HONOLULU — Carl Yuan soaked up the views on the Sony Open, not simply his identify atop the leaderboard when he completed his second spherical Friday however merely being in Hawaii to start out his PGA Tour season.
If not for Jon Rahm, the 26-year-old Yuan would not be right here.
Yuan completed at No. 126 within the FedEx Cup final November by one level and was on the brink of earn his card again by way of Q-school. After which Rahm bolted for the Saudi riches of LIV Golf. The tour suspended Rahm and eliminated him from the FedEx Cup standings.
Yuan moved up one spot to No. 125, had his full card and bought into the Sony Open. After which he posted a 5-under 65 on Friday, ending with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 closing gap at Waialae, for a three-way share of the lead.
“I used to be very thrilled,” Yuan mentioned. “It offers me one other likelihood to enhance and get higher.”
Yuan was at 9-under 131. Former Oklahoma State star Austin Eckroat had a 66 and Byeong Hun An, coming off a powerful begin at Kapalua final week, shot 64 to affix him.
The massive drama as darkness fell was the lower. Joel Dahmen had a 5-foot birdie putt on his ultimate gap that will have moved the lower to 3-under 137. He missed, letting 17 gamers into the weekend, a gaggle that features Hideki Matsuyama, who birdied his final two holes.
Amongst these lacking the lower was Gary Woodland, enjoying for the primary time after his Sept. 18 mind surgical procedure to take away a benign tumor that was inflicting nervousness and concern of dying.
Woodland’s voice choked throughout his Golf Channel interview when he talked in regards to the assist he had whereas attempting to beat such a daunting interval.
“There was a time the place I did not know if this was going to be attainable,” mentioned Woodland, who shot a second straight 71 on Friday. “It was a superb week for me from a psychological standpoint. I wanted to be mentally sharp to get the place I need to be on this planet. It is coming again.”
Stewart Cink, the 50-year-old whose two-week Hawaii swing consists of the PGA Tour Champions opener subsequent week on the Large Island, had a 65 and was amongst 9 gamers who had been 1 shot behind going into what figures to be a busy weekend.
That features Chris Kirk, who received final week at Kapalua. He shot one other 66 in his bid to turn out to be solely the third participant to brush the 2 Hawaii occasions.
Yuan’s rookie 12 months was a battle, however the Chinese language participant a minimum of saved himself within the fall. He completed the common season at No. 151, however did sufficient over the past three months to a minimum of give himself an opportunity. However he was bumped out by Ryan Moore within the ultimate occasion.
He performed a apply spherical on the TPC Sawgrass to prepare for Q-school — “My spouse was going to caddie for me and it was raining,” he mentioned — after which later that evening bought phrase that Rahm was suspended and he was in.
Yuan wasn’t overly involved as a result of he would have had restricted standing. Because it seems, even a few of the rookies with full playing cards did not get into the Sony Open.
“Earlier than I realized the information, I used to be actually attempting to get myself prepared and are available out and play good in Hawaii and on the West Coast and attempt to earn myself again on tour,” Yuan mentioned. “Fortunately I bought full standing, however I am nonetheless attempting to do the identical factor and are available out right here and play the very best I can.”
Cink turned 50 final 12 months and commenced to separate time on the 2 excursions. He figures he’ll play about two dozen occasions this 12 months, a combination of each. He is not within the $20 million signature occasions and may play on the PGA Tour Champions when that is the most suitable choice.
“I am not going to select one and persist with it,” he mentioned. “I am not making the FedEx Cup or the Schwab Cup my high precedence to attempt to seize a type of cups. I simply need to play good golf and I do not care the place it’s. Simply play the very best I can play and get as a lot out of myself as I can. If meaning enjoying half right here and half on the Champions Tour, I am OK with that.”
An completed fourth at The Sentry final week on Maui — a signature occasion that paid him $975,000 — and saved up his kind. He had been anxious about his fourth-month break from competitors. However he has just one bogey over 36 holes.
