LAS VEGAS — Taylor Pendrith took two weeks off after the Presidents Cup and didn’t miss a beat, matching his career-low on the PGA Tour with a 10-under 61 that gave him a three-shot lead within the Shriners Kids’s Open on Thursday.
Pendrith missed just one fairway and one inexperienced on the TPC Summerlin, each on the identical gap. The Canadian pulled his tee shot on the 18th gap — his ninth — needed to pitch out sideways, hit wedge to 7 toes and saved his par.
The remaining was a gradual weight loss plan of huge drives, quite a lot of wedges and good placing. His solely disappointment was the par-5 ninth, his ultimate gap. He had solely 200 yards into the inexperienced and knew an eagle would give him a 59.
Joel Dahmen was penalized 4 strokes Thursday on the Shriners Kids’s Open.
“Tried to be aggressive and hit a great shot and simply didn’t catch all of it, and got here up brief proper within the bunker,” Pendrith mentioned.
He blasted out to 12 toes and missed the putt, together with an opportunity to tie the course file at Summerlin final set by Rod Pampling in 2017.
Pendrith additionally shot a 61 within the Bermuda Championship three years in the past.
Bud Cauley and Matti Schmid had been amongst 10 gamers at 7-under 64. The primary spherical was suspended by darkness, the second straight week the opening spherical couldn’t be accomplished regardless of no climate delays. Seven gamers didn’t end.
Pendrith had the benefit of taking part in within the morning, earlier than the wind started to extend. The forecast is for the strongest wind on Friday, upward of 20 mph.
Tom Kim, the two-time defending champion, needed to make 5 birdies during the last 11 holes to scratch out a 69. That leaves him eight photographs behind in his bid to grow to be the primary participant since Steve Stricker on the John Deere Traditional (2009-11) to win the identical PGA Tour occasion three straight instances.
Matt McCarty, the Korn Ferry Tour grad who received the inaugural Black Desert Championship in Utah final week, didn’t birdie any of the three par 5s and shot 71.
Schmid was coming off a 62 within the ultimate spherical in Utah to complete fifth, shifting him off the bubble at No. 120 to No. 105 within the FedEx Fall. A giant a part of this stretch of the PGA Tour is for gamers to complete within the prime 125 to safe a full card for 2025.
Pendrith’s ‘top-notch’ placing resulting in huge 12 months
Taylor Pendrith discusses taking pictures 60 within the first spherical of the Shriners Kids’s Open and Golf Central analyzes why Pendrith’s placing has resulted in a banner 12 months for the 33-year-old Canadian.
Pendrith is aware of that feeling.
He was at No. 123 within the FedExCup final 12 months when he got here to Las Vegas, and he tied for third to successfully sew up his card for the next season. He went on to win in Dallas on the CJ Cup Byron Nelson for his first PGA Tour title, and he made it to the Tour Championship.
“I do know it’s an vital time of 12 months for lots of fellows and I’ve been there for positive,” Pendrith mentioned. “It’s hectic. However it’s a special feeling for me, clearly already locked up for subsequent 12 months. It’s a special feeling I suppose on the market taking part in. However I actually take pleasure in this place.”
Pendrith additionally was picked for the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal, posting a 2-3 file and going 2-1 in crew play alongside Adam Scott. The plan was to take a brief break, however that modified when Hurricane Milton lower throughout Florida.
“I believe I performed possibly thrice for the reason that Presidents Cup, after which was planning on practising and the whole lot was closed,” Pendrith mentioned. His coach joined him in Las Vegas for some high quality work early within the week.
“I really feel rested and excited to play,” Pendrith mentioned. “I didn’t actually anticipate a ten underneath, I’d say. I assumed I’d be just a little bit extra rusty than that. Clearly, thrilled, simply bought to maintain getting again into the rhythm of issues and the subsequent few days.”
