Sony Open starts the race for fewer PGA Tour players to keep their jobs
Associated PressHONOLULU — The royal palms on a Waialae course that runs along the Pacific Ocean give a peaceful ambiance to the Sony Open, the ideal place for the full PGA Tour membership to start the year. The Sony Open effectively starts the chase for a PGA Tour card — only 100 from the FedEx Cup this year, down from 125, marking the most significant change in eligibility in some 40 years. “I would say I’m more excited this year because I felt like I got a lot better last year at playing golf, and I felt like I improved last year,” said Keith Mitchell, who is starting his eighth year. “And every year you have a card, you have a blank slate to prove your improvement.” Mitchell missed out on the FedEx Cup playoffs last year by an estimated three shots — had he been three shots better in the final round of the regular season, it would have been enough. “But emotionally it’s not.” The Sony Open is the start of a three-tournament stretch in which the leading five players become eligible for $20 million signature events in California.
History of this topic
Discover Related
Rafael Nadal is on the US Open entry list, although that doesn’t mean he will play there
Associated Press
