The PGA Tour card is just around the corner and the pressure is on. The first day of the DP World Tour Championship has brought a change in the ten players who would obtain the card. Jordan Smith (+3) has dropped out, closing the tournament standings alongside Joakim Lagergren, and Daniel Hillier (-5) has moved in. The New Zealander has made the first significant move. Not only has he surpassed Smith, but he has also left behind Keita Nakajima, who wasn’t on the cards but was ahead of him in the Race to Dubai.
As it stands, those currently in card positions are: Penge, Reitan, Noren, Saddier, Canter, Parry, Daniel Brown, Haotong Li, and Hillier. The big leap in the Race is being made by Michael Kim (-8), leader of the Dubai Final, a golfer who fortunately doesn’t concern any of those fighting for the card, as he already has it secured.
Among those battling for the American card, several have stumbled in the opening. See Reitan (+2), Saddier (+1), Haotong (+2), the aforementioned Smith (+3), Lagergren (+3), Smylie (+2), or Penge himself (+2), although in the latter case, the card is already more than assured with his position in the Race to Dubai as a prominent second.
As for the Spaniards, more flair is needed. It hasn’t been a disastrous start to the Final, but it falls quite short of what’s needed. Ángel Ayora (-2), the main hope of the Armada for the PGA Tour card, is currently losing two positions in the Race to Dubai and is moving away from the card. The good news for the Malagueño is that Jordan Smith’s poor start brings many into the fight. If the Englishman doesn’t recover, three good days ahead could be decisive. In a way, he has opened the door for everyone. Ayora lost ground today on the greens, as well as on hole 14, a bogey on the par 5 that hurt. He missed the drive to the right, not by much, but the ball ended up in a bad spot and he could barely move it. Besides Hillier, a great move by Andy Sullivan (-6), who has placed third and presented his candidacy.
Nacho Elvira (-2) and Jorge Campillo (-2) started the same as Ayora, with a round of 70 strokes. Mid-table. In these two cases, much more is needed to give themselves a card chance, as well as to get into the Open Championship. Eugenio Chacarra (PAR) has left even more work for the remaining three days. Of all that the Armada can achieve this week, the only thing that remains is Ayora’s Open, as he holds onto 25th place.
The Armada needs a couple of twists in Dubai.
