01페덱스컵 폴 개막전, 시드 방어전으로 번진 빌트모어 챔피언십
노스캐롤라이나주 애슈빌의 더 클리프 앳 월넛 코브에서 막을 올린 빌트모어 챔피언십은 올해 신설된 대회지만, 출전 선수들에겐 단순한 시즌 첫 대회 이상의 무게감을 안긴다. 페덱스컵 폴(FedExCup Fall) 시리즈가 2027시즌 풀 타임 시드권의 향방을 가르는 마지막 관문이기 때문이다. 현재 페덱스컵 랭킹 169위 피터 말라티와 183위 닐 십리에게 이번 주는 '톱 100 진입'이라는 생존 과제를 풀어야 하는 결전의 장이다.
말라티는 1라운드에서 보기 없이 전반 9홀을 4언더파 31타로 마치는 폭발적인 스타트를 끊었다. 14번 홀에서 유일한 보기를 범했으나 곧장 15번과 17번 홀 버디로 만회하며 6언더파 65타, 공동 3위에 이름을 올렸다. 그는 "오랜만에 풀 시드 없이 대회에 나서니 아침부터 긴장됐다"며 솔직한 심경을 털어놓으면서도 "내 준비 과정과 나 자신을 믿는다"고 담담히 각오를 다졌다.
십리 역시 만만치 않은 저력을 보였다. 이 코스에서 가장 까다롭다는 5개의 파3 홀을 합계 1언더파로 공략하며 보기 프리 66타를 적어냈다. "파3 홀들이 길고 어려워서 코스의 이빨이 그곳에 있다"고 평한 그는 "우승하면 톱 100 진입은 해결된다. 이번 폴 시리즈 목표는 우승"이라고 선명한 목표 의식을 드러냈다.
두 선수 모두 이번 대회 우승 시 톱 100 안착이 유력하지만, 트로피는 하나뿐이다. 남은 3라운드에서 누가 더 꾸준한 경기력을 유지하며 '투어 생존'이라는 결실을 맺을지, 애슈빌의 가을이 그 답을 기다리고 있다.
02Original (English) — PGA TOUR
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – As the FedExCup Fall kicks off at the Biltmore Championship Asheville, there's more at stake for some than others.
Following the first round, Peter Malnati and Neal Shipley find themselves rightfully in the mix, battling for a spot inside the top 100 in the FedExCup rankings. Coming in at Nos. 169 and 183, respectively, they find themselves with an uphill battle to keep their full-time Tour status.
After firing a 6-under 65 Thursday, Malnati finds himself in a prime position to capitalize on some much-needed points.
"I've been working really hard. I took one week off and then had four weeks of grind, and I was feeling awesome about my work. You never know how it's going to translate from prep to competition," said Malnati following his first round.
Malnati's round started hot, going out in a bogey-free, 4-under 31 and kept his card clean until his lone bogey on the 14th hole.
He bounced back quickly with birdies on Nos. 15 and 17, and finished the day with a share of third place.
"I felt pretty nervous when I woke up this morning because it's been a long time since I've not been fully exempt on Tour, and I'm staring at my last seven events as a fully exempt player right now, and I'm not exactly in a strong position," Malnati said Thursday. "I'm at peace with who I am and how I work, but that doesn't mean I don't want to still be a full-time PGA Tour player."
Joining him at T3 is Neal Shipley, who arrived in Asheville from the outside looking in when it comes to his Tour status for the 2027 season.
Shipley finished his round Thursday with a bogey-free 66 to put him right in contention as the week continues.
He played the five par 3s at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in 1-under, a feat that not many other players can say following the first round.
"The par threes are challenging; they're long, and I think that's where most of the teeth in the golf course is. When you miss the greens, the up-and-downs aren't that easy, but you can definitely get a lot of scoring clubs in your hand," Shipley said immediately following his round.
If Shipley hopes to jump back inside that top 100, the consistency he saw in his game this afternoon will have to continue to be a theme.
"A win would take care of that [top 100], and now I'm really focused on trying to win this fall. That is definitely the main goal," said Shipley.
Winning the inaugural Biltmore Championship would certainly solidify a spot inside the top 100 for both Malnati and Shipley, but only one can come out on top come Sunday afternoon.