The American Chez Reavie with a signed card of 65 strokes (-7) became the leader of the Fortinet Championship, of the PGA Tour, by completing the first round and having a stroke of advantage over compatriot Cameron Tringale and Canadian Adam Hadwin (66, -6).
While Chilean Mito Pereira shared fourth place with five other golfers who finished the tour on the north course of the Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa (California) with a record of 67 strokes (-5).
Reavie was perfect in the first half of the tour with five birdies and made another three more in the second, but bogey on par four of the 14th hole.
But the big spotlight was on the Spanish Jon Rahm, world number one, who went out to compete despite being ill and finished with a record of 72 strokes (even) after making a couple of birdies and bogeys, which left him in 104th place, shared with 15 other players.
“I was having a hard time concentrating since I haven’t had anything solid since Tuesday morning,” Rahm stated, He started feeling ill earlier this week and retired from the pro-am on Wednesday to rest.
The Spanish champion explained that he felt worse than when he tested positive for covid-19 in June and was forced to retire from the Memorial after leading with six shots in the third round.
“Much, much worse,” Rahm noted. “That Saturday I couldn’t have given you more diagnosis than maybe a slight cold based on what I was feeling that day. I would never have guessed it was covid. So yeah, I feel a lot worse now than I did, but I’m just as motivated to compete. “
After the disappointment at the Memorial, he won the US Open at Torrey Pines in June, his biggest win.
In addition, he also already has in his possession the monetary title, the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average and had 15 top-10 finishes.
Rahm, who is scheduled to play next week’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, He stressed that he is also motivated not to have been included in the Player of the Year honors that went to American Patrick Cantlay, who won the FedEx Cup after beating Rahm by a blow in the Tour Championship.
“I played incredible golf,” Rahm said. “What could have been if certain unfortunate situations hadn’t happened, right? I could have had maybe one more victory and a chance to compete for a medal. Thinking it could have been better only motivates me. I know I can improve. “
Reavie worked his way to the top of the standings after bogeying his fifth hole. He got birdies at 16 and 17 to get back below par, then he broke into the top nine and finished with three straight birdies, including a five-and-a-half-meter putt that set off his best hitting repertoire.
“It was a somewhat slow start, but I told myself to be patient,” Reavie said. “I was able to hit some streets in the back and give me a good idea of what I could ultimately achieve. “
As for the Latin American representation, in addition to Pereira, the Argentine Emiliano Grillo finished with 70 strokes (-2) that placed him in forty-first place.
While the Colombian Sebastián Muñoz had a record of 76 strokes (+4) to go down to 149th place in the rankings.
