Aaron Baddeley – file photo – Bruce Young
Aaron Baddeley no longer has full status on the PGA Tour and in this week’s Fortinet Championship in Napa California the 40-year-old required a tournament invite to gain a start.
The two-time Australian Open Champion and four-time PGA Tour winner is tied for 24th after opening rounds of 71 and 68 to lead the three Australians to make the weekend in the opening event of the 2021 / 2022 PGA Tour schedule.
Baddeley trails the leader, Maverick McNealy by seven shots, the leader two ahead of rookie and three time Korn Ferry Tour winner, Mito Pereira and Beau Hossler.
Baddeley finished outside the top 125 on last season’s FedEx Cup table and, as a consequence, was required to enter the Korn Ferry Tour Finals in order to regain PGA Tour status.
He was unable to do so having a best finish of 22nd in his three attempts and must now rely on the generosity of sponsors and the occasional event where his very limited PGA Tour status might gain him a start in lesser events.
This has been an encouraging start at least as he looks to resurrect his PGA Tour career.
Cameron Percy and Marc Leishman were the only other Australasians to survive the cut, that pair in 38th place and just one behind Baddeley.
Lucas Herbert was playing his first PGA Tour event as a cardholder but missed the cut as did Brett Drewitt and New Zealander Danny Lee.
