WM Open: Sponsor's Exemptions That Pay Off
/There is a long way to go, but I'm sure plenty of people are offering Waste Management Open tournament director Danny Calihan an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas after his sponsor's invites have excelled.
Nick Piecoro for the Arizona Republic on Calihan giving spots to Daniel Berger (8-under thru 36), Justin Thomas (7-under) and ASU junior Jon Rahm (4-under).
"It's very rewarding," said Calihan, the Open's tournament chairman. "We have a team of people who do (help determine sponsor exemptions) and we take it very seriously. A spot in a PGA golf tournament is a valued thing and we know it means a lot to the players, so we try very hard to make sure we make worthy selections. It's very fun when those young guys come through and play great. They're both great young players and nice young men and we're really psyched to see them playing so well."
**John Davis on Rahm's ultra-impressive 66 Saturday that has the ASU amateur in contention.
"It's not my home course, but it definitely feel like home," said Rahm, who got into the field this week on a sponsor exemption. "There are a lot of Sun Devil supporters out there, and it's great to hear them cheering.
