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PGA Tour debutant reveals what NHL star father told him after first round

Austin Lemieux shot a 72 in his PGA Tour debut at the Bermuda Championship, earning words of pride from his legendary NHL father Mario Lemieux after the round

Austin Lemieux carded one over during the first round in Bermuda

Austin Lemieux carded one over during the first round in Bermuda(Image: Getty Images)

After completing his first PGA Tour round at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship with a one-over-par 72, Austin Lemieux revealed what his father told him following his final putt.

Athleticism and competition flow through the veins of the Lemieux family, as his father Mario Lemieux was a legend in the NHL over a 17-year career with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

An accomplished golfer who won the 1998 American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Mario Lemieux spent his NHL career as a Pittsburgh hero. Throughout his legendary career, he wore No. 66, which was famously chosen as an upside-down nod to Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99, and he amassed 690 goals along with 1,033 assists.

After his son's first-ever PGA Tour round, Mario didn’t have much to say out of joy.

“They just said they were proud of me. Golf is golf. It was a little bit of a tough day out there, but we'll see what we've got tomorrow,” said Austin after playing his first ever round on the PGA Tour.

“It's certainly great to have them here. I really appreciate them coming out. I just would have hoped to have done a little bit better, but I know they're proud of me and just going to see what we've got tomorrow.”

Mario Lemieux is a former NHL star

Mario Lemieux is a former NHL star

The 30-year-old amateur golfer hailing from Sewickley, Pennsylvania, earned his spot in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship field by carding a six-under 66 during an open qualifier at The Country Club of Winter Haven in Florida.

The qualification capped an exceptional stretch of golf for Lemieux, as he recently earned a victory on the Minor League Tour in Florida after prevailing in a playoff against Jake Springer. Prior to that, he secured the Western Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur Championship title at Fox Chapel Golf Club with rounds of 66 and 67.

Compared to his previous rounds, Lemieux wasn’t too happy with his first on the American circuit.

“I’d say not very well for how I normally play, but it was tough,” he said. “Tough for me to just hit the shots I need to hit. Just kind of played a little bit too cautious to the greens, and I made a lot of good par putts but when I had my chances for birdie, I just misread them and they just didn't go in.

“All in all, just put two bad swings on the ball today. Tomorrow, come back and see if we can hopefully be better and put some better swings on it and make a few more putts.”

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