TORONTO — 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 unifying with Saudi-funded rival LIV Golf.
Conners is looking for to change into the match’s first Canadian winner in 69 years. Additionally 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 Nation Membership, was one in every of 9 gamers at 68.
At No. 29 on the planet, Conners is the best ranked of 21 Canadians within the discipline. The final homegrown winner of the occasion was Pat Fitzgerald in 1954 at Level Gray in Vancouver.
Conners didn’t communicate 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.
“Actually disciplined off the tee, we did not attempt to do an excessive amount of,” mentioned Danny Sahl, Conners’ caddie. “However he had tons of fairways, missed possibly a pair within the first minimize.
“Corey’s simply tee-to-green hitting greens in regulation, made some good putts, simply robust throughout.”
Mike Weir in 2008 was the primary Canadian to steer after the primary spherical. The 53-year-old Weir shot 72 Thursday in his thirtieth Canadian Open look.
“I feel he is skilled sufficient to know that it is so early, that it would not actually imply a lot but,” Weir mentioned of Conners. “He simply needs to, I am certain, simply maintain doing what he is doing.”
Canadians Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Pendrith and Roger Sloan have been among the many group at 3 below.
“You possibly can’t win it on Thursday, however you may lose it,” Hughes mentioned. “So positively good to be in a great spot after Thursday however it’ll take 4 fairly good rounds and a few regular golf.”
McIlroy, an outspoken defender of the PGA Tour throughout its battle with LIV Golf, mentioned in a pre-tournament information convention he felt like a “sacrificial lamb” after the tour modified course and aligned itself with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Nonetheless, he additionally mentioned Saudi funding within the tour was inevitable and that the deal might be good for the game long-term.
“On the finish of the day, that is enterprise and my job is taking part in golf,” mentioned McIlroy. “The extra that I can deal with that and deal with the birdies and the bogeys as a substitute of the stuff that is occurred within the boardroom, I will be a lot happier.”
An air high quality advisory was in impact resulting from wildfires throughout Ontario and Quebec which have led to postponements of sporting occasions within the northeastern United States. There was some rain throughout the afternoon, however play was by no means delayed.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
