For the second time in less than three months, Jhonattan Vegas’ schedule has been impacted by a paperwork issue.
The Venezuela native nearly missed The Open because of an expired visa, making it to Carnoustie via helicopter just minutes before his opening-round tee time. But there will be no last-minute theatrics this time around, as Vegas’ passport has nearly expired and issues in his homeland have made renewal difficult. As a result, he opted to withdraw from this week’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia:
Súper disappointed not going to @CIMBClassic this week in Malaysia due to my passport expiring in a 2 months. Unfortunately my country is having some horrible issues and renewing your passport is one of them. Thanks everyone @CIMBClassic for trying to make this happen.
— Jhonattan Vegas (@JhonattanVegas) October 8, 2018
Vegas was replaced in the 78-man field by Sam Ryder, who missed a playoff at the season-opening Safeway Open by a single shot. Vegas finished T-53 last week in Napa, his first start since missing the cut at the Dell Technologies Championship.
Vegas finished 95th in last season’s FedExCup standings, and that position is unlikely to earn him a spot in next week’s CJ Cup at Nine Bridges in South Korea. Vegas is expected to play next month in Australia, when he teams with Joseph Naffah to represent Venezuela in the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf.
