Canada's Michael Gligic tied for 5th after 1st round at Wyndham Championship
John Huh shoots career-best 61 for 2-shot lead
John Huh wasn't expecting the lowest round of his PGA Tour career Thursday in the Wyndham Championship, and he had no complaints about the score or the timing.
"It's kind of strange because like earlier I mentioned, I wasn't really feeling great with my game and [to] shoot my career low, it's kind of weird," Huh said. "Sort of mixed feelings, but I'll take this any day."
Huh needed a round like this. He is No. 120 in the FedEx Cup — with some wiggle room because of the defectors to Saudi-funded LIV Golf — and only the top 125 advance to the lucrative postseason next week and are assured a full PGA Tour card for next season.
Im had two eagles in his round of 63. At a true No. 15 in the FedEx Cup, he already is set for the postseason and a good week might be able to sew up his spot in the finale at East Lake.
Peter Malnati and Brandon Wu were at 64.
Far more relevant was the group at 65, which includes Austin Smotherman. He is list at No. 135 in the FedEx Cup, but he would count as No. 125 — the cutoff — because 10 players ahead of him have been suspended for signing on with LIV Golf.
The suspended players would be line in to receive FedEx Cup bonus money without playing. The PGA Tour said last week a player's FedEx Cup ranking would not be affected by those have gone over to LIV Golf.
Also at 65 was Aaron Wise, who is at No. 34 in the standings and is looking to improve his ranking going into the lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs. Wise had a five-hole stretch on the back nine that he played in 5-under par, including a 30-foot eagle putt on the 15th, until missing the fairway and failing to save par from beyond the green at the 18th.
Canada's Michael Gligic was also among the group who shot 5-under 65 for the day, sitting tied for fifth. Winnipeg native Nick Taylor and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., both finished the day at 3-under 67.
Will Zalatoris, at No. 14 in the world the highest-ranked player in the field, was hopeful of moving into the top 10 in the FedEx Cup and collecting bonus money from the regular season. A two-time runner-up in majors this year, he opened with a 71 and next had to worry about making the cut.
Rickie Fowler also had a 71 playing in the afternoon. Fowler is No. 123 in the FedEx Cup — accounting for the suspended players ahead of him — and likely will need to make the cut to avoid missing the playoffs for the second straight season.
Starting on the fourth hole, he ran off five straight birdies, the longest one at 10 feet. After his long eagle putt, he holed a 4-foot putt for birdie on the 17th.
"I hit it close enough, gave myself a chance," Huh said. "The longest putt I made was for eagle, but other than that, I put it pretty much inside 10 feet and made all that."
