said in a statement.
‘I played for more than 20 years, including 14 in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. After my retirement, CBS gave me the profound honor of staying close to the game through broadcasting.
‘Playing taught me the power of relationships, the strength of a team, and the toughness to face failure head-on with honesty, resilience, and the determination to do better.
‘This is one of those moments when I am leaning on everything football taught me.
Romo is being kept off air by CBS indefinitely following his OWI arrest this summer
Join the discussion
Should Romo get another shot at broadcasting or has his off-field behavior ruined his chances?
‘This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely.’
Romo, who earns $18million per year with CBS, was placed on indefinite leave by the network following his arrest, with JJ Watt taking up his role alongside play-by-play commentator Jim Nantz.
Initially, it was only Week 1 that he was officially set to miss, with Watt working alongside Jim Nantz for the Packers-Vikings game.
However, he is still yet to appear on CBS after the opening three rounds of games.
