There will be no last-minute helicopter rides to the first tee this time for Jhonnatan Vegas. The Venezuelan PGA Tour pro has withdrawn from this week’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia due to further passport issues.
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
“Super disappointed not going to @CIMBClassic this week in Malaysia due to my passport expiring in a 2 months,” Vegas wrote on Twitter on Monday. “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.”
If you recall, Vegas had similar travel issues earlier this summer when his travel visa expired prior to his trip to Scotland for the Open Championship. He was able to get his renewal expedited and despite weather and courier issues, he made it to Carnoustie 45 minutes before his first-round tee time.
There will be no such fire drill this week, however, as the passport issue in his native Venezuela has been one of the primary roadblocks for many trying to emigrate from the economic downturn in the country.
Vegas was replaced in the 78-man CIMB field by Sam Ryder, who finished in a tie for fourth place at last week’s Safeway Open.
