Ex-Bruin Olson playing for (golf) title

8 at the Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento, California, Drew Olson, a 31-year-old former UCLA quarterback and NFL backup, made eight birdies on his ball in 22 holes to advance with his partner, David Reneker, through sectional qualifying to the U.S.

Prior to the four-ball qualifier, Levin had not seen Olson’s game since he started taking golf seriously after his retirement in 2008 from the NFL, where he played parts of three seasons with three teams, including the San Francisco 49ers.

Olson, who actually has a plus-4 handicap, works in commercial real estate in San Francisco, a profession that allows him ample time for client golf and practice at the California Golf Club.

“Being able to work and play golf has definitely allowed me to progress as a player,” said Olson, who took up the game when he was 7 years old in his native Piedmont, California, near Oakland.

Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesFormer UCLA quarterback Drew Olson believes one reason so many quarterbacks have become good at golf comes from similar hip rotations that are required in both sports.

“Golf is all about your hips,” said Olson, who often plays golf at his club with former San Francisco Giants infielder J.T.

Olson isn’t ruling out his bid to play professional golf.

Olson and his partner, Reneker, a multiple club champion at Bel Air Country Club in Los Angeles, were attracted to the inaugural USGA Four-Ball Championship by its venue, the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Olson has asked Levin to caddie for him when stroke play begins at Olympic on May 2.

Olson and Reneker won’t have a $10 million purse to play for, but they will have a chance to become the first winners of the United States Four-Ball Championship.