Although it often seems like it, the gods of golf are not always ruthless. Davis Riley can attest to this on Saturday during the second round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. A suspension of more than six hours due to a thunderstorm prevented the completion of the second round on Friday. This morning play resumed, and Riley had a lapse on the 17th hole that cost him dearly. The 28-year-old golfer born in Mississippi, who started on the 10th, imposed a two-stroke penalty on himself for improper use of the laser rangefinder.
The use of such devices has been allowed by the PGA Tour for the past three weeks. It is one of the measures implemented to improve the pace of play. However, there is a restriction. It cannot be used with the slope function that automatically calculates the course’s elevations. This feature must be disabled before taking the relevant measurement. Riley forgot to do this on the tee of the 17th hole, a par 3. Obviously, no one noticed, only the player and his caddie. However, he didn’t hesitate for a moment. He called a referee as soon as he realised, informed him of what had happened, and imposed the corresponding two-stroke penalty on himself.
The punishment was severe, as it placed him at -3, just outside the cut line at that moment. From there, Riley made two birdies and two bogeys and reached the 9th hole with a two-stroke deficit concerning the cut. He was at -3, and the cut had already moved to -5. Without the self-imposed penalty, he would be in for the weekend. To play all four days, he needed to make an eagle on the last hole, a par 5. Well, karma, this time, was kind to Riley. Karma, of course, and the quality of the golfer from the University of Alabama.
He hit a long drive of about 300 metres, but it ended up in the right rough. It’s not the best area to aim for the green afterwards. However, Riley hit the shot of the day. He had 200 metres and left it less than three from the flag. There was his eagle chance. In, he played the weekend. Out, he went home. And he made it. And he pumped his fist. Divine justice. Whether he made the cut or not, his behaviour was exemplary, worthy of being taught in schools, but on this occasion, it didn’t cost him a place in the tournament. Golf sometimes squeezes but doesn’t strangle.
As for the tournament, the end of the second round hasn’t changed things much. Scheffler, who clearly got the better draw, remains the leader with a six-stroke advantage over Sam Stevens and seven over Ricky Castillo and Kurt Kitayama. Precisely, Kitayama is the best of those who played in the bad draw. Among those who missed the cut are Tom Kim, Taylor Pendrith, the defending champion, Ben Griffin, last week’s winner, or Francesco Molinari. Scheffler will start playing the third round from ten o’clock at night. In principle, if there are no suspensions, the third round can be completed this Saturday.
