PGA champ Aaron Rai pulls out of CJ Byron Nelson
Emilee Chinn
Aaron Rai’s encore will have to wait.
Rai, a day after his PGA Championship breakthrough at Aronimink, has pulled out of this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson tour event.
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It is not uncommon for major champs to withdraw from the next tournament, given the whirlwind of engagements that come with the victory. Rai had also played the week before at the tour’s alternate event, ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.
Rai was also not alone. The Nelson saw a wave of WDs over the last two days, including Michael Kim, Aldrich Potgeiter, Andrew Putnam, Nicolai Hojgaard, Marco Penge and Web Simpson.
Rai made an eagle and four birdies over his last 10 holes—punctuated by a 70-footer on the 17th—to emerge from a crowded leaderboard at Aronimink.