Young spent some quality time with the family after missing the weekend in Augusta.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Cameron Young’s recent play didn’t scream contender heading into the first round of the RBC Heritage.
He missed the cut in last week’s Masters. Didn’t get out of pool play in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. Missed the cut in The Players Championship. That means he hasn’t played on a Saturday in five weeks.
And he had never played Harbour Town Golf Links.
All that didn’t matter.
Young was in the first group off at 7:10 a.m. local time and right around noon signed for a bogey-free, 8-under 63 to grab the clubhouse lead on Thursday.
A key for Young, who won twice last year on the Korn Ferry Tour to earn his PGA Tour playing privileges, was staying in Augusta after missing the Masters cut with rounds of 77-77.
“I hung out with my wife and my son, my in-laws, my parents. We had a house for the week. We just spent some family time there and I practiced,” he said. “Just some small swing stuff and kind of got stuff out of sync. Maybe reverted back to some tendencies I’ve had my whole life. Just making some minor fixes just to make it feel like I’m in a little bit more control.
“I’ve shown that I can compete at this level, but so far in the couple majors I’ve gotten to play, I haven’t been able to do that. I think it just gives me more reason to go out and try to get better to a point where I’m more comfortable and able to have a week where I contend in one of those.”
Winning his first PGA Tour title would help his comfort level; he’s finished runner-up twice this season, at the Sanderson Farms Championship and Genesis Invitational. Young opened up an early three-stroke lead on five players – Patrick Cantlay, Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, Miro Pereira, and Corey Conners.
Conners punctuated his 66 with a hole-in-one on the seventh hole – a 7-iron from 187 yards. It was his fourth ace in the past three seasons, the most of any player.
“I think it’s pretty cool. There’s a lot of luck involved to make it,” he said. “I guess, if you hit enough solid iron shots, you’ll get lucky time and time again. So it’s been pretty awesome to have made four. Hopefully, they keep coming, but I’m probably done for a while now.”
As a rookie, one of the main challenges for Young and others is learning golf courses they’ve never seen before. Other than watching the RBC Heritage a few times on TV, Young knew very little about Harbour Town.
But he didn’t rush to get here, didn’t rush to play as many holes. He’s learned he has to pace himself to get the most out of himself.
“If we tried to be fully prepared every week, I would be exhausted by Thursday,” Young said. “I had a nice couple days off last weekend, so we got here, and I played Monday morning, played all 18 holes, which I think was kind of nice because I got to see them all and kind of think about it for a couple days before I really had to play. Whereas typically you’re lucky to see all 18 holes by Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s hard to strike the correct balance of being prepared but keeping yourself fresh. Honestly, I wanted to play last weekend, but in terms of this week, it’s not the end of the world. I’ve had a couple days to practice and get here a little early.”
No big deal for Conners, who has four aces since 2019.
It’s okay if you’re feeling a bit of a golf hangover after the Masters last week.
The intensity and emotion of Augusta can take a lot out of all of us—let alone those playing the famed course. But sometimes the best way to get over a hangover is to get right back out on the course. Many of the top golfers in the world are doing just that at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, South Carolina this weekend.
Corey Conners is among those back in action on Thursday and it’s clear he’s still dialed in after his sixth place finish in Georgia. Just look at how casually he sinks this hole-in-one at the par 3 No. 7.
That’s not a fluke or a lucky shot, either. Conners placed the ball perfectly beyond the front of the green and watched as it only needed to roll a few feet further to drop in the cup.
If it appears as though Conners is acting like he’s been here before, there’s a pretty simple reason for that: he has. Quite often, in fact. According to the PGA, no player has sunk more aces than Conners’ four since 2019.
It’s also the second consecutive year the RBC Heritage has seen a hole-in-one at No. 7 with Denny McCarthy recording one last year on Sunday. There have been 10 aces at No. 7 dating back to 1990, but it’s hard to imagine anyone remained more calm than Conners did. Despite dropping to three-under par with the shot, his playing partners—and a few bettors—appeared more fired up than he was.
Take note: betting on an ace in any given tournament might be a good strategy, but betting on Conners to sink one is certainly more profitable. Especially if he keeps draining them at this rate.
Five sleepers who could make you some $$$ at the Masters.
The best week of the year is here. It’s finally time for the Masters. And to make it even better, Tiger Woods announced Tuesday he anticipates teeing it up on Thursday.
What an unbelievable story.
He’s not among these five sleeper picks to win at Augusta National. Believe me, he almost was, but it felt wrong to include a man with five green jackets in his closet despite being listed at +5000 on Tipico.
ANGC will play as a par 72 measuring just over 7,500 yards. The overall yardage has grown since we last saw the golf course, as changes were made to both No. 11 and No. 15.
The first sleeper to keep an eye on is already a major champion.
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During the semifinals that short game failed him a bit at a crucial juncture of an even match.
AUSTIN, Texas — Corey Conners retreated to the driving range in an effort to lick his wounds a little. It’s probably where he’s most comfortable.
The Canadian has always carried a big stick on the PGA Tour — he’s currently eighth in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee this season, the same spot he finished the last campaign — but he’s focused plenty of his energy on honing his short game. During the semifinals at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play on Sunday, that short game failed him a bit at a crucial juncture of an even match.
Conners missed his tee shot a little right on the 130-yard 17th hole, but still sat in prime position to put pressure on his opponent Kevin Kisner, who also missed the green and had a delicate, longer shot from up on a bank.
From about 40 feet away, Kisner rolled a beauty from the fringe that snuggled within a foot of the cup.
Conners, also using a putter from the fringe, hammered one past the hole, then missed the nine-footer coming back to fall 1 down with one to play. He missed a 12-footer for birdie on 18 and lost the match, 2 up.
“That same sort of shot tricked me yesterday, where I hammered it way by,” Conners said of his effort on No. 17 before meeting Dustin Johnson in the consolation match. “It’s hard to not hit it too hard. It’s kind of riding up a little bit when it first gets on the green — or so it seems. But it really doesn’t go up much and just kind of never lost pace. That same thing happened yesterday.
“I definitely want to have that one back.”
Corey Conners tees off on the 10th in the semifinal round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Although he would have loved to take home the $2.1 million prize at Austin Country Club, up nearly $300,000 from a year ago, Conners is also hoping to show he’s got what it takes in a high-stakes match-play format with the 2022 Presidents Cup coming over the horizon. The top eight international players are automatically selected by points, with the following four spots chosen by captain Trevor Immelman.
Coming into this week, Conners was at No. 12 on that list, meaning he’s got the resume to be included. He was snubbed last time around, in 2019, when the U.S. won for the eighth consecutive time, and he’s hoping to leave little doubt he should be included for this fall’s event at Quail Hollow.
“Obviously, it was very close, but I didn’t earn my spot on the team, and I’ll be definitely trying to do that this year. I was a little disappointed to not be there, but just kind of looked ahead, and I’m excited for the opportunity this year and the years to come,” Conners said earlier this week.
“It obviously looks good winning matches — that’s the format for the Presidents Cup. I’m not really thinking about that too much … I’m just trying to play my game, take care of business, and hopefully keep looking good for the captain.”
A Canadian flag and a U.S. flag fly from a boat in Lake Austin during the 2022 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club. (Photo: Mikala Compton/American-Statesman)
Part of that looking good is improving his short game. Conners has made his strides — he was 181st in Strokes Gained: Putting for two straight seasons starting in 2018, but has climbed to a serviceable 104th this season. This week, prior to the consolation, he ranked 12th in that sta in the field of 64.
Better, if not spectacular.
Still, as he keeps getting in prime position like he did this week, winning four matches (one against Paul Casey was awarded through concession) and reaching the final four in an elite tournament, Conners thinks he’s finding the right formula.
“It feels that way. The game definitely feels good. I feel like a made a lot of strides with my short game. I’m still hitting it very well, and chipping and putting as good as I ever have now,” he said. “And I feel like I’ve done a good job this week. I left a few out there today, but this course is tricky. But I feel great about all parts of my game.”
Sunday’s bracket offers fans new permutations, but the formula components are largely the same.
AUSTIN, Texas — For those who think format and venue don’t matter on the PGA Tour, and that talent will always prevail, look no further than the final four of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club as a well-sourced rebuttal.
Start with Kevin Kisner, who won this event in 2019 and was a runner-up the year before that. Throw in Dustin Johnson, who took home the 2017 title. And then sprinkle in a little Texas flavor with Scottie Scheffler, who has now reached the semifinals for the second consecutive year.
While others with higher world rankings have struggled to reach the final day at this event, Kisner, Johnson, and Scheffler have made a habit of returning on Sundays.
In fact, the only semifinalist who hasn’t been in a previous edition’s final match is Corey Conners, who — despite being raised in Canada, playing collegiately in Ohio, and now living in Florida — picked up his only PGA Tour win just an hour south in San Antonio.
So while Sunday’s bracket offers fans new permutations, the formula components are largely the same.
Johnson, the No. 8 seed, smashed the dream of English journeyman Richard Bland in the opening round, snuffing out Bland’s hopes of wrapping up a Masters debut by virtue of a 3-and-2 decision.
He then kicked up an old rivalry with former pal Brooks Koepka, storming back from 2 down to win and earn a date with Scheffler.
“I like this golf course, but it’s all about if you’re hitting good shots, then you can shoot some good scores. I like the way I’m hitting the ball right now. I feel like I’m controlling the golf ball pretty well,” Johnson said. “I’m hitting a lot of quality golf shots and giving myself a lot of looks. That’s what you’ve got to do in match play.”
Scheffler, meanwhile, feels he’s learned a trick or two after falling in the final to Billy Horschel last year. The University of Texas product got retribution for the loss by knocking out Horschel in the Round of 16 before rolling past Seamus Power 3 and 2, using a chip-in to clinch the victory.
Scheffler has plenty of experience playing this Pete Dye-designed course, as the nearby Longhorns were often invited to stop by before they flew off to collegiate events. He insists it’s the perfect place for this match-play event, due to the differing nines — one that winds through the canyons and another that flirts with Lake Austin.
“I think it’s fun. You can play some aggressive golf, you can play conservative. There’s a few different ways you can kind of plot your way around here,” Scheffler said. “It gets challenging when it’s this firm and you’ve got the wind blowing. There’s some challenging holes, and you’ve got to stay pretty patient out there, I think. It’s a fun test.”
Kisner continued his incredible track record at this event, improving to 20-4-1 in the event since 2017 as he slipped by Adam Scott 1 up, then bludgeoned youngster Will Zalatoris.
And while the lone newcomer to the party, Conners, became the first Canadian to ever reach the semifinals, even he was a little astonished with the opportunity to crack into a club with the others.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised. I had confidence in my game. I really like match play, feel like I’m a competitor out there. You know, I’m thrilled to be here, but there’s still lots of work to be done,” said Conners, who will square off with Kisner. “I never get too far ahead of myself, but I felt like I was playing really well, and I really liked my game.
“I felt like I was hitting the ball really well, driving it well and ironing it well, and it’s a good combination for match play, just being in every hole, giving yourself chances on every hole.”
Welcome to the annual Charles Howell III Invitational.
It was so good to have PGA Tour golf back last week.
Cameron Smith outlasted a loaded leaderboard, including World No. 1 Jon Rahm, to capture his second win in Hawaii (Sony Open 2020).
This week, the boys are still in Hawaii for the Sony Open for the first full-field event of the new calendar year. Kevin Na took home the trophy last season and is once again in the field coming off a T-13 performance last week in Maui.
Smith has opened as the betting favorite at +1000. Bryson DeChambeau, who was originally in the field, has withdrawn from the event due to a wrist injury.
Course
Waialae Country Club
Par 70
7,044 yards
Seth Raynor design, Tom Doak restoration (2017)
Bermuda greens
Weather
Day
Conditions
Percent chance of rain
Wind & Direction
Tuesday
Partly Cloudy
2 percent
15 MPH (NNE)
Wednesday
Partly Cloudy
10 percent
8 MPH (ENE)
Thursday
Mostly Sunny
13 percent
9 MPH (NE)
Friday
Partly Cloudy
11 percent
6 MPH (W)
Saturday
Sunny
6 percent
8 MPH (NE)
Sunday
Sunny
10 percent
10 MPH (ENE)
Key stats
SG: Putting: Na was the first winner of the Sony since 2014 to not rank inside the top six in SG: Putting for the week. Have to roll the rock around this track.
SG: Approach: Five of the last six winners at Waialae have ranked inside the top 10 in SG: APP, with Smith being the lone outlier (ranked 53rd).
Data Golf information
Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. LaCantera GC, 2. Harbour Town Golf Links, 3. TPC Sugarloaf
Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Cameron Smith (8.2 percent), 2. Sungjae Im (5.2 percent), 3. Webb Simpson (4.2 percent)
Last week’s results (Sentry Tournament of Champions)
Jordan Spieth – Top 10: Miss
Xander Schauffele – Top 5: Miss
Justin Thomas – Top 5: Hit, +155
Sungjae Im – Top 10: Hit, +140 +.95 units for the week
Corey Conners – Top 20 (+130)
Corey Conners prepares to putt on the first hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 07, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
It’s hard to believe we can get this guy for plus odds for a top 20, so we have to take it. Conners has played well here recently with a T-12 in 2020, and a T-3 in 2019.
He hasn’t played much this season with his last appearance coming at the RSM Classic in November. However, Data Golf has Conners ranked fifth in their CH index (average strokes-gained at the course). It’s a comfy fit for the Canadian, expect him to play well.
Charles Howell III – Top 20 (+220)
Charles Howell III hits his tee shot on the 2nd hole during the first round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
There’s not much to say for this pick, let’s just take a look at this tweet from Justin Ray.
Charles Howell III career at the Sony Open
20 starts 20 made cuts 10 top 10s $3M earned 59 rounds in the 60s 190-under-par
Justin Thomas, an Alabama alum, makes Kevin Kisner, a Georgia alum, make good on his bet to wear an Alabama jersey after the Tide beat the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship during the 2018 Sony Open at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo: Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
You’re going to tell me Georgia’s national championship win isn’t going to affect Kiz in the best way possible this week? Dude’s on cloud 9 and will be buzzing on and off the course. And, his approach play seemed to be back last week in Maui.
He struggled mightily last season with the blades, but his T-8 performance at the TOC is quite literally the best he could have done at that golf course, as he doesn’t have the length to keep up at the monster that is the Plantation Course.
He’s finished T-4 here twice in recent memory (2017, 2020), and loves Bermuda greens. Let’s ride with the Bulldog.
Russell Henley – Top 20 (+162)
Russell Henley of the United States lines up a putt on the 17th green during the third round of the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba on El Camaleon golf course on November 06, 2021, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Henley is a past champion of this event, winning all the way back in 2013. His results since have been a mixed bag, however, he does have three top 20s since 2015.
With the soft conditions expected at Waialae, Henley’s driving accuracy will be even more important as he’s found the short grass 69.93 percent of the time this season (17th on Tour). He also ranks fourth in Strokes Gained: Approach on Tour.
The Great White North was well represented in Thursday’s first round of the RSM Classic.
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The Great White North was well represented in Thursday’s first round of the RSM Classic as fellow Canadians Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners lit up the scoreboards with plenty of red numbers.
Conners, whose wife, Malory, gave birth last week to the couple’s first child, a baby girl, Reis, set his career-low for consecutive birdies and finished at 8-under 62 on the Seaside Course to sit two shots out of the lead after Thursday’s first round of the RSM Classic at windless Sea Island Golf Club.
Hughes, playing the Plantation Course, shot a 9-under 63 as Sebastian Munoz set the pace with a course-tying 60 on the Seaside Course. Hughes is no stranger to going low in these parts; he shot 61 in the first round en route to winning his lone PGA Tour title in the 2016 RSM Classic.
Zach Johnson shot 61 on the Seaside Course and Scott Stallings and Chez Reavie joined Hughes with 63’s on the Plantation Course.
“It’s been a bit hot and cold here. I’ve had obviously the very hot and I’ve had a few missed cuts here, too,” Hughes said. “The weather can be a big factor and kind of which golf course you get on which day in the wind. I felt like I’ve played OK here over the years and I’ve always felt good.
“It was nice to see a nice low score to start. I love coming to Sea Island and it will always be one of my favorite stops.”
No one was hotter during any stretch of time Thursday than Conners, whose lone Tour title came in the 2019 Valero Texas Open. Starting on the fifth, he made six consecutive birdies, the longest coming from 5 feet.
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“It’s pretty enjoyable, can’t lie,” Conners said of his birdie blitz. “I was striking the ball really, really well and it’s definitely fun. I was driving it in the fairway and gave myself some short clubs into the holes and was able to knock them tight.
“It always feels good. It felt pretty easy. Felt like my ball‑striking was really strong today, I hit it close a lot of times. And not disappointed with the score whatsoever, but I had a lot of really close calls on some other birdie putts that could have went in, but fantastic round and, yeah, quite happy.”
He’s ecstatic about becoming a father.
“It was amazing,” he said of the birth. “My wife and baby are doing great. Kind of a last‑minute addition to come up here, so I feel like it’s a bonus to be here. My wife’s doing really well. She has some family at home helping her out, and she’s a saint for letting me come up here and play and I’m looking forward to having a fun rest of the week and then being a dad for a little while.
“Yes, I’ve been sleeping a little better than (Malory) this week. Feel for her, but she’s amazing and they’re both cheering me on.”
Conditions are likely to stiffen for Friday’s second round as high winds are expected. With that in mind, many of the players knew the first round was the day to go low.
“I saw the forecast today and then the next few days and kind of thought that this was going to be a day that a score was to be had. You know, you never know you’re going to shoot 9 under, but was definitely trying to be a bit more aggressive with my mindset today,” Hughes said. “Just one of those days where I had a lot of things working really well. As a golfer you always walk off saying, wow, it could have been really low. It was one of those days where it could have been very, very low, but I’m very thrilled with the start.”
2015 champion Kevin Kisner leads our fantasy golf rankings.
After a week in Houston, the PGA Tour heads to the east coast for the RSM Classic in St. Simons Island, Georgia. Last year, Robert Streb was able to take home the hardware after making birdie on the second playoff hole to win over 2015 champion, Kevin Kisner.
Scottie Scheffler (+1200) is the betting favorite fresh off the heels of a runner-up finish to Jason Kokrak last week at the Houston Open. The Texan is still looking for his first PGA Tour win, but with the way he’s been playing, it looks to be coming soon.
Like the Farmers Insurance Open, the RSM Classic utilizes two golf courses over the first two days: The Seaside course (par 70, 7,005), and the Plantation course (par 72, 7,060). The weekend, however, will be played on the Seaside course.
Kevin Kisner plays his shot from the 14th tee during the final round of The RSM Classic at the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club on November 22, 2020, in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
It wouldn’t be right to start this list with anyone else. In his last six appearances at Sea Island, Kisner has missed the cut twice. But, when he’s made it to the weekend, he hasn’t finish outside the top 10. That record includes a win, a solo runner-up, and a tie for fourth. He’s only played in two events so far this season, with a missed cut at the Shriners, and a tie for 54th in Vegas at the CJ Cup.
Scottie Scheffler (+1200)
Just another name that simply had to be on this list. Scheffler is playing fantastic golf with a T-2 in Houston, and a week before in Mexico, posted a T-4. The Ryder Cupper played in this event back in 2019, his only appearance in the RSM, and finished T-5.
Webb Simpson (+1300)
This just feels like an event Simpson will win at some point. The 2018 Players champion has teed it up in just three events this season, but played well in Las Vegas resulting in a T-14 at the CJ Cup. He was the solo runner-up here in 2019, and finished solo third in 2018.
Cameron Smith (+1500)
Cameron Smith looks on from the 13th fairway during a practice round of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)
I said it last week. He’s due. Smith followed his top 10 at the CJ Cup with a T-15 at the Houston Open. He’s never played in the RSM Classic, but his game travels. Good iron play, and the ability to roll the rock fits perfectly at the Seaside course.
Robert Streb (+7000)
Don’t look now, but the defending champion is trending in the right direction prior to this week’s title defense: T-9 at the CJ Cup in a loaded field, and a T-7 at the Houston Open. Streb has two wins on the PGA Tour, both at Sea Island.
Doug Ghim (+10000)
One of the value picks for the week. Ghim cashed in a top 30 performance in Houston over the weekend, and has made all but one cut in five starts this season. Last year, Ghim grabbed a top 20 at this event.
Corey Conners (+2000)
The Canadian hasn’t played much golf this season with his last start coming more than a month ago at the Shriners (T-40). Conners is three-for-three making the weekend at the RSM, highlighted by a T-10 last season. His game travels as well as anyone on Tour, so don’t be surprised if he makes a run in Georgia.
Denny McCarthy (+9000)
Another value play for you. McCarthy is off to a hot start to his 2021-22 campaign with three top 20s in his last five events. The Florida resident missed the cut at the RSM last season, but cashed in a top 10 in 2019.
Russell Henley (+2000)
Russell Henley of the United States lines up a putt on the 17th green during the third round of the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba on El Camaleon golf course on November 06, 2021, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Henley is playing really good golf. He started his season with back-to-back top 25 finishes, and is coming off a top 10 at the Houston Open. His results at the RSM have been a mixed bag with consecutive missed cuts in 2018 and 2019, but last season broke the streak with a T-30. Henley finished T-10 in 2016, and T-6 in 2015.
Luke List (+7000)
When List has made it to the weekend this season on Tour, he’s finished inside the top 20 three of four times. He’s missed two cuts, but in both instances, was under par over his first two rounds. Back in 2018, List finished T-4 at the RSM. The Georgia resident should feel right at home this week.
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Birdies and eagles rule the Sanderson Farms, so much so that the average winning score the past five editions was 19 under.
We all know the familiar adage whenever the U.S. Open is contested.
Par is your friend.
Well, that doesn’t ring true at the Country Club of Jackson, home to the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi.
Birdies and eagles rule in the Sanderson Farms, so much so that the average winning score in the past five editions was 19 under. Here, you go low or go home.
That scoring trend seems likely again this year as players lit up the leaderboards with red numbers in Thursday’s first round. There were 20 scores of 68 or better – and that was just out of the morning wave of players. Defending champion Sergio Garcia was eight shots back when he went to the first tee for his afternoon round.
Par busters were so frequent that Corey Conners, who shot 5-under-par 67, didn’t realize he made five consecutive birdies.
“I really didn’t even know I made five in a row until I was signing my scorecard and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool.’” he said. “I just tried to play with freedom, was able to roll in some putts and, yeah, able to string some birdies together.”
Many others put plenty of circles on the scorecards on a day featuring light winds, overcast skies and warm temperatures. And with pure Bermuda greens, the players had a field day at the Country Club of Jackson.
“The greens are some of the best greens we play on all year,” Conners said. “I think it’s a very underrated golf course; it’s right in front of you, but you got to be really on, or you can have some trouble.”
Sahith Theegala had no trouble in a bogey-free 64 to grab the clubhouse lead. The 2020 winner of the Haskins, Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan awards honoring the best player in college is making his 15th start on the PGA Tour.
◾️ 3-time All-American. ◾️ Ben Hogan & Fred Haskins award winner. ◾️ Finished @PeppGolf with lowest scoring average in the nation (69.04).
“Really stress free,” he said of his round. “Probably the best way I can describe it. Just drove it really well. I was really working it well. I got my slider back. I was hitting a pretty good cut, probably 25 to 30 yard cut out there and this course kind of allows it because the trees around the tee box aren’t that close to the tees, so I was just working my ball flight in there and just felt really comfortable all day.
“Being in the fairway helps so much.”
Having the right attitude, especially when facing the heightened expectations Theegala had to deal with when he turned pro, helps, too.
“I think the main thing is that everyone that’s gotten to this point, they know their game is good enough to at least be out here and I think knowing that in the back of our mind, it sounds cliche, but just really have a good time out there,” Theegala said. “I would like to think pretty much everyone loves the game and that’s why they’re playing it and they just happen to be really good at it, so that’s kind of the mindset I’m going to keep having, just go out and have a good time.
“If the golf is there, fantastic. If it’s not there, there’s more to life and live to play another day kind of thing.”
Nick Watney signed for a 65. Roger Sloan and Kurt Kitayama were each at 66.
A large group at 67 included Conners, Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im. Sam Burns, the highest ranked player in the world at No. 25, shot 68.
Despite the scoring binges, players said they don’t feel any extra pressure to go low to keep up.
“I’ve never done well if I thought, ‘Oh, I have to shoot X-under. I think I do my best when I go out and try to play the shot in front of me,” Watney said. “I know that’s super cliche, but that’s truly how I play my best. That’s what I was even trying to do today. Just to execute my best on that shot.”
Added Kitayama: “I feel like most tournaments scores are low so you kind of know what you gotta do and if you can get to that 20-under number, you can have a good chance to win any week. And if it’s lower, it just happens.”
Since they first met 17 years ago, Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners have conquered the golf world together.
Since they first met 17 years ago, Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners have conquered the golf world together.
They dominated the Canadian Junior Golf circuit together.
They starred at Kent State together.
They’re currently tearing up the PGA Tour together.
From July 29-August 1 they’ll represent Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games — together.
As the two top-ranked Canadians, Hughes and Conners will be among the field of 60 players competing for gold during the 72-hole event held at East Course of the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama.
“All the steps that we’ve taken though junior golf, amateur golf, our collegiate days at Kent State, our young professional days, we’ve taken all of those steps together and had very similar trajectories and paths,” said Hughes, who spoke by phone two days after earning $386,500 for finishing in a tie for sixth place at the 2021 British Open on Sunday. “It’s been a wild ride, and I think there’s a lot more to the journey, but representing Canada at the Olympics is definitely one of the pinnacles for us. To be doing this together is kind of unthinkable really.
“To think that we’d ever be competing for an Olympic team and be the two best male professional golfers in Canada … it would have been hard to think of those things years ago when we first met.”
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Hughes and Conners have already made the vast majority of their golf dreams come true. They starred on the best team in Kent State men’s golf history, the 2012 squad that finished fifth in the nation. They’ve both won on the PGA Tour. Conners and Hughes are currently 36th and 53rd, respectively, in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Competing in the Olympics wasn’t a dream growing up, because it wasn’t a possibility. After George Lyon — ironically enough from Canada — earned the gold medal in 1904, golf was left out of the Olympic Games until 2016.
“I never thought about playing in the Olympics as a kid because golf wasn’t included. But I was a huge sports fan and always loved watching the Olympics, and knew how special it was to be an Olympian,” said Conners, who wound up 15th but was in contention midway through the final round at last weekend’s British Open. “When golf was reintroduced it definitely was a goal of mine to be able to represent Canada.”
Both Conners and Hughes were surging as professionals during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“I got my PGA Tour card for the first time that fall, but I just missed out on qualifying [for the Olympics],” said Hughes. “I’ve thought about it since then, wanted to be part of that when it came around again. It’s not something that golfers have traditionally looked forward to throughout their careers, because it wasn’t there before. It is very neat that it’s something we can aspire to now and chase. I’m certainly very honored to be an Olympian. It’s going to be very exciting to get over there.”
Conners and Hughes have earned the right to represent their native country at the Olympics during a strong era in Canadian golf. Nine Canada natives are currently competing on the PGA Tour — including Taylor Pendrith, another star on that stellar 2012 Flashes squad, who will be a full-time PGA Tour member next season.
Both Conners and Hughes are from Ontario. They grew up about about 90 minutes apart and were both lured to Kent State by legendary golf coach Herb Page — who is also from Ontario.
Hughes, a four-time All-Mid-American Conference performer and medalist at the 2011 MAC Championship, was a senior on that 2012 Kent State team. He won his first professional tournament while competing on the PGA Tour Canada the following year, then claimed his PGA Tour card after capturing the Korn Ferry Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship in August of 2016.
Corey Conners celebrates after a hole-in-one on the sixth hole during the third round of the 2021 Masters Tournament on Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)
Three months later, in just his fifth PGA Tour start, Hughes emerged from a five-man playoff to win the RSM Classic. Since then he’s recorded three top-three finishes and two top-15s in majors. After recording the highest major tournament finish of his career last weekend, Hughes’ career earnings rest at $7.3 million. He’s made $1.72 million this season and is currently 61st in the FedExCup rankings.
Conners, a two-time All-American and two-time MAC Player of the Year, was a sophomore on that legendary 2012 Kent State squad that won five tournaments. He was a conditional member of the PGA Tour in April of 2019, when Conners won a Monday qualifier for the Valero Texas Open by draining a 30-foot birdie putt to wedge his way into a six-man playoff for one spot — which he claimed. Six days later Conners secured his first professional victory, stunning the golf world by becoming the first Monday qualifier to capture a PGA Tour event since 2010.
Conners then recorded 10 top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2019-20 and has now placed among the top 10 in the past two Masters along with a seventh-place effort at The Players Championship last March. He is currently 28th in the FedExCup rankings with over $3.4 million in earnings this season and has made over $8.7 million on the PGA Tour overall.
“What these guys have accomplished is just mind-boggling,” said Page. “Every step of the way they’ve just gotten better and better and better, and now they’re world-class. And they’re very humble. They haven’t changed since they left Kent State. That’s what I’m most proud of.”
Hughes and Conners share many similarities. They both stand 6-foot and were born about 15 months apart (Hughes is 30 years old, Conners 29). They’re both sponsored by Titleist. They’re devoted ice hockey fans who cheer on the Toronto Maple Leafs together. They’ve become loyal friends since their junior golf days — former teenage rivals who stood up in each other’s weddings as young adults.
They share a mutual love for Canada and Kent State.
“When we play on the PGA Tour week in and week out we feel that we’re representing Canada and carrying the flag,” said Hughes. “When Corey and I were playing well last week in the [Open] you could feel that sense of pride for Canada. You know everyone in Canada is pulling for you. Just like Canada, we represent Kent State with the same passion and pride. Without Herb and his guidance through that program, I’m not here today. I will always be indebted to that program. It’s going to be cool to have two Golden Flashes playing for Canada in the Olympics.”
Mackenzie Hughes reacts as he follows his shot from the second tee during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Hughes and Conners still spend time together on and off the course whenever their hectic schedules allow it. They’ve shared countless laughs and consumed many adult beverages together over the years, the tastiest being the cold beer Hughes presented to Conners after he walked off the 18th green following his victory in Texas.
If things go well in Japan, maybe they’ll be sipping celebratory sake together after the 72nd hole of the Tokyo Olympic Games. And things could indeed go very well for Hughes and Conners, both of whom will arrive in Japan this week brimming with confidence.
“Between the two of us we give Canada a very good chance to compete for a medal, and that’s our intent,” said Hughes. “We’re going over there to try to be on that podium. I wouldn’t consider anything else a success really. We’re over there to compete for a medal, and I like both of our chances.”
“My goal for Japan is to give myself a chance for a medal,” echoed Conners. “I have plenty of confidence in my game and will be feeling lots of support from the fans back home. It would be awesome to be standing on that podium with Mac.”
