Carlos

Sainz, Jr.

It’s been a rocky, rookie campaign for Sainz, Jr. registering just two paydays on 12 starts. On the bright side, one of those went for a top 10 (T9, Sanderson Farms Championship), bagging 38 of his 48 FedExCup points on the season in just this one event. He’s banked just 10 points in his other 11 starts, at one point missing eight consecutive cuts. He broke that streak two starts ago with a T58 at the Wells Fargo Championship, but missed the cut in his latest loop at the AT&T Byron Nelson. The 29-year-old has mixed in four events on the Web.com Tour in 2015, going 2-for-4 and finishing T38 at last week’s Greater Dallas Open.

The rookie was the fourth alternate when the field was released on Friday afternoon. He slid into the field when Francesco Molinari withdrew. Sainz Jr. has missed eight consecutive cuts since sharing ninth place at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He’s 213th in the FedExCup standings.

Sainz, Jr., born in Chicago and a resident of Elgin, Illinois, will be enjoying a bit of a home game, as the JDC is contested at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. The PGA TOUR rookie needs a lift as he’s made only two cuts in 15 starts on the season, thankfully, one went for a top 10 (T9, Sanderson Farms Championship). The 29-year-old broke a streak of eight conscutive missed cuts with a T58 at the Wells Fargo Championship, but has missed four cuts on the bounce since. The Web.com Tour grad sits outside the top 150 in most statistical categories on the season, including 195th in strokes gained: putting and 197th in scrambling.

He was bumped to first alternate when five golfers inside the top 10 at the Barbasol Championship were added to the field at Glen Abbey. The rookie slid back into the field when Carl Pettersson withdrew. Sainz, Jr. tied for 48th at Grand National for what was just his third cut made in 17 starts this season. At 210th in the FedExCup standings, his eyes should be fixed solely on the top 200 and a berth in the Web.com Tour Finals.

The PGA TOUR rookie has been enduring a baptism by fire. He’s cashed just twice in 16 starts. And even though the first went for a T9 at the Sanderson Farms in the fall, he’s a distant 214th in the FedExCup standings. En route to what is a career-best aggregate in 39 rounds, Sainz, Jr. went 6-for-14 in scoring chances for six birdies. The set included respective conversions from 17'2", 13'3" and 22'8" at the 15th, second and ninth holes. He signed his card parked just two shots off the clubhouse lead.

The PGA TOUR rookie is a long way out of the playoff conversation, having cuts made in just 3-of-19 starts. Not surprisingly, he ranks 190th in strokes gained on the season. It will take a career week and first PGA TOUR victory in order for Sainz, Jr. to crack the Barclays field next week. Gamers can safely overlook this week when setting rosters.

The PGA TOUR rookie sits at 40th in the reshuffle and could use a big week ahead of the next checkpoint. He’s currently 1-for-9, but made the most of that one with a top 10 at Mayakoba. Gamers can safely be advised to avoid Sainz, Jr. this week in Avondale, Louisiana.

Sainz, Jr. placed T9 in Mississippi yesterday to earn a top-10 exemption into the field of 132 at El Camaleón. It was his first payday in just two PGA TOUR starts. He’s 134th in the FedExCup standings as a result. The rookie was second alternate when the field was released on Friday and would have gained entry on merit anyway, but he can use the success as a springboard nonetheless. Regardless of what happens, he’s going to rise a bit in the Web.com Tour graduate category when it reshuffles for the first time at the conclusion of the OHL.

Sainz Jr. is 22nd on the Web.com Tour Finals money list for players without a TOUR card already secured. The top 25 on that list will received their playing privileges for next season. He collected a couple of top-20 finishes to kick off the Finals before missing the cut at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship last week. Another top 20 this week would likely do the trick.

He will be a true rookie on TOUR this season, having never teed it up in any PGA TOUR event. Sainz Jr. is 46th in the opening reshuffle, meaning he needs a little luck to gain entry in some of the early tournaments. When his number is called, he will need to make the most of his opportunity in order to try and improve his number in future reshuffles.