LAS VEGAS – The good news?
James Hahn is healthy enough to be playing on a major-medical exemption.
The not-so-good news?
He has to deal with the pressure of playing on a major-medical exemption.
Hahn missed eight months in 2019 with an elbow injury and began the 2020-2021 season with 14 remaining on his major-medical exemption to retain his playing privileges.
He needed about 305 FedEx Cup points in those 14 starts. Doesn’t sound like much, right?
Well, you still have to produce and Hahn, who has won twice on the PGA Tour, has done just that so far with ties for ninth in the season-opener in the Safeway Open and sixth in the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. Those two results earned him 165 points.
A three-way tie for third or better this week would give him enough points to retain his full playing privileges.
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“It’s still the weirdest feeling because I’ve never been in this position before,” Hahn said. “But if you read Bob Rotella books, how you’re supposed to go in every golf tournament should be same. You’re trying to win. You’re here to compete.
“That’s what I’m doing. I’m competing.
“I’m not looking at how many points I need to keep my medical.”
But Hahn kept up his fine form of late with a 7-under-par 64 in Thursday’s first round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin. With six birdies and an eagle, Hahn sat in a tie for fourth, two shots behind pace-setter Bryson DeChambeau.
“Just enjoying life,” Hahn said after his round. “I feel like I’m happier. I’m eating healthier. Relationship with my family is really good; golf is really easy right now.
“I’m not sure if that has anything to do with it, but I feel like when I’m happy I’m playing some of my best golf. I’m really happy with how I played today. Didn’t hit a lot of the fairways, but maybe fix that tomorrow.”
As for his elbow – he had a partially torn triceps tendon – he’s back to feeling 100 percent and said there is zero pain.
“It’s really relieving to wake up in the morning and not feel any pain,” he said. “It just puts me in a better mood. Regardless of how I play, I feel healthy.”
Right now, Hahn isn’t thinking about the points he has to earn to get his card back. But it’s still in the back of his mind.
“I feel like when starts getting closer down to three, four, five starts, is when I’ll maybe start freaking out,” said Hahn, who added that would only happen if he hasn’t earned his playing privileges by then. “So if you want to talk to me a couple months from now.
“Right now I feel like I have 12 starts left. That should be plenty of starts for me to at least get off to a good start in this year’s FedEx Cup and put me in a good position to make the playoffs. Ultimately that’s what we’re all trying to do here is make the playoffs, make a run at the FedExCup, and try to win the big thing.”
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