Rory Sabbatini is four off the pace after the first round of the Wyndham Championship, but Ernie Els leads a trio of struggling Saffas, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Sabbatini made a solid start at Sedgefield Country Club with three birdies and no bogeys on his outward nine in the final event before the FedExCup playoffs begin next week.
The tour veteran still has some way to go after entering the week 148th in the FedExCup standings, and following a back nine of 33 (two under par ) he has only advanced a projected eight places.
Sabbatini’s last PGA Tour win came at the Honda Classic in 2011, and he trails Matt Every by four shots after 18 holes.
The only South African playing this week inside the top 125 – Tyrone Van Aswegen – is in danger of letting his playoff aspirations fade away after he dropped a projected five spots to 120th in the rankings with an opening 71 (one over par).
Van Aswegen will need to limit the bogeys on Friday after making three – including two in a row in his final three holes – with just two birdies offsetting the damage.
The Big Easy needs to find something special on Friday to make the cut and keep his slim playoffs hopes alive. Els made a steady start with a birdie on the third, but dropped two shots before making his second and final birdie at the 10th to get him back to level. The four-time Major winner then dropped another on the 12th and sits in a share of 116th place.
Els, who found just 61% of greens in regulation, entered the week in 213th, and now faces an almost impossible task of a late dash into the top 125.
Long-time Presidents Cup teammate Retief Goosen is another who is destined to be missing from the lineup at the Northern Trust Open. He entered the week 161st in the rankings, but dropped three places after his 72 on Thursday.
Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
