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 in the Shriners Children’s Open.
Pendrith missed only one fairway and one green at TPC Summerlin on Thursday, both on the same hole. The Canadian pulled his tee shot on the 18th — his ninth hole — had to pitch out sideways, hit wedge to seven feet and saved his par.
The rest was a steady diet of big drives, a lot of wedges and good putting. His only disappointment was the par-5 ninth, his final hole. He had only 200 yards into the green and knew an eagle would give him a 59.
“Tried to be aggressive and hit a good shot and just didn’t catch all of it, and came up short right in the bunker,” Pendrith said.
He blasted out to 12 feet and missed the putt, along with a chance to tie the course record last set by Australia’s Rod Pampling in 2017.
American Bud Cauley and another Canadian in Matti Schmid were among 10 players at seven-under 64. The first round was suspended by darkness, the second straight week the opening round could not be completed despite no weather delays. Seven players did not finish.
Schmid was coming off a 62 in the final round of last week’s inaugural Black Desert Championship in Utah to finish fifth, moving him off the bubble at No.120 to No.105 in the FedEx Cup Fall. A big part of this stretch of the PGA Tour is for players to finish in the top 125 to secure a full card for 2025.
Pendrith knows that feeling.
He was at No.123 last year when he arrived in Las Vegas, and he tied for third to effectively sew up his card for the following season. He went on to win in Dallas at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson for his first PGA Tour title, and he made it to the Tour Championship.
“I know it’s an important time of year for a lot of guys and I’ve been there for sure,” Pendrith said.
“It’s stressful. But it’s a different feeling for me, obviously already locked up for next year … But I really enjoy this place.
“I feel rested and excited to play … I didn’t really expect a 10 under. I thought I would be a little bit more rusty than that. Obviously, thrilled, just got to keep getting back into the rhythm of things and the next few days.”
Tom Kim (69), the two-time defending champion, made five birdies over the last 11 holes to leave him eight shots behind in his bid to become the first player since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic (2009-11) to win the same PGA Tour event three straight times.
Australia’s Aaron Baddely (70) is one under and compatriot Cam Davis (75) four over.
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