Riddick, Wood interchanging for Notre Dame

MIAMI (AP) — Notre Dame tailbacks Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood showed how interchangeable they are in the final two games of the regular season for the Fighting Irish.
Game 11 against Wake Forest, Wood ran for 150 yards, while Riddick had 20.
Game 12 against USC, it was Riddick running for 146 yards, and Wood for 20.
And so has been the theme for the Irish this season: Two running backs — and sometimes three — are better than one. That approach has served Notre Dame pretty much since training camp, and the top-ranked Irish (12-0) are hoping it holds true once Monday night when they face No. 2 Alabama (12-1) in the BCS title game.
Riddick has run for 880 yards and five touchdowns this season, Wood 740 yards and four scores, and George Atkinson III — who got only 51 carries, compared with 180 for Riddick and 110 for Wood — added five touchdowns and 7.1 yards per carry.
"We try to utilize all their strengths," Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chuck Martin said. "The truth be told, they all could be a feature back, they all could do all the things. Everybody is like, 'He plays more, what's wrong with him?' There's nothing wrong with any of the three. We'd like to get George 20 carries a game but there's one football."
Notre Dame was unranked to start the year, which means not many — well, very few — people thought the Irish would be in the national title game against the reigning champion Crimson Tide.
Among those who thought the Irish would play in the season's last game: Riddick, Wood and Atkinson.
"We've had RB meetings where we talk about what we want to do and what we all want to accomplish," Wood said. "In the beginning of the season, what we said normally was, 'We want to win them all.' That was word-for-word what we said. We want to win them all. And up to this point, we have. So we took that upon ourselves. We think we're one of the more skilled groups on the whole team. That's just how we go about our business."
Martin was asked in the days leading up to the BCS title game to describe all three backs, rapid-fire style. His responses:
On Riddick, "pound for pound as good a football player as they make."
On Wood, "as explosive a player as they make."
On Atkinson, "really explosive athlete."
Notice any trends there? The Irish love their backs, and Alabama is raving about what they see from them all as well.
"Riddick is probably quicker than the other two," Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. "Great one-step quickness, the ability to make you miss, good stiff arm. Didn't think a former receiver would run with that much power, but he does run with power. They're really good backs."
Riddick came to Notre Dame as a running back, then primarily played wide receiver for two years and returned to the backfield this season. He said he never complained, said he never wondered which position better suited him.
Whatever it took to win was fine with him, Riddick said.
"What can I say? I feel like I'm at ease," Riddick said. "Everything slows down tremendously and I think it's just helped me."
Ask anyone on the Notre Dame offensive line how Riddick has handled his return to running back, and they'll say they believe he's hitting his best stride at the perfect time.
That being, title game.
"He's been unbelievable," offensive lineman Zack Martin said. "Especially in the last three or four games of the season, he's been great. To have a guy like that behind you, he's fun to block for."
That probably can be said for Wood and Atkinson as well.
"It's a credit to all three of them that they've stuck with it and prepared hard every week, and some weeks they've gotten more touches, but that's the nature of the beast," said Chuck Martin, the offensive coordinator. "But we're very fortunate to have three very talented kids at that position."

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Alabama AD made a brief stop at Notre Dame

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Mal Moore's career was adrift.
A quarter century of winning games and titles as an Alabama player and assistant to Bear Bryant had ended, and Moore was passed over to succeed the famed coach.
He was thinking about getting out of the profession altogether before Notre Dame's Gerry Faust called one Sunday morning to gauge his interest in a job.
"At the time, I kind of felt like a man without a country," Moore said. "I was in a strange position that I'd never been in before."
He flew to South Bend that day for an interview, then served as running backs coach from 1983-85. From one elite program to another and, ultimately, back to his alma mater to stay.
Moore's stopover in northern Indiana is now a footnote in a 50-year career defined by the eras of Bryant, Gene Stallings and now Nick Saban. He has been around for nine national titles at Alabama and is hoping to crack double digits Monday night when the Tide faces No. 1 Notre Dame.
But back in the 1980s, Moore's career moves were the height of intrigue and drama in the college football world.
He was either a player or assistant for Bryant during all but one season of a historic 25-year run. Bryant, who died a couple of months after stepping down following the 1982 season, won 323 games, six national titles and 13 Southeastern Conference championships during his tenure in Tuscaloosa.
When he left, Moore and fellow assistant Ken Donahue interviewed for a job that went to Ray Perkins, then coaching the NFL's New York Giants. And Notre Dame made an attention-getting hire.
"It was considered quite a coup, an amazing coup," said Lou Somogyi, senior editor of 247Sports' Notre Dame site and Blue and Gold Illustrated. "All of a sudden, here's Mal Moore, who's been part of so many national titles with Bear, and he's looking for work.
"Out of the blue, Gerry Faust called him. That was a pretty extraordinary set of circumstances."
It was also quite an adjustment for a Southern Baptist heading to a Catholic university.
Moore lived for several months in the Morris Inn on campus, where he could step out the door, glance left and see the golden dome. Wife Charlotte, who died in 2010, and daughter Heather moved to South Bend after their home was built.
"It was a good three years," said Moore, who had become Alabama's first offensive coordinator in 1975. "We weren't a great team during that time. We went to two bowl games, but it was quite an experience. Especially for Charlotte. Charlotte was Catholic growing up. She loved her time there and on the campus."
Moore then went on to coaching stops in the NFL before returning to his alma mater as Stallings' offensive coordinator in 1990, helping the Tide to a national title two years later. He's been athletic director since 1999, hiring Saban from the Miami Dolphins in his best career move. The football and athletic administration building is named after him.
Moore was on the opposite sideline for the first four of six meetings between Notre Dame and Alabama. The Fighting Irish won by one point in 1973, two in 1975 and three in 1976.
Notre Dame's 7-0 win in 1980 broke the pattern of one-point increase in scoring margin.
"Bear Bryant said after the (1976) game: "I don't think I'm going to be around for the four-pointer," Somogyi recalled.
He noted that "Notre Dame fans were groaning" after Alabama missed a field goal in '80 that would have created that four-point margin.
Moore and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbuck had several discussions about trying to set up regular-season meetings, perhaps at some neutral site like New York or Orlando.
"We just never could quite pull it off," Moore said. After the BCS matchup was set: "I called him and said, 'Jack, you and I couldn't put a game together but now we let the players do it.'"
After ups and downs for both programs, they're once again vying for national supremacy. And Moore, of course, will have a prime view.
His stop at Notre Dame showed him the similarities both programs share. Notre Dame had Knute Rockne and Ara Parseghian, Alabama Wallace Wade and Saban. Both have had five different coaches claim national titles.
Traditions galore.
"A powerful university. Great history, great tradition," said Moore, who has talked to several of his former Notre Dame players leading up to the matchup. "That is what's so similar between the two programs, is the great success that both have enjoyed through the years.
"There's a lot of people that have had success at both universities. The alumni at both expect greatness. This is what here at Alabama I hope never changes. Once it doesn't matter then you are in trouble."

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RBs Riddick, Wood give Notre Dame 1-2 punch

MIAMI (AP) — Notre Dame tailbacks Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood showed how interchangeable they are in the final two games of the regular season for the Fighting Irish.
Game 11 against Wake Forest, Wood ran for 150 yards, while Riddick had 20.
Game 12 against USC, it was Riddick running for 146 yards, and Wood for 20.
And so has been the theme for the Irish this season: Two running backs — and sometimes three — are better than one. That approach has served Notre Dame pretty much since training camp, and the top-ranked Irish (12-0) are hoping it holds true once Monday night when they face No. 2 Alabama (12-1) in the BCS title game.
Riddick has run for 880 yards and five touchdowns this season, Wood 740 yards and four scores, and George Atkinson III — who got only 51 carries, compared with 180 for Riddick and 110 for Wood — added five touchdowns and 7.1 yards per carry.
"We try to utilize all their strengths," Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chuck Martin said. "The truth be told, they all could be a feature back, they all could do all the things. Everybody is like, 'He plays more, what's wrong with him?' There's nothing wrong with any of the three. We'd like to get George 20 carries a game but there's one football."
Notre Dame was unranked to start the year, which means not many — well, very few — people thought the Irish would be in the national title game against the reigning champion Crimson Tide.
Among those who thought the Irish would play in the season's last game: Riddick, Wood and Atkinson.
"We've had RB meetings where we talk about what we want to do and what we all want to accomplish," Wood said. "In the beginning of the season, what we said normally was, 'We want to win them all.' That was word-for-word what we said. We want to win them all. And up to this point, we have. So we took that upon ourselves. We think we're one of the more skilled groups on the whole team. That's just how we go about our business."
Martin was asked in the days leading up to the BCS title game to describe all three backs in rapid-fire style. His responses:
On Riddick, "pound for pound as good a football player as they make."
On Wood, "as explosive a player as they make."
On Atkinson, "really explosive athlete."
Notice any trends there? The Irish love their backs, and Alabama is raving about what they see from them all as well.
"Riddick is probably quicker than the other two," Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. "Great one-step quickness, the ability to make you miss, good stiff arm. Didn't think a former receiver would run with that much power, but he does run with power. They're really good backs."
Riddick came to Notre Dame as a running back, then primarily played wide receiver for two years and returned to the backfield this season. He said he never complained, said he never wondered which position better suited him.
Whatever it took to win was fine with him, Riddick said.
"What can I say? I feel like I'm at ease," Riddick said. "Everything slows down tremendously and I think it's just helped me."
Ask anyone on the Notre Dame offensive line how Riddick has handled his return to running back, and they'll say they believe he's hitting his best stride at the perfect time.
That being, title game.
"He's been unbelievable," offensive lineman Zack Martin said. "Especially in the last three or four games of the season, he's been great. To have a guy like that behind you, he's fun to block for."
That probably can be said for Wood and Atkinson as well.
"It's a credit to all three of them that they've stuck with it and prepared hard every week, and some weeks they've gotten more touches, but that's the nature of the beast," said Chuck Martin, the offensive coordinator. "But we're very fortunate to have three very talented kids at that position."

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Career Confidential Announces Job Interview eBook Giveaway

Job search and interview website Career Confidential has released a new eBook, How to Answer Interview Questions, and is offering it at no cost for a limited time, January 8 – January 12 only.

Gunter, TX (PRWEB) January 08, 2013
The How to Answer Interview Questions eBook is a compilation of 101 job interview questions and answers. Each question includes a comprehensive, in-depth explanation of how to answer that interview question, and offers suggestions for wording and phrasing that job seekers can use when speaking. Answers are adaptable for a wide variety of jobs.
The ebook is currently available for download on Amazon’s Kindle Store How Answer Interview Questions.
The 101 job interview questions and answers include:

Tell me about yourself.
What’s your greatest weakness?
What salary are you looking for?
Why do you want to join this company?
Why should we hire you?
Why do you have a gap in your employment history?
Tell me about a time when you failed.
Describe a time when your work was criticized and how you handled it.
What motivates you?
What questions do you have for us?
The book’s author is nationally-known Career Coach Peggy McKee, the CEO of Career Confidential. According to McKee, most job seekers don’t have the words they need to explain to the employer why they are the person for the job.
“The interview is a conversation, but it’s really also almost like a sales call in which the candidate is the product and the interviewer is the customer. The candidate needs to be able to explain with every answer to every question why they would be a good addition to that company. Why should they hire you?”
The ebook was created out of a popular series on Career Confidential’s blog, How to Answer Interview Questions. McKee says that she decided to put the entirety of the blog articles together in one ebook to make it easier for job seekers to access all the questions and answers.
“We have received such amazing feedback from our readers about this series. They tell us that they love it, that it’s helped them tremendously in preparing for their interviews. By putting the questions together into one ebook, it makes it much easier to carry it around on your Kindle and practice answering interview questions wherever you go. Practicing your answers is crucial before the interview. People who practice do better.”
Job seekers can visit Career Confidential’s blog for hundreds of articles and videos on the entire job search and interview process: http://www.CareerConfidential.com/blog/.
# # #
Career Confidential is a rapidly growing job search training company based in Texas that specializes in providing job seekers with powerful and customizable tools and techniques to get the jobs they want fast.
Since nationally-recognized recruiting and job search experts Peggy McKee (CEO) and Carl Chapman (CTO) founded Career Confidential in 2009, Career Confidential has grown from one product, the 30/60/90-Day Business Plan, to more than 30 products to guide candidates through every step of the job search.
Career Confidential helps job seekers worldwide. If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule a coaching session, please call Peggy McKee toll-free at 1-800-691-2562 or e-mail Peggy at Peggy(at)CareerConfidential(dot)com

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Rise in Identity Theft Prompts Company Expansion to Protect Local Businesses

Shred Instead Partners with Kim and Manly Boyd of Bassett Office Supply to Provide On-site Shredding Services to Southern Virginia and North Carolina

COLUMBIA, Maryland (PRWEB) January 08, 2013
The rise in identity theft and fraud has led to a company expansion in an effort to protect local businesses.
Shred Instead, a secure document destruction and paper shredding company based in Columbia, Maryland, will partner with Kim and Manly Boyd of Basset Office Supply, expanding operations to include secure, on-site shredding services to Southern Virginia and North Carolina.
Privacy legislation requires companies to protect the information of their employees and clients. Businesses must comply with state and federal laws, including The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA), to limit information sharing and protect public and private records.
Kim and Manly Boyd of Bassett Office Supply have invested in Shred Instead to better serve their customers; offering on-site shredding services that will positively impact office security.
Boyd states, “Identity theft poses a great threat to our customers, and we are excited to be able to provide them with not only information on business identity theft, but also a proactive solution to reduce their risk.”
Shred Instead currently provides shredding services throughout Maryland, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia. With a local office opening on January 7th, 2013 in Martinsville, Virginia, the company will additionally offer services throughout Southern Virginia and North Carolina.
Chris Chapman, owner of Shred Instead, states, “As new security threats continue to emerge, organizations are increasingly vulnerable to fraud in new and often surprising ways. By partnering with the Boyd’s and offering shredding services in this region, Shred Instead looks forward to equipping businesses with tighter security protocols that reduce risk of identity theft and fraud.”
To inquire about secure document destruction and the service territories within each state, visit the Shred Instead website at ShredInstead.com

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Piedmont Real Estate Agent Bruce Wagg of Highland Partners Gives Back to the Community

Bruce Wagg, a real estate agent serving Piedmont, Alameda and Oakland, often participates in local charity projects to help the community.

Oakland, CA (PRWEB) January 08, 2013
As a resident and an experienced real estate agent of Oakland, Bruce Wagg of Highland Partners knows his community well. But his awareness is not only confined to the properties in his listings; he also involves himself in many projects that enable him to give back to the communities that have given him so much. The start of each year marks the beginning of many new and recurring projects that he supports.
"Around this time, I think about ways to give back to the community," Wagg said.
In 2012 Wagg participated in a variety of community projects, including planting a garden at Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (B.O.S.S.), a homeless shelter located in Ursula Sherman Village. Together with the students of Havens Elementary, volunteers worked with families residing at B.O.S.S. to harvest and replant vegetables and herbs. The project helps the shelter's current and future residents have fresh and healthy food that they can grow themselves.
The Alameda real estate agent also took part in the food drive for the Alameda County Community Food Bank, also hosted by Havens Elementary. With the collective effort of the students, volunteers and donors, the 2012 food drive raised almost one ton of canned goods that would go to those who need help the most.
About Bruce Wagg of Highland Partners
Bruce Wagg of Highland Partners offers professional real estate services in the East Bay, including Piedmont real estate, Oakland real estate and Alameda real estate services. As a resident of Oakland, Wagg specializes in homes for sale in Oakland, CA; has an extensive knowledge of the schools, transportation and shopping; and can answer questions about other determining factors that help people decide to buy a home. He has closely studied the ever-changing market conditions in real estate and knows property values well. His knowledge as a Alameda real estate agent (as well as in Oakland and Piedmont) allows him to provide the best customer service, understand a client's needs and always maintain clear communication.
What sets Bruce Wagg apart from other agents is that he also acts as a project manager for his clients. He has the expertise and abilities to manage the entire real estate process, and he continually discusses details with each client, so that each feels prepared to make these large financial decisions.

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Sunnybrook lifts ban, allows daughter to see aging veteran father

TORONTO - Canada's largest veterans facility has lifted its ban on a woman who complained about bedbugs and a threat to a resident's safety.
Following a weekend meeting, Sunnybrook said Jackie Storrison could see her aging dad at its veterans centre, from which police escorted her more than a week ago.
The facility did insist security was on hand when Storrison went to see her father on Saturday.
"To have security sitting outside the room was beyond humiliating," Storrison, 61, said Sunday.
"I felt as though I was under house arrest. I felt like I had been convicted of a criminal offence and basically given probation with the condition that I attend mediation."
Sunnybrook banned Storrison, who has spent most evenings over the past three years caring for her 91-year-old father at the veterans centre, after nurses apparently accused her of going on a "verbal rampage for hours on end".
Storrison, who denies being abusive, said the allegation came after she alerted staff to an elderly resident wandering down the hallway alone and on another occasion to bedbugs in a patient's room.
Sunnybrook spokesman Craig DuHamel said Sunday the no-trespass order had been lifted unconditionally, and there was no need for security to be present during Storrison's future visits.
Storrison, a mother and grandmother who works in a lawyer's office, has been among a group of relatives with loved ones in Sunnybrook who have spoken publicly about what they call neglect of the most frail vets.
They also said the facility had consistently shut down their attempts at raising concerns.
Those allegations — all strenuously denied by Sunnybrook — prompted Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney to order an audit of the 500-bed facility, something no level of government had done in more than seven years.
Results of the audit are pending.
Storrison said she was really bothered that neither executive vice-president Malcolm Moffat nor operations director Dorothy Ferguson asked at Saturday's meeting for her side of the story.
DuHamel said he hoped a mediator would help allay any issues, but mediation was not a requirement to lifting the ban.
"We're going to involve mediation to better understand and help us work with Mrs. Storrison to ensure we can meet the needs of her and her family in the future," DuHamel said.
Following the meeting, the Canadian Veterans Advocacy called off a threatened protest at Sunnybrook.
Co-founder Mike Blais said he was pleased the facility had lifted its ban and Storrison would get to see her father.
"It is our hope that when the mediation process concludes, the hospital will offer Ms. Storrison an apology and implement protocols to ensure such an event never occurs again," Blais said.
Storrison said the entire episode had left her distraught.
"I feel like I've been given an ultimatum with my father being held hostage if I don't agree to mediation," Storrison said.
She noted the nurses had never called security in the previous three years she has been there.
She also said she feared others would feel too intimidated to voice concerns in light of her ordeal.
"My mother and I have never asked for more than basic care," Storrison said.
"When that's not provided, we're not to complain, we're not to say a word?

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Golf-Strong winds force suspension at Kapalua

Jan 4 (Reuters) - The 2013 PGA Tour got off to a false start on Friday when first-round play at the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii was abandoned because of strong winds.
Following an earlier suspension in play due to adverse conditions at the Kapalua Resort, the players were summoned off the course as winds gusted up to 42mph (67.6 kph) and balls oscillated on the exposed green at the par-three second.
With no realistic hope of a resumption on Friday, PGA Tour rules official Slugger White announced the interrupted first round would be washed out and that the players would try to complete 36 holes on Saturday with a two-tee start.
"We started in almost unplayable conditions and it just got worse," White told reporters. "We tried to play and Mother Nature just wouldn't help us."
U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson had been the early leader, moving to three under par after just seven holes in the elite, winners-only event on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
Swede Jonas Blixt was at one under after five holes, a stroke in front of compatriot Carl Pettersson (after one hole) and Americans Kyle Stanley (four), Ryan Moore (three), Johnson Wagner (two) and Scott Piercy (one).
"It stings for me, but it's the way it goes," American Simpson said of the abandoned opening round at Kapalua. "I'm sure the Tour's decision was best for all the guys."
Earlier Simpson had described how challenging the conditions were on the hilly, par-73 Plantation Course.
"I feel like I'm in a hurricane ... my umbrella is breaking," he said.
FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker, one of six players in the 30-man field who did not tee off in the opening round, had already prepared himself for a daunting afternoon at Kapalua.
"I just striped an eight-iron on the range that went about 50 yards," Snedeker said. "I probably could have caught it."
Stronger winds have been forecast for Saturday, with conditions expected to ease at Kapalua on Sunday and Monday.

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UPDATE 1-Golf-Strong winds wipe out first day at Kapalua

* Opening round to start fresh on Saturday
* Kapalua winds gust up to 45 mph (72.4 kph (Adds further quotes, detail)
Jan 4 (Reuters) - The 2013 PGA Tour got off to a false start on Friday when first-round play at the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii was abandoned because of strong winds.
Following an earlier suspension in play due to adverse conditions at the Kapalua Resort, the players were summoned off the course as winds gusted up to 45 mph (72.4 kph) and balls oscillated on the exposed green at the par-three second.
With no realistic hope of a resumption on Friday, PGA Tour rules official Slugger White announced the interrupted first round would be washed out and that the players would try to complete 36 holes on Saturday with a two-tee start.
"We started in almost unplayable conditions and it just got worse," White told reporters. "We tried to play and Mother Nature just wouldn't help us. We have decided to scrub this round, wash it out completely. No shots count.
"We are going to start the first round tomorrow morning. I can honestly say the forecast isn't real good but maybe we'll get lucky. That's the hope."
U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson had been the early leader in Friday's aborted round, moving to three under par after just seven holes in the elite, winners-only event on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
Swede Jonas Blixt was at one under after five holes, a stroke in front of compatriot Carl Pettersson (after one hole) and Americans Kyle Stanley (four), Ryan Moore (three), Johnson Wagner (two) and Scott Piercy (one).
"It stinks for me," American Simpson said of the abandoned round. "I got off to a great start but that's the way it goes. I'm sure they made the decision that's best for all the guys.
"But the good news is, I had a good start and I'm playing well. I was able to make a couple of putts and that's what you have to do on a day like today."
BRUTAL CHALLENGE
Earlier Simpson described how brutally challenging the wet and windy conditions had been on the hilly, par-73 Plantation Course.
"I feel like I'm in a hurricane ... my umbrella is breaking," he said.
While Simpson was bitterly disappointed by the decision to wipe out the opening round, compatriot Scott Stallings had every reason to celebrate after battling to seven over par after just four holes.
FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker, one of six players in the 30-man field who did not tee off in the opening round, had already prepared himself for a daunting afternoon at Kapalua.
"I just striped an eight-iron on the range that went about 50 yards," Snedeker said. "I probably could have caught it."
Also among those yet to tee off was veteran American Steve Stricker, who won last year's Hyundai Tournament of Champions by three shots to clinch his 12th PGA Tour title.
Stronger winds and intermittent rain have been forecast for Saturday, though conditions are expected to ease at Kapalua on Sunday and Monday.

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Golf-Fowler flies blind on yardage at windy Kapalua

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Yardage numbers were often meaningless for Rickie Fowler on a brutal Friday at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii where the first round was eventually abandoned because of severe gusting winds.
With golf umbrellas bending sharply in intermittent driving rain and balls being blown off line on the more exposed greens, Fowler realised he simply had to choose his shot and then try to pull it off.
"For the most part, I told my caddie I almost didn't even need any (yardage) numbers today," American Fowler told reporters after the opening round was scrapped because of winds gusting up to 45 mph (72.4 kph).
"It's more looking at the shot and seeing what the weather is, just grab a club and pick the flight and hit it. Numbers were kind of irrelevant at times.
"I had a ball that rolled up the hill on (hole) six with a gust; and that was a few holes back from when we finished. We didn't say anything. We were just kind of toughing it out ... guinea pigs up front."
Fowler and fellow American Jason Dufner had teed off as the first pairing of the day in the PGA Tour's season-opening event at the Kapalua Resort.
They had completed only eight holes, with Fowler slipping to three over par and Dufner sitting at one over, when play was suspended.
Organisers later decided to wipe out the first round and send the players out on Saturday in a bid to complete 36 holes.
"After the strong winds that came through and the weather, I felt like it was a smart decision," said Fowler, who booked his place in the elite, winners-only field of 30 with his maiden PGA Tour victory at last year's Wells Fargo Championship.
"Obviously Webb (Simpson) is probably the only one that may be a little bummed," he added, referring to U.S. Open champion who was three under for the round after seven holes. "He was out there playing well and had control of his golf ball."
The killer blow for Fowler came when he double-bogeyed the eighth after dumping his tee shot into a hazard, and he was delighted when play was abandoned soon after.
"I'm really glad that didn't count because after hitting that and hearing the horn blow a minute later as I'm walking off the tee made me a little upset," he said.
"I felt like I was playing pretty well up until we had to hit in some crazy weather on eight and I ended up making double. Other than that, one over par, I felt like it was pretty good over seven holes.
"It was brutal out there. You definitely had to be hitting solid golf shots and picking the right times to hit.

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