Tano Goya: Despite receiving two minutes’ notice and starting the round in his tennis shoes, Tano Goya is making the most of his third PGA Tour outing in over ten years.
By placing in the top 50 at the conclusion of the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season, the Argentinean obtained his maiden Tour card. His exemption status landed him on the alternate list for this week’s Shriners Children’s Open and at the bottom of the standings at the start of the new Tour season last month.
Up until Thursday morning, that is.
Goya said Thursday after shooting a 3-under 68 at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, “It felt funny because I had the impression that I was going to get in somehow.”
If you go back a few hours, the 34-year-old was simply hoping someone would withdraw when he arrived at the course at 5:30 a.m. While his caddie searched the player areas for any indications of trouble, he warmed up at the track.
The youngster remembered, “All of a sudden, my caddie phoned me saying Peter Malnati was like ten minutes ago and couldn’t see him.
He began preparing himself just in case, and sure enough, Malnati withdrew. Goya received a call from tour organisers at 7 a.m. with a tee time of 7:02 on the 10th hole.
Goya stated, “I hit the first tee shot [in] my trainers. It was amusing that there was no preparation at all.
The seven-time international winner was one off the lead after three birdies on the back nine when he put on his golf shoes in the middle of the par-4 10th hole. He would finish the front nine with a birdie and a bogey, taking advantage of all three par 5s to place himself in the top 20 going into Round 2.
The key to Goya’s successful opening round was preparation. He practised as usual on Tuesday and Wednesday even though he wasn’t sure if he would get to play or not in the hopes of being lucky.
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