PGA Tour rookie Tom Whitney signed for a 67 featuring six birdies and one bogey to take a share of the lead at the World Wide Technology Championship.
“So started off really quick, birdie, birdie, birdie, and then made a bogey where the scoring average is easily going to be over par on that hole. So didn’t really get too down on myself after that and just kept the pedal down,” said Whitney.
“Fortunately for me, on a windy day like today, I don’t have a lot of mistakes either that I made — strategically or with my execution out there.
“One of my strengths is I can keep the ball very low whether it be a wedge or with my driver. Anytime you’re apexing at 35, 40 feet above ground, those crosswinds aren’t really going to touch my drive that much. Makes it a little easier for me to keep it in play.”
The American is making his 25th start this season after earning his first PGA Tour card via the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Points List. His best result so far was T11 at the Black Desert Championship.
The Philippines’ Rico Hoey made two bogeys while American Kevin Streelman eagled the par-5 1st hole and made one bogey for their share of the lead.
“I shot 1 under on the front. I felt like I was hitting good shots. It’s just blowing so hard that any shot on the green is a great shot. Yeah, I caught fire on the back nine starting on 10, hit it to 12 feet and made that. Did the interview and then chipped in on 11, so that was pretty cool. Yeah, just kind of kept rolling from there,” said Hoey.
Defending champion Erik van Rooyen from South Africa opened with a 4-under 68 as he attempts to become the second player to win consecutive World Wide Technology Championship titles (Viktor Hovland/2020-21). He lies in a share of fourth place alongside six American players.
Play was suspended due to darkness at 5:53 p.m. MT with three players yet to complete their round. Those players will be back in position at 7:30 a.m., with the second round beginning as scheduled at 6:30 a.m.
The World Wide Technology Championship became the first official PGA Tour event played in Mexico in the modern era when it debuted in 2007 and holds the distinction as the first official Tour event played outside the US or Canada. This year marks the 18th edition of the event and the second time the tournament will be played at El Cardonal at Diamante.
The 2024 World Wide Technology Championship is the sixth event of the FedExCup Fall, a group of eight tournaments played after the Tour Championship that finalizes eligibility for the 2025 PGA Tour Season.
The Aon Next 10 is an eligibility pathway to earn access to Signature Events (outside of The Sentry), recognizing the top 10 players, not otherwise exempt, from the FedExCup standings. Nos. 51-60 in the final FedExCup Fall standings at the conclusion of The RSM Classic will serve as the Aon Next 10 for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational.
