Individuals Sam Burns and Sean O’Hair have been the clubhouse leaders on Thursday within the first spherical of the RBC Canadian Open.
They have been three pictures forward of the pack after 7-under 63 rounds. Burns had two eagles and O’Hair had one to carry them as much as the highest of the leaderboard.
“I believe with all of the rain we had early within the week the greens are nonetheless fairly receptive,” mentioned Burns after coming off the course at Hamilton Golf and Nation Membership. “It makes an enormous distinction on par-5s when you might have a protracted iron or a wooden coming in there to have the ability to cease the ball fairly fast.”
McIlroy, third on the FedEx Cup rankings, mentioned he was impressed with all of the spectators who have been on the tenth tee when the marquee trio teed off at 7:40 a.m.
“The Canadian followers got here out to help them,” mentioned McIlroy. “One of many primary causes I like coming again right here is due to that environment that is created once we’re on the market to play, and taking part in with two Canadians in the present day was, it was precisely what I anticipated.”
Taylor, from Abbotsford, B.C., received the Canadian Open final yr to finish a 69-year drought for Canadians on the nationwide males’s golf championship. He completed his day at two over.
Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., had a 1-under 69 spherical.
WATCH | Mississauga, Ont., native Anderson taking part in in his 2nd PGA Tour occasion:
The Canadian Open tees off Thursday on the Hamilton Golf and Nation Membership. The sphere embrace stars from the golf world, plus a 24-year outdated Mississauga native taking part in in solely his second PGA Tour occasion. Greg Ross spoke with Matthew Anderson forward of the match.
Mackenzie Hughes is 1 of 28 Canadians within the match
Reigning Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., — the best ranked Canadians on the PGA Tour — are grouped with Northern Eire’s Rory McIlroy for the occasion’s first and second rounds.
“I used to be clearly tremendous excited,” mentioned Pendrith when he realized of the grouping. “Get to play with Nick, defending champion, and Rory, who received (in Hamilton in 2019), so it ought to be enjoyable.
“Really feel dangerous for my dad and mom who in all probability will not be capable of watch me play golf, however it’s OK.”
Edmonton’s Wil Bateman, Hamilton’s Michael Blair, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Jared du Toir of Kimberley, B.C., Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Cam Kellett of London, Ont., Vancouver’s Jake Lane, Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald, Etienne Papineau of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., Marc-Olivier Plasse of Mercier, Que., Max Sear of Stouffville, Ont., Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Canadian golf Corridor of Famer Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., spherical out the professional Canadian contingent.
Amateurs Jacob Cicoyne of Calgary, Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont., and Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., can even play within the occasion.