LAS VEGAS — Taylor Pendrith took two weeks off after the Presidents Cup and didn’t miss a beat, matching his career-low on the PGA Tour with a 10-under 61 that gave him an early three-shot lead within the Shriners Kids’s Open on Thursday.
Pendrith missed just one fairway and one inexperienced on the TPC Summerlin, each on the identical gap. He pulled his tee shot on the 18th gap — his ninth — needed to pitch out sideways, hit wedge to 7 ft and saved his par.
The remainder was a gradual eating regimen of huge drives, lots of wedges and good placing. His solely disappointment was the par-5 ninth, his ultimate gap. He had solely 200 yards into the inexperienced and knew an eagle would give him a 59.
“Tried to be aggressive and hit shot and simply didn’t catch all of it, and got here up quick proper within the bunker,” Pendrith stated.
He blasted out to 12 ft and missed the putt, together with an opportunity to tie the course file at Summerlin final set by Rod Pampling in 2017.
Pendrith additionally shot a 61 within the Bermuda Championship three years in the past.
Bud Cauley and Matti Schmid had been amongst seven gamers at 7-under 64 among the many early starters. Matt McCarty, who received the inaugural Black Desert Championship final week in Utah, performed within the afternoon.
Additionally enjoying late was Tom Kim, the two-time defending champion. He’s making an attempt to grow to be the primary participant since Steve Stricker on the John Deere Traditional (2009-11) to win the identical PGA Tour occasion three straight occasions.
Former UNLV participant Ryan Moore was amongst these at 65, whereas Rickie Fowler posted a 66 — it felt a lot larger enjoying alongside Pendrith.
Schmid was coming off a 62 within the ultimate spherical in Utah to complete fifth, shifting him off the bubble at No. 120 to No. 105 within the FedExCup Fall. An enormous a part of this stretch of the PGA Tour is for gamers to complete within the prime 125 to safe a full card for 2025.
Pendrith is aware of that feeling.
He was at No. 123 within the FedExCup final yr when he got here to Las Vegas, and he tied for third to successfully sew up his card for the next season. He went on to win in Dallas on the CJ Cup Byron Nelson for his first PGA Tour title, and he made it to the Tour Championship.
“I do know it’s an essential time of yr for lots of men and I’ve been there for positive,” Pendrith stated. “It’s hectic. But it surely’s a distinct feeling for me, clearly already locked up for subsequent yr. It’s a distinct feeling I suppose on the market enjoying. However I actually take pleasure in this place.”
Pendrith additionally was picked for the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal, posting a 2-3 file and going 2-1 in group play alongside Adam Scott. The plan was to take a brief break, however that modified when Hurricane Milton minimize throughout Florida.
“I feel I performed possibly thrice because the Presidents Cup, after which was planning on training and every little thing was closed,” Pendrith stated. His coach joined him in Las Vegas for some high quality work early within the week.
“I really feel rested and excited to play,” Pendrith stated. “I didn’t actually anticipate a ten beneath, I’d say. I assumed I’d be just a little bit extra rusty than that. Clearly thrilled, simply received to maintain getting again into the rhythm of issues and the subsequent few days.”
