A year ago, Taylor Pendrith (-10) arrived at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas in a challenging situation. He was ranked 123rd in the FedEx Cup and was fighting for his 2024 card in the final stretch of the year. Few know the importance of these last events of the season to achieve their goals as he does. At that time, he managed to feel very comfortable at TPC Summerlin to rescue a tied third place, which allowed him to secure playing rights for this new season. A necessary preliminary step to eventually becoming a winner on the circuit after conquering the CJ Cup Byron Nelson last May.
Now, with the assurance of having secured his card for 2025 and 2026 and firmly placed among the top 50 in the overall standings, with access to next year’s designated events, the Canadian returns to the city of casinos after two weeks of rest following the Presidents and ready to fight for his second title on the tour. He has already laid the first stone with a fantastic opening round of 61 strokes, equalling his best record on the PGA Tour, in which, however, he was left with the regret of not being able to fight for a 59 that was within reach.
Taylor Pendrith is feelin' lucky in Vegas today 💪
Another birdie for the solo leader sitting -8 @ShrinersOpen pic.twitter.com/KNXZ58ssSc
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 17, 2024
Pendrith gave a true performance from the tee throughout Thursday. He only missed one fairway and one green in regulation, on the same hole, the 18th of the course, ninth of his round after starting on the 10th. Although he managed not to be penalised with a par. The rest of the day was a continuation of good drives, many wedges, and precise putts. Until the par five of the 9th, where he closed his round, where he had 200 metres to the green with his second shot, knowing that an eagle would give him the 59. “I tried to be aggressive, but I didn’t do it quite right and came up short, right in the bunker,” he said after his round.
He missed the birdie putt from four metres after recovering from the sand, also missing the opportunity to equal the course record, last set by Rod Pampling in 2017. The 61, however, allowed him to match the card he achieved at the Butterfield Bermuda three years ago and take the lead with a three-stroke advantage over a multitude of players tied for second place: Bud Cauley (-7), Ben Silverman (-7), Rico Hoey (-7), J.T. Poston (-7), Harry Hall (-7), Matti Schmid (-7), Mark Hubbard (-7), Doug Ghim (-7), Joseph Bramlett (-7), and Garrick Higgo (-7).
Matt McCarty (PAR), last week’s winner at the Black Desert Championship in Utah, had to settle for a par round of 71 strokes and will have to fight to make the cut. Just like Tom Kim (-2), winner of the last two editions of this Shriners Children’s Open, who was three strokes over par during the day and managed to recover at the end. Rickie Fowler (-5), playing with Pendrith, seemed to join the leader’s momentum and signed a notable 66. Meanwhile, Joel Dahmen (+5) was penalised with four strokes after discovering he had more than 14 clubs in his bag. A mistake on the tee of the 4th hole that proved costly.
"If you play golf long enough, weird stuff's going to happen out here."
An unfortunate 4-stroke penalty for Joel Dahmen leads to a 5-over first-round @ShrinersOpen.
He came into the week at No. 124 in the #FedExCup Fall standings, needing to stay inside the top 125 in order to… pic.twitter.com/2MI6k2Banj
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 18, 2024
“I know it’s an important time of the year for many, I’ve been through this. It’s stressful, but it’s a different feeling for me. Obviously, I’ve already secured next year’s card, and that should be felt out there. But I really enjoy playing on this course,” said the leader, no longer under the pressure of a year ago and fresh from the Presidents. “I feel rested and eager to play, I didn’t expect a 10 under par, I thought I’d be a bit more ‘rusty’ than that, but well, I have to keep up this pace,” concluded Pendrith after a round in which some matches couldn’t be completed due to lack of light.
