ROCHESTER | Three Canadian flags fly during the main draw of the PGA of America Championship in Oak Hill. While Corey Conners struggles at the top in first place, Taylor Pendrith is showing her marauding teeth on the 8th rung, just ahead of Adam Svensson, also in the top 10.
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It’s a first.
Two Canadians in the top 10 of a Grand Slam championship hasn’t happened in 15 years. In 2008, Mike Weir and Stephen Ames finished in the top 10 after 36 holes at the Masters tournament in Augusta.
You have to go back to the 2009 US Open at Bethpage Black to find three Maple Leaf representatives in the top 20 after 36 holes. Weir then placed third, Nick Taylor seventh, and Ames 16th.
By the end of the first round on Friday morning, four were in the top 20. Outrageous by all those Elias Sports Bureau stats.
“It’s very exciting to see our names in the peloton. I have a very good relationship with Taylor and Adam [Hadwin]. When one of us makes noise by winning the board, that’s incredible. »
This isn’t the first time he’s been in this position in a major. As a winner of two PGA Tour events, Conners hopes to have learned from his experience. He feels confident and in control of his chances to go through this weekend.
hungry wolves
However, the wolves around him are hungry and used to big moments. Conners shares the lead with Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland at -5.
The American wore the green jacket last year and had six top-10 finishes in his 12 appearances at a Major. The Norwegian had his eye on the British Open Claret Jug at St Andrews last summer and was in the running for the finals in Augusta a month ago.
At -3, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Suh are two shots behind the leaders.
There are also good foxes lurking behind them, including veterans Justin Rose (-1) and Shane Lowry (É). They will need to be watched given the poor weather conditions announced on Saturday. Rory McIlroy also made the top 10 as he has a par equivalent record.
Flaming Putter
A second card of 69 (-1) saw Pendrith finish eighth with an overall record of -1. The 31-year-old Ontario native, who is having his baptism of fire at this championship, thanked his putter for allowing him to salvage valuable pars. For the slotted punch did not surpass the mounds. He only managed to keep the ball in 3 of 14 lanes.
“I was able to put myself in this situation with my short game around the greens and save a lot of pars,” he said. My putter did the rest. »
Pendrith led the board on Friday in that regard. “It’s probably my best performance on the green in a long time,” said the man who suffered particularly costly retirements at the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow in September. He’s above 100 in all indicators on the greens this season on the PGA Tour.
This sudden mastery of his putter allowed him to make three birdies on his way back to the pavilion, who had started his day on the 10th tee.
Winged Foot Melodies
On Saturday he hopes to be able to control his driver just as well. There will be rain and wind, as was the case on Friday afternoon. His case is no stranger to such good behavior on a course as difficult as Oak Hill’s East Course. At the 2020 US Open in Winged Foot, a supposedly similar tournament, Pendrith shone in his first appearance at a Grand Slam tournament. He eventually finished 23rd.
Rochester to express
Michaelson survived
Phil Mickelson, champion of the 2021 edition at Kiawah Island, survived the crash at +5, even if he didn’t show great performances at Oak Hill. However, as the author of 73 (+3) and 72 (+2) value cards, he was optimistic in Rochester. But every facet of his game was missing. “It was terrible in the first two laps. It was hard off the tees and I didn’t feel good with the putter in my hand. My approaches were wrong and my irons very ordinary. Lefty is far from the main attraction. He wants a change of direction to move up the rankings.
Justin Rose remembers Merion
The more difficult the course, the more comfortable Briton Justin Rose feels there. Oak Hill reminds the 42-year-old veteran of US Open setups with 11 PGA Tour wins. He’s not the only one feeling that way this week. Several of his compatriots also compared the preparation of the course to that of the American Open. In recent years, the PGA of America Championship has made great strides in terms of venue selection and challenges prepared. Winners of three of the last four championships have not dropped more than -8. “It’s a hybrid style between the two tournament types,” the 2013 US Open champion appreciated of Merion with his record +1. Historically, I think I won for more difficult reasons. With a record of -1 after 36 holes, Rose is close to the top 10. In 2013 he was two strokes behind leader Phil Mickelson going into the finals. He could become the first Englishman to win that championship since Jim Barnes in 1919.
Terrible 6th pennant
The 6th pennant lived up to its nickname “Double Trouble” on Friday. The 140 participants drooled over this par 4 of 503 yards. They achieved an overall score of +117. Three golfers scored a birdie. Bryson DeChambeau lost control of the tournament by committing one of 24 double bogeys there. At noon wind and rain made things worse. “The wind was straight in the face and water to the right and around the green. Long grass is unforgiving. I approached the pennant with a 4 iron and managed to save par. It’s incredibly difficult,” explained Mito Pereira.