Corey Conners shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 on Thursday to share the first-round lead on the RBC Canadian Open, the primary PGA Tour occasion since its announcement of a merger with Saudi-funded rival LIV Golf.
Conners is in search of to turn into the event’s first Canadian winner in 69 years. Also at 67 have been Aaron Rai, Justin Lower and Chesson Hadley.
Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy opened with a 71 at Oakdale. Matt Fitzpatrick, who will search to defend his U.S. Open title subsequent week at Los Angeles Country Club, was one in every of 9 gamers at 68.
At No. 29 on the planet, Conners is the highest-ranked of 21 Canadians within the discipline. The final participant from Canada to win the occasion was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver.
Conners didn’t converse to reporters after his morning spherical as a result of he was coping with an pressing private matter. His two PGA Tour victories each got here on the Valero Texas Open, together with this 12 months.
“Really disciplined off the tee, we didn’t try to do too much,” stated Danny Sahl, Conners’ caddie. “But he had tons of fairways, missed maybe a couple in the first cut.
“Corey’s just tee-to-green hitting greens in regulation, made some good putts, just strong all around.”
Mike Weir in 2008 was the final Canadian to steer after the primary spherical. The 53-year-old Weir shot 72 Thursday in his thirtieth Canadian Open look.
“I think he’s experienced enough to know that it’s so early, that it doesn’t really mean much yet,” Weir stated of Conners. “He just wants to, I’m sure, just keep doing what he’s doing.”
Canadians Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Pendrith and Roger Sloan have been among the many group at 3 beneath.
“You can’t win it on Thursday, but you can lose it,” Hughes stated. “So definitely nice to be in a good spot after Thursday but it’s going to take four quite nice rounds and some steady golf.”
McIlroy, an outspoken defender of the PGA Tour throughout its battle with LIV Golf, stated in a pre-tournament news convention he felt like a “sacrificial lamb” after the tour modified course and aligned itself with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. However, he additionally stated Saudi funding within the tour was inevitable and that the deal may very well be good for the game long-term.
“At the end of the day, this is business and my job is playing golf,” stated McIlroy. “The more that I can focus on that and focus on the birdies and the bogeys instead of the stuff that’s happened in the boardroom, I’ll be much happier.”
An air high quality advisory was in impact because of wildfires throughout Ontario and Quebec which have led to postponements of sporting occasions within the northeastern United States. There was some rain through the afternoon, however the play was by no means delayed.