NASSAU, Bahamas – Patrick Cantlay didn’t know he was going to be playing the Hero World Challenge until two weeks ago, and he managed to play just 28 holes on a course he’d never seen before teeing off for Thursday’s opening round. His inexperience proved no issue on Day 1.
Cantlay birdied five of his final six holes for an opening-round 65 and a share of the lead with Patrick Reed.
His performance is even more impressive considering that following his last start, when he finished second at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open earlier this month, he had sinus surgery that kept him from touching a club for two weeks.
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“The week after Shriners, I flew to Miami and I had a deviated septum surgery and then a sinus surgery,” Cantlay said. “So I was out for a good week where I was mostly in bed, so I didn’t really have any time to think about it.”
Cantlay said he’s struggled with sinus issues since he was a child and has had issues sleeping in recent years. After trying an assortment of other treatments, he decided to have the surgery.
“I’m still working through it just because of my nose is still healing from the surgery,” Cantlay said. “So all the inflammation isn’t down, but it’s getting there.”