Pro Who Kept PGA Tour Card Following Jon Rahm's Departure To LIV Takes Full Advantage At Sony Open

Carl Yuan sits tied at the top at the halfway stage, with the 26-year-old only at the event following Rahm's move to LIV Golf

Carl Yuan lines up a putt at the Sony Open, with palm trees fluttering in the background
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Matt Cradock
By
published

The Sony Open in Hawaii is set-up for an exciting finish over the weekend, with a three-way tie for the lead taking place going into Saturday. Along with the leaders, 38 players sit just four shots behind!

However, it's one of those at the top who is making headlines, with Carl Yuan amongst the three PGA Tour pros vying for the title, despite the fact he finished outside the top-125 of the FedEx Cup standings at the end of 2023.

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour)

A photo posted by on

So, how is the 26-year-old able to feature in this tournament, you may ask? Well, Yuan was the lucky player to see his position change following Jon Rahm's departure to LIV Golf in December 2023.

As is the case every year, the top-125 in the FedEx Cup standings guarantee their playing rights for the 2024 PGA Tour season. Finishing the 2022-23 season in 126th position, just one point behind the 125th spot, Yuan saw his position move by one, due to the fact that Rahm was suspended and removed from the FedEx Cup standings following his departure to LIV.

“I was very thrilled,” Yuan said at the Sony Open on Friday. “It gives me another chance to improve and get better," he claimed, before revealing that he found out the news on the Monday of Q-School, an event he was present at as he went in search for a full PGA Tour card.

What really saved the 26-year-old, though, was the PGA Tour's fall schedule, a seven event series that gives players from outside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings a chance to accumulate points and move into specific events. Struggling in his rookie year on the PGA Tour, Yuan finished the regular PGA Tour season, before the fall schedule, at 151st, before the three-month stretch gave him a chance to move up the standings.

Although Ryan Moore pushed him into the 126th spot, Rahm's move meant he jumped to 125th, securing full playing rights. “Luckily I got full status, but I’m still trying to do the same thing and come out here and play the best I can," explained Yuan, who is looking for a maiden PGA Tour title in Hawaii.

Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Latest