Joel Dahmen found himself in a challenging position after the first day of the Shriners Children's Open in Las Vegas, sitting 131st out of 132 players. The 36-year-old golfer from the University of Washington faced not only difficulties on the course at TPC Summerlin but also a significant setback due to a self-reported error. Dahmen admitted to carrying 15 clubs in his bag, exceeding the limit of 14, which resulted in a four-stroke penalty. Consequently, he finished the day with a score of 5-over-par 76.
This penalty could have serious implications for Dahmen's playing status for the next season. Currently ranked 124th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, only the top 125 players at the end of the fall circuit will retain their full playing status for the 2025 tour. Dahmen's penalty transformed what would have been two pars at the first two holes into double bogeys, further complicating his day.
Dahmen expressed surprise at how the extra club made its way into his bag, explaining that he typically travels with 15 or 16 clubs but had never forgotten to reduce his count before a tournament. "I'd like to blame (caddie) Geno (Bonnalie), but it's not his fault either," Dahmen noted. He recalled playing practice rounds earlier in the week without noticing the additional 4-iron, which he had tested in early October. "It sucks at the spot I'm in as well," he admitted, highlighting the frustration of the situation.
Reflecting on the incident, Dahmen took it in stride, stating, "One of those where you live and learn." Despite the mishap, he remained optimistic about the upcoming rounds, indicating that he and his caddie would regroup and focus on making birdies in the next day’s play. With one career PGA Tour win under his belt from the 2021 Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship, Dahmen is currently ranked 229th in the Official World Golf Ranking and hopes to improve his standings in the days to come.
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