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Shinnecock Hills is a hard act to follow, figuratively and literally, but if any course is capable, it’s Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland, host of The Open Championship. Indeed, if any of the 81 in the field at the 148th edition of the season’s third major who was victimized at the U.S. Open and is now digging in his heels in pursuit of the Claret Jug, Carnoustie is ready to remind the world that it’s right up there among the world’s most challenging tests. Beneath this full-field Power Rankings is more on the course that has co-hosted the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship since 2001, how to survive it and other trends that project success. Off since he finished third at Shinnecock Hills, so he’s poised to unleash that disappointment with a bevy of drivers at Carnoustie. With his precision, it could get silly for the World No. 1. As prepared as he can be. Solid record in The Open with a pair of top fives baked into a 7-for-8 slate. Three top fives and another three top 25s in his last six majors. It’s his time. A legitimate contender every time he plays. Four wins in last 19 starts worldwide. Third appearance at Carnoustie in The Open; T12 in 2007. Seventh(!) on TOUR in strokes gained: putting. Remember that the U.S. Open champ cut his professional teeth in Europe. Co-runner-up in the last of three appearances at the Dunhill Links in 2015. Still fresher than most since injury. Took two weeks off after coming out on top of a dynamite field at the Open de France. It’s one of five top-three finishes in 2018. Veteran of eight Dunhill Links appearances; three top 20s. He wasn’t ready for Shinnecock Hills, but it hasn’t deterred his long game. He bracketed the missed cut with T5s in Fort Worth and in France, and then added a T4 in Ireland. Will pound drivers. Last seen by U.S. fans racing home in 63 at Shinnecock Hills to finish alone in second place. Owns the course record at Carnoustie (63). Also 7-for-7 in the Dunhill Links. Not unfamiliar with Carnoustie, but has zero top 35s in seven starts at the Dunhill Links. Also facing challenge of long trip following his T2 in the Quad Cities, but in career-best form. The Race to Dubai leader – that’s not a typo – placed T23 in Scotland on Sunday. Chased his Masters breakthrough with a solo fourth at the U.S. Open. Potent combo of power and imagination. Rested since a co-runner-up finish at the Travelers. Only three finishes outside the top 20 anywhere in the last 13 months. The 11-time veteran of the Dunhill Links placed T27 at the 2007 Open. The 2015 champ at St. Andrews has five top 15s in his last six Opens. It makes sense given the test of grit and elements that cater to his wheelhouse. Top 20s in last three starts upon arrival. The only constant for the last year-plus is his inconsistency, relatively speaking, but it doesn’t mean he’s any less dangerous. Three-time runner-up of the Dunhill Links (2009, 2011, 2014). Relatively silent since runner-up finish at Trinity Forest, but that blend of barren land with a bit of wind is why he’s among the favorites at Carnoustie. Three top-six finishes in last three Opens. Winner of the last two Dunhill Links Championships. The Englishman also is surging after a T6-T16-T9 sprint from Shinnecock Hills to France to Scotland. T5 at the 2016 Open Championship. The hard-track specialist has four top 10s and another four top 25s in 2018, including a T25 at Shinnecock Hills. Benefited by only two par 5s. Winner of the 2012 Dunhill Links. Maybe the Nappy Factor is finally kicking in. After nearly three months of struggle, he’s finished T12 (Italy) and T8 (France) in last two starts. Playoff victim at the 2007 Open Championship. Has only one top 20 in seven Opens (T4 at St. Andrews in 2015), but he’d be hard to beat around and on the greens anywhere, including at Carnoustie. Two wins among four top fives in 2018. Seeks to turn the page on an eventful few weeks since the U.S. Open. Prior to it, he was crashing most leaderboards. The 2013 Open champion should enjoy and thrive on dried-out Carnoustie. The 25-year-old has yet to showcase a knack for links-style golf, but the only thing lacking is more experience to prove otherwise. Currently second in the FedExCup and Official World Golf Ranking. With his power and precision tee-to-green, he gets benefit of the doubt over relatively lackluster return from injury. Connected three top 20s through the U.S. Open. Three top 20s in five Opens. RANK PLAYER COMMENT POWER RANKINGS: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WILD CARD Jordan Spieth … Even though he’s the defending champion, he’s competing at Carnoustie for the first time and in a field that has exhibited much better form as a whole than he has over the last three months. Consider that he’s gone seven starts (since the back-door solo third at the Masters) without a top-20 finish. The drought includes a T41 at THE PLAYERS and a missed cut at the U.S. Open. When humming along as he has for the majority of his career, he should be a target on courses like this week’s that rewards guile and moxie, but in a week that favors bombers when he arrives without his A-game, it’d be surprising if he contends. NOTE: The remaining 135 golfers in the field of 156 are segregated as seen below. Those who competed professionally last week are noted. Of the 26 golfers who finished inside the top 25 at the 2017 Open Championship, 19 played the week prior. Champion Jordan Spieth did not, but the majority proves that sharpening the skill set immediately in advance was of value. CHALLENGERS If you’d prefer, label them as the snubs from the Power Rankings. Each could appear and few would argue. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – competed last week) *Ian Poulter Tony Finau *Russell Knox *Andy Sullivan Tiger Woods (2000/2005/2006 champ) Webb Simpson *Matthew Fitzpatrick *Charley Hoffman Keegan Bradley Xander Schauffele Henrik Stenson (2016 champ; nursing a sore elbow) *Rafa Cabrera Bello *Kiradech Aphibarnrat *Lee Westwood Kevin Na Adam Scott *Matt Kuchar *Ryan Moore Jimmy Walker Charl Schwartzel Brandt Snedeker *Louis Oosthuizen (2010 champ; withdrew during the first round of the Scottish Open with a sore right shoulder) SLEEPERS Because it’s a major, loosen the restraints as to who qualifies as a Sleeper. Ignore current world ranking, distant victories in majors and recent inclusion in team competition. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – competed last week; ^ – debutant) Thorbjørn Olesen *Ryan Fox Russell Henley Emiliano Grillo *Chris Wood *Peter Uihlein *Alexander Björk *Paul Dunne Anirban Lahiri *Thomas Pieters *Dylan Frittelli Byeong Hun An *^Matt Wallace *Matthew Southgate Jason Dufner *Julian Suri *^Jazz Janewattananond *Hao Tong Li *Nicolas Colsaerts *Grant Forrest QUESTION MARKS This cuts both ways. For golfers who have yet to scale to a position from which they can disappoint, they remain full of promise. On the other side of the ledger are talents, many of whom household names, who present negatively for any number of reasons. The doubt includes, but is not limited to, form upon arrival, course fit, history in majors, overall career trajectory and relative inexperience in the face of higher expectations. ARROW UP Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – competed last week; ^ – debutant) *^Luke List ^Patrick Cantlay *Eddie Pepperell Brian Harman *Danny Willett *Chesson Hadley *Brandon Stone *^Jorge Campillo Shane Lowry *^Austin Cook Bubba Watson ^Beau Hossler Stewart Cink Charles Howell III Gary Woodland *^Jess Dantorp Michael Hendry Retief Goosen *^Kelly Kraft *Matt Jones *^Andrew Landry ^Ryan Armour *^Bronson Burgoon Adam Hadwin Yuta Ikeda *^Gavin Green ^Shota Akiyoshi Tom Lewis Sang-Hyun Park ^Minchel Choi ^Abraham Ancer ^Danthai Boonma Shaun Norris Kodai Ichihara *^Michael Kim *Sung Kang Jason Kokrak *^Erik van Rooyen *Jack Senior ^Ryuko Tokimatsu ^Brady Schnell *^Ashton Turner ARROW DOWN Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – competed last week; ^ – debutant) *Ross Fisher Jhonattan Vegas Daniel Berger *Cameron Smith Kevin Kisner *Martin Kaymer *Kyle Stanley *Padraig Harrington *Bryson DeChambeau (withdrew during the opening round of the John Deere Classic with soreness in his right shoulder) *Si Woo Kim *George Coetzee Pat Perez *Kevin Chappell Brendan Steele *Chez Reavie Oliver Wilson ^Marcus Kinhult ^Cameron Davis ^Lucas Herbert *Scott Jamieson *^Jordan L. Smith *Ernie Els Satoshi Kodaira *Patton Kizzire *Jonas Blixt *Hideto Tanihara *^Shubhankar Sharma *Brett Rumford *Fabrizio Zanotti *Zander Lombard *Bernhard Langer *Alexander Levy ^James Robinson *Tom Lehman *Yusaku Miyazato Rhys Enoch Masanori Kobayashi ^Haraldur Magnus ^Marcus Armitage ^Masahiro Kawamura ^Sean Crocker ^Thomas Curtis *Mark Calcavecchia David Duval *Sandy Lyle *Todd Hamilton *Darren Clarke AMATEURS It’s been only three years since Paul Dunne shared the 54-hole lead in The Open Championship at St. Andrews as an amateur. He’d eventually tumble to T30 with a final-round 78, which isn’t bad, but consider that he didn’t finish inside the top-three alternates. With red numbers in their finales, Jordan Niebrugge (T6), Ashley Chesters (T12) and Ollie Schniederjans (T12) stole the thunder. The aggregate success also was an anomaly. In 2014, 2016 and 2017 combined, only Alfie Plant made the cut at The Open. He finished T62 last year. In the two recent editions of the championship at Carnoustie, only one amateur survived the cut: Rory McIlroy (T42) in 2007. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (with World Amateur Golf Ranking; ^ – debutant) ^Nicolai Hojgaard (9) ^Jovan Rebula (55) ^Lin Yuxin (141) ^Sam Locke (439) NOTE: Joaquin Niemann and Doc Redman forfeited exemptions into The Open Championship when each turned pro earlier this year. Neither requalified. Paul Lawrie (back, foot), Bernd Wiesberger (wrist) and John Daly (knee) withdrew due to injuries. You’re unlikely to find someone under the age of 25 who has any memory of the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie, so the youngest generation of golf fans can’t comprehend the real-time emotion of Jean Van de Velde’s meltdown on the final hole of regulation. For the rest of us, that still overshadows the fact that Van de Velde, Paul Lawrie and Justin Leonard completed regulation in a whopping 6-over 290. And while Lawrie had help en route to victory, even devotees of the sport might not know that he still owns the PGA TOUR record for the largest come-from-behind win. He was positioned 10 strokes back at the conclusion of 54 holes. There’s no question that Carnoustie’s reputation precedes itself. The scoring average on the par 71 in 1999 was 5.816 over par, which remains the highest in relation to par of all courses since records were first maintained in earnest in 1983. The second-easiest hole that week was the par-3 13th, which averaged 0.029 strokes over par. However, you’re less likely to know that when it returned to host the 2007 Open, it ranked as the easiest major that season at “just” 2.381 strokes over par. Before Padraig Harrington emerged from the playoff with Sergio Garcia in 2007, the duo completed regulation in a more acceptable 7-under 277. That target is in play this week with consistently challenging winds from a prevailing westerly direction. The course will play as expected. Spitting rain can’t be ruled out at any time and daytime high temperatures probably won’t touch 70 degrees, so this is poised to be a textbook Open Championship in terms of conditions. Then there’s the matter of the course itself. It’s as dry as it’s ever been, so it’s going to play long. With strategic bunkering that adds to the premium on club selection, and with only three par 3s, the longest hitters have the advantage. The course tips at 7,402 yards but has just two par 5s. When Harrington won, he found 37 of the 60 fairways (ranking T37) and 47 greens in regulation (T12), but led the field in scrambling in going 19-for-25. A low, boring ball flight combined with the experience and patience of a veteran will likely define this week’s champion. Total prize money of $10.5 million will be distributed of which the winner will receive $1.89 million. In addition to innumerable spoils and a spot cemented into the history of the sport, he’ll also take possession of the Claret Jug, 600 FedExCup points and a five-year PGA TOUR exemption. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton reviews and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings (Open Championship) TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (Barbasol), Fantasy Insider, Facebook Live WEDNESDAY: One & Done (Open Championship); One & Done (Barbasol) * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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NASSAU, Bahamas – News and notes from Sunday’s final round of the Hero World Challenge, with Spain’s Jon Rahm cruising to a four-shot win to end his year on a high note. RAHM’S BIG WIN It was the Wednesday at East Lake, the eve of the TOUR Championship. Jon Rahm was on the practice green, putting on a Bermudagrass surface that has always given him fits. Next to him is Tiger Woods. Rahm, being 24 years old and having idolized Tiger, decided to ask for some advice. “Can you please teach me how to putt on Bermuda?â€� Tiger’s response? “He kind of laughed and told me it’s all about feel,â€� Rahm recalled. “I was like, OK, whatever, right.â€� On Sunday, Rahm was again next to Woods on the putting green. This time it was during the trophy ceremony after Rahm claimed Tiger’s Hero World Challenge with a 7-under 65 to finish at 20 under. Tiger remembered the conversation they had had two months earlier at East Lake. “That’s a pretty good performance for somebody who can’t putt on Bermuda greens,â€� Tiger said. Replied Rahm: “My man, you should look at my stats because it was all ball-striking.â€� Indeed, Rahm did not win his final start of the 2018 calendar year because of his prowess with the putter. It was from tee-to-green that he excelled – he was third in the 18-man field in fairways hit (39 of 5) and tied for fourth in greens in regulation (52 of 62). On Sunday, locked in a tight front-nine battle with Tony Finau, Rahm hit 12 of his last 13 greens as he pulled away for his third worldwide victory of the year – and sixth since he turned pro. “Arguably the best ball-striking day I’m ever going to have – even better than Friday,â€� Rahm said of his final round, comparing his closing 65 to his second-round 63 that was the lowest round of the week. Perhaps it’s fitting that Rahm won the event run by Tiger’s foundation. It was just a week after their exchange at East Lake when they met again. It came in the Sunday’s Singles at the Ryder Cup in Paris, when Rahm found himself facing Woods in the fourth match out. Plenty of thoughts when through Rahm’s mind in those 12 hours prior to the match. He spoke to his mental coach, spoke to European captain Thomas Bjorn, spoke to teammate Tommy Fleetwood, all in hopes of finding a way to beat Woods. He concluded that he simply couldn’t make any mistakes for Tiger to pounce on. He had to play flawless golf. Result? Rahm beat Woods 2 and 1. It was the first full point for Europe on a day in which they took back the Ryder Cup. Just before Rahm’s final putt, somebody in the gallery yelled out, “Do it for Seveâ€� in Spanish. Seve Ballesteros is the reason Rahm is playing golf. The emotions started to spill out. So there was Rahm crying in front of Woods. A win over one idol inspired by his late Spanish hero. “Because of that, I don’t think there’s anything I can do in the game anytime soon that’s going to mean more than that,â€� Rahm said. Sunday’s win in the Bahamas was pretty nice, though. Big things await for Rahm going into 2019. It could be a breakout year, a year in which he reaches the next level. Maybe he doesn’t even need those Bermudagrass lessons anymore. NOTABLES KEY MOMENT: The tournament outcome was still in doubt when the final group reached the drivable 298-yard par-4 14th. Jon Rahm was two shots ahead of Tony Finau. But then Finau produced his worst swing of the week, pulling his driver 20 yards left and into the sand near a bush. With a tricky lie, he chipped into the greenside bunker. On his next shot, his ball ran through the green to the other side. He then chipped back and two-putted for double bogey. Meanwhile, Rahm birdied the hole. The three-shot swing basically sealed the deal. “That was the killer for Tony,â€� Rahm said. But Finau said Rahm was simply not going to be denied. “Even if I make a 4 there, I’m going to have to do something pretty dang special,â€� Finau said. “Hat’s off to Jon this week. He played incredible golf and deserved to win.â€� FINAU’S FINE: Even though he came up short, Finau was fairly chipper after signing for his 3-under 69 that left him in solo second at 16 under. “I found out a lot this week,â€� Finau said. “I put new irons in and I put a putter in with more loft. Obviously it worked.â€� Finau played with PING’s Blueprint forged irons and hit 72 percent of his greens this week, tied for fourth-best in the field (he also led the field in fairways hit with 80 percent). After a disappointing Thursday performance on the greens, in which he needed 30 putts, Finau then added 2 degrees of loft to his putter and performed more better. “These are the types of tournaments you’re willing to take that risk and I did – and I think it’s going to pay off.â€� ROSE STILL NO. 2: FedExCup champion Justin Rose had a chance to move back in front of Brooks Koepka and reclaim the No. 1 spot in the world rankings for the third time this season. But thanks to Tony Finau’s birdie at the 18th, which moved him into solo second and left Rose – who shot a 65 after a sizzling back-nine 31 — in solo third, Koepka remains No. 1 for now. “It’s not a huge goal for me, but when you have these opportunities, you want to take them,â€� said Rose, who was No. 1 two weeks ago after winning the Turkish Open. “Obviously anytime you get to No. 1, you want to stay there. It’s a nice feeling. I have other goals next season rather than just focusing on the No. 1 spot. The No. 1 spot’s always a by-product of achieving probably your other goals, to be honest.â€� TOUGH WEEK FOR TIGER: Just two players failed to shoot par/better on Sunday – Tiger Woods, who shot a 1-over 73; and Hideki Matsuyama, who shot a 75. Woods was one of four players who failed to break par on Saturday and was one of three players who failed to shoot par/better on Thursday. “Overall it was a long week,â€� Woods said. For a wrap-up of Tiger’s season, click here. BIRDIES FOR CHARITY: Jon Rahm and Patrick Cantlay donated $500 for each of their birdies this week for California wildfire victims. Rahm made 25 in winning the tournament; Cantlay made 22 in tying for fifth (8 of those came on Sunday when he posted the day’s low round, an 8-under 64). That results in a total charity of $23,500 this week. SHOT OF THE DAY

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JERSEY CITY, N.J. –  Jhonattan Vegas misses the memories. It’s been nearly three years since he last visited Venezuela because of the political instability that has rocked the country. “It feels like a decade, to be honest,â€� he says. He used to return to his homeland annually, and each visit was a chance to see family and friends and reflect on the stories that make up his improbable path to the PGA TOUR. “Even though Houston is my home right now, there’s nothing like Venezuela. It’s the place that I grew up, where I have my roots,â€� Vegas says. “That’s one of the things I miss about being home, is reliving a lot of those stories.â€� He grew up on a nine-hole course in a Venezuelan oil camp, hitting rocks with a broomstick when he started the game as a toddler. He fondly recalls the nights that his father, Carlos, drove overnight to tournaments so that Jhonattan could sleep before teeing off the next morning. Or the times their car broke down in the middle of nowhere, stranding them in a rural area until help arrived. At 17, Jhonattan left Venezuela, where Hugo Chavez’s government had declared war on the game, to move to the United States. He arrived in Houston with his clubs, a bag of clothes and 10 words of English in his vocabulary. “Not having a ton and fighting to get to where I’m at right now, … that makes the journey a lot more fun,â€� he says. Jhonattan, 33, is now a three-time PGA TOUR winner and making his Presidents Cup debut this week at Liberty National. He is the first golfer from Venezuela to play this event, though his most successful season comes during a tumultuous and tragic year for his country. More than 100 people have been killed this year in protests against the government. “To him, the painful situation of the country makes him feel a lot of pain and emotions and tarnishes a bit the fact that he is playing the Presidents Cup,â€� Carlos says through a translator. “His joy, that all the South Americans feel, has been overshadowed by this situation.â€� The country has plunged into chaos while Nicolas Maduro, Chavez’s hand-picked successor, has seized control of the government. Severe shortages of food and medicine have put Venezuela’s citizens in peril, while falling oil prices and hyperinflation have sent the economy into an abyss. A February study revealed that 75 percent of the population had lost an average of 19 pounds, while a third of citizens were eating two or fewer meals per day. Eighty-two percent of households were living in poverty and 93 percent didn’t earn enough to cover basic food needs, according to Venezuela’s Living Conditions Survey. “We’re getting to the point that the country is on such a horrible path that no matter your political views or who you are or what you do, we have to get our country moving in a whole different direction,â€� Jhonattan says.“The more we can … be outspoken and make people aware of it, that’s the only tool that we have that can hopefully have an impact on shaping our country the right way.”  Two months ago, he used his third PGA TOUR victory as an opportunity to speak out against the government. Sitting next to the trophy from the RBC Canadian Open, Jhonattan directed his phone on himself and spoke words of support to the people in his homeland (the following is an English translation of his message): “This is not a moment to be happy, personally as a Venezuelan, due to everything that is happening in our country, all the deaths that have occurred since the past few months. The truth is, my third victory on the PGA TOUR is something very beautiful and special. However, I can’t be happy, because of everything that is going on in our country, and all the suffering that our people have every day. “I feel that I should express my feelings at this moment. Thank you all for the support that I have been receiving on social media, and all the messages that you have sent me to win here.  “This is something that I would like to dedicate to my country, Venezuela, for everything that it has given me until now. Venezuela deserves the best of us. Venezuela is more than us. Venezuela had and has been here. We need to take care of it, to do everything that we can for our country. Our country deserves the best. This is for you, this is for Venezuela. Let’s fight for our country and for the end of this government that doesn’t represent anybody. I love you all and Viva Venezuela.â€� There’s nothing like Venezuela. It’s the place that I grew up, where I have my roots. The same day as Jhonattan’s victory at Glen Abbey, an election was held for a Constituent Assembly that would nullify the opposition-led legislature, effectively giving Maduro unobstructed authority. Neighboring countries questioned the election’s legitimacy and rejected the result. The United States’ ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, called the vote a “sham election.â€� Citizens protested in the streets, and the government responded with water cannons, rubber bullets and batons; at least 10 people were killed, according to The New York Times. The unrest, and the well-being of his family in Venezuela, has dominated Jhonattan’s’ thoughts this year. “Having some success actually hurts my family there because obviously I put myself and my family in a whole different spotlight,” he says. “That attracts unwanted attention. It’s been hard to deal with that, making sure that everyone is safe. We have been fortunate enough that nothing crazy has happened, but you can’t take it for granted.” Politics and sports are often intertwined, though the golf course is rarely the site of such statements. Jhonattan feels compelled to speak about the situation, despite the fear of government retribution or crime against his family in Venezuela. “Jhonny is above all things a Venezuelan,â€� says his longtime swing instructor Kevin Kirk, who lived in Venezuela as a child. “Things in the country aren’t great now, but he’s proud to be a Venezuelan, he’s proud to be from South America. One thing about Jhonny that may be a little different from other kids, he definitely is more motivated by things outside of him, like representing his country. That stuff is more fulfilling for him than doing things for himself. “Jhonny loves his country. Historically, we’ve tried to kind of make him aware that, say what you want to, but there’s consequences to what you say. He’s historically been more guarded, but I think the state of affairs in Venezuela currently and the fact that several of his other peers had spoken out and started being more vocal — combine that with the adrenaline from winning a golf tournament — and it was probably the perfect storm, the perfect time to make a statement.â€� Kirk, who lived in Venezuela from 1968-1975, has fond memories of his years there. The Texan remembers the strong ex-pat communities that congregated around the country’s oil fields. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, according to Forbes, and the country was enriched by its exports. It was once a prosperous, relatively stable country. Venezuela is where Kirk says he fell in love with golf. He took lessons from Franci Betancourt, who represented Venezuela in the World Cup three times, and remembers American stars coming to the country to play in winter tournaments on some of the country’s classic courses. Jhonattan had a joyful childhood, as well. Each afternoon, he’d ride his bike from school to the local golf course and play with the other kids living in the camp. “It was a great life,â€� he says. That changed when Chavez was elected in 1998. Ever since, Venezuela’s politics have had an impact on Jhonattan’s family and his career. Chavez declared the game a sport for the bourgeois and began shutting down its courses, including the course where Jhonnattan learned the game, Morichal. Carlos ran the food concession at the course, but lost his business after signing a recall petition against Chavez in 2003.   Carlos is not surprised that his son has spoken out. “I think that at that moment he was thinking about our foundation for children who live in poor conditions and abandonment,â€� Carlos says. “He is saddened by the fact that he cannot continue helping because the situation in the county hasn’t allowed it. Canada was a springboard to speak out to the leaders and say, ‘It is time. Please give the country a chance to rise and allow him to do what he can as a human being.’â€� The Jhonattan Vegas Foundation was founded to help underprivileged children in Venezuela, but its efforts have been stifled by the government. Carlos says he recently received an email from a children’s hospital in their hometown of Maturin, asking for ventilators. They need to get the state’s authorization before the ventilators can reach the hospital, though. It has become increasingly difficult to get goods into the country. “We are trying,â€� Carlos says. “The children in our hospital are dying.â€� “It’s definitely frustrating seeing what’s happening and not being able to do much to help,” Jhonattan says. For now, all he can do is speak.

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