'Number 1' Ram "Cut Off"... Kim Siwoo Tied 17th, 6 Strokes Behind

by Roh Woolae

Published 18 Sep.2021 11:36(KST)

2021/2022 Season Opening Fortinet Championship Day 2: McNealy Leads, Hossler Tied 2nd, Kang Seong-hoon Tied 49th

World No. 1 Jon Rahm is teeing off on the 4th hole on the second day of the Fortinet Championship. Napa, USA = Getty Images / Multivits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] World No. 1 Jon Rahm (Spain) has been 'cut off.'

On the 18th (Korean time), at the Silverado Golf Course in Napa, California, USA (par 72, 7,123 yards), continuing the second day of the Fortinet Championship, the opening event of the 2021/2022 PGA Tour season (total prize money $7 million), Rahm shot 1-under par and finished tied for 88th place (1-under 143). This marks his first 'cut off' in four months since failing to advance to the final round at the Wells Fargo Championship last May. His poor condition, including missing the pro-am due to stomach pain, was a burden.

Rahm started from a tie for 104th place, 7 shots behind, recording 3 birdies and 2 bogeys. After a shaky start with a bogey on the 4th hole (par 4), he seemed to gain momentum with 'stepping stone birdies' on the 7th and 9th holes, but a bogey on the 13th hole (par 4) halted his progress again. He added a birdie on the 16th hole (par 5), but there were not enough holes left. His fairway hit rate was 35.71%, and greens in regulation was 55.56%, making it difficult to create birdie opportunities. He averaged 1.70 putts per hole.

Maverick McNealy (USA) surged with 8-under par to take the top of the leaderboard (12-under 132). Beau Hossler (USA) also lowered his score by 8 strokes and is looking for an opportunity from a tie for 2nd place, 2 shots behind (10-under 134). From Korea, Kim Si-woo (26, CJ Logistics) dropped 2 shots to tie for 17th place (6-under 138). Kang Sung-hoon (34, CJ Logistics) made it to the next round tied for 49th place (3-under 141), while Noh Seung-yul (31) was 'cut off' tied for 101st place (even par 144).