Tag: RBC Canadian Open

Raucous scene as Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau share lead at PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open

Canadians added a new punchline to an old joke while hosting a PGA Tour event on Saturday — when a hockey game broke out.

With all the buzz internationally about the first LIV Golf tournament, the folks north of the border added a new punchline to an old joke while hosting a PGA Tour event on Saturday — when a hockey game broke out.

With raucous crowds chanting, banging the boards of the rink around the 16th green and soaking up every minute after two years without live elite golf, the third round of the RBC Canadian Open at Toronto’s St. George’s Golf & Country Club brought weekend drama with some of the game’s largest names playing outstanding golf.

When the dust settled, Tony Finau and Justin Thomas made massive charges to get to the top of the leaderboard, but Rory McIlroy did enough to maintain the lead — and would have been alone in front if not for missing a short birdie putt on the 18th green.

Finau was the biggest mover on moving day, using a 62 that was highlighted by a spectacular 37-foot eagle putt to get to 11 under for the tournament.

Canadian Open: PGA Tour streaming on ESPN+ | Photos

For a former PGA Tour Canada player, the chance to shoot a low number in front of adoring fans made for a picture-perfect afternoon.

“I played nicely. I didn’t finish the way I wanted to yesterday and I think all it did was kind of light a fire in my belly to get after it today,” Finau said. “That’s pretty much what I did. I made some birdies and I just played really clean golf. Then when I made an eagle on 9 I kind of knew then I was like, oh, wow, we’re climbing up that leaderboard. And any time you’re at the top of the leaderboard and have a chance to win on a Sunday on the PGA Tour it’s exciting. So I’m happy with the round.”

Finau’s 62 was nearly matched by Thomas, who rolled in an eagle on the 15th hole after a dramatic fairway wood that nearly dropped from 235 yards away. Thomas did most of his damage on the back nine, going 5 under in a six-hole stretch directly after making the turn.

Tony Finau hits his tee shot at the first hole during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Thomas, who sits two strokes behind the leaders at 9 under in a pack with Sam Burns, Alex Smalley and Wyndham Clark, admitted the boisterous crowds made this environment something unique.

“I don’t know why it’s happening, but I’m very appreciative of the fan support here in Toronto,” said Thomas, who finished the day with a 63. “I said to … Rory and Corey (Conners) that it felt like a major a little bit out there. It’s bizarre.

“Obviously, 16 is a very unique and cool experience. It’s a hard hole in itself. So it’s just, I mean I knew obviously very passionate sports fans up in this part of the world and then having two years away from this tournament, I knew they were going to be ready to go this year.”

And finally, there was McIlroy, who won the title in 2019, when the event was last played. On Sunday, McIlroy looks to become the first European player to defend the Canadian Open title since James Douglas Edgar did so in 1920.

With shots like his approach on No. 12, where McIlroy pulled the string on an approach to a few inches, he’s certainly capable of winning for the first time this calendar year.

“I’m just happy to give myself a chance, be in the final group. Once I saw, I think Tony had got to 10 or maybe 11, I think I was on like 8 or 9 at the time. I just said to myself, let’s just try to get yourself in the final group,” McIlroy said. “Sort of feels pretty similar to last time at Hamilton, I was just trying to get myself in that final group with Webb (Simpson) and I was able to, tied for the lead there.

“So, yeah, just sets me up well for tomorrow. Feel like all aspects of my game are in pretty good shape, so just go out there and try and post a number and see if that’s good enough.”

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2022 RBC Canadian Open Saturday tee times, TV and streaming info

Everything you need to know for the third round in Canada.

It’s time for the weekend north of the border at the RBC Canadian Open.

St. George’s Golf and Country Club is playing host to the event for the first time since 2010. It’s a par-70 track measuring just over 7,000 yards.

Matt Fitzpatrick looked poised to bring a nice lead into the weekend before bogeying his last three holes on Friday to end the day at even par, 6 under for the tournament. The leader is Wyndham Clark, who also limped home for an even-par day.

One back with Fitzpatrick is Rory McIlroy, the defending champion.

Here’s everything you need to know for the third round of the RBC Canadian Open at St George’s Golf and Country Club. All times ET.

Canadian Open: PGA Tour streaming on ESPN+

Saturday tee times

Tee time Players
7:55 a.m.
Nick Hardy, Jhonattan Vegas
8:05 a.m.
Dylan Frittelli, Mackenzie Hughes
8:15 a.m.
Vince Whaley, Rafa Cabrera Bello
8:25 a.m.
Dawie van der Walt, Brett Drewitt
8:35 a.m.
Brandon Hagy, Sean O’Hair
8:45 a.m.
Kramer Hickok, Jonas Blixt
8:55 a.m.
Cameron Smith, Trey Mullinax
9:05 a.m.
Sahith Theegala, David Skinns
9:15 a.m.
J.J. Henry, Bo Van Pelt
9:30 a.m.
Corey Conners, Carlos Ortiz
9:40 a.m.
Scott Piercy, Austin Smotherman
9:50 a.m.
Andrew Novak, Adam Svensson
10:00 a.m.
Emiliano Grillo, Mark Hubbard
10:10 a.m.
Cameron Percy, Robert Streb
10:20 a.m.
Adam Hadwin, Seung-Yoh Noh
10:30 a.m.
Hank Lebioda, Paul Barjon
10:40 a.m.
Chase Seiffert, Sebastian Munoz
10:50 a.m.
Danny Willett, Justin Rose
11:00 a.m.
Ben Crane, Aaron Rai
11:15 a.m.
Justin Lower, Chris Kirk
11:25 a.m.
Nick Taylor, Brandt Snedeker
11:35 a.m.
Justin Thomas, Vaughn Taylor
11:45 a.m.
Aaron Cockerill, Ryan Armour
11:55 a.m.
Ryan Moore, Brendon Todd
12:05 p.m.
John Huh, Kelly Kraft
12:15 p.m.
Ben Martin, Danny Lee
12:25 p.m.
Tony Finau, Adam Long
12:35 p.m.
Harold Varner III, Doug Ghim
12:45 p.m.
Shane Lowry, Charley Hoffman
1:00 p.m.
Lee Hodges, Patrick Rodgers
1:10 p.m.
Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns
1:20 p.m.
Matt Wallace, Austin Cook
1:30 p.m.
Jim Knous, Matt Fitzpatrick
1:40 p.m.
Rory McIlroy, Keith Mitchell
1:50 p.m.
Alex Smalley, Wyndham Clark

TV, streaming, radio information

You can watch Golf Channel for free on fuboTV. ESPN+ is the exclusive home for PGA Tour Live streaming. All times Eastern.

Saturday, June 11th

TV

Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 3-6 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday, June 12th

TV

Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 3-6 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

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Wyndham Clark leads in Canada, but Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick among group that sits just one back

We’re in for a fun weekend north of the border with a packed top of the leaderboard.

Wyndham Clark started his week with a late run at U.S. Open qualifying and ended up earning a spot in next week’s major championship at The Country Club. The vibes are still high for the 28-year-old as he leads the RBC Canadian Open after two rounds.

Clark began his Friday with seven straight pars before putting his first shape on the card, a circle coming at the par-3 8th. After another birdie at the par-5 11th to get to 2 under on the day, Clark played his last seven holes 2 over for an even-par 70.

His best stroke-play event finish so far this season came at the American Express (solo 13th).

Canadian Open: PGA Tour streaming on ESPN+

One of the men sitting just one back is Matt Fitzpatrick, who’s done everything but win this season. In his last six stroke-play event starts, the Englishman has finished inside the top 5 thrice. In Canada, he has a chance to finally put a tally in the win column. And not just on the season, but for his career.

The 27-year-old has yet to win on Tour, which is hard to believe given his ability to hit fairways, hit greens, and roll the rock. He’s won seven times on the DP World Tour (formally known as the European Tour), with his latest victory coming at the 2021 Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters.

Matt Fitzpatrick of England lines up a putt on the 11th green during the second round of the RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s Golf and Country Club on June 10, 2022, in Etobicoke, Ontario. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

On Friday, Fitzy got around St. George’s Golf and Country Club in 70 shots for a second-round even-par 70. He struggled down the stretch making a double bogey on 14, and three straight bogeys on 16-18.

With Fitzpatrick at 6 under is Rory McIlroy, the defending champion. McIlroy struggled with wedges all day Friday, but was able to battle his way to a 2-under 68. His weapon of choice? The big-stick. McIlroy hit drives of 371, 374, and 357 yards on Friday, all coming on the back nine.

In his last four starts, the four-time major champion’s worst finish is T-18 (The Memorial). If he goes on to win this week, it’ll be the first time he’s ever successfully defended a title in his career. He won this event in 2019, and it was pushed back a few years due to COVID-19.

Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot at the third hole during the second round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Smalley, Keith Mitchell, and Jim Knous sit at 6 under with the two Europeans. Austin Cook is alone at 5 under.

A few shots further back at 4 under are Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler, who went head-to-head just a few weeks ago at the Charles Schwab Challenge where Burns drained a 40-footer on the first playoff hole to win.

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‘Best friends’ Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns deadlocked again at RBC Canadian Open with work to do this weekend

Burns and Scheffler currently sit five shots back of Wyndham Clark.

Two weeks ago at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler were knotted after 72 holes and needed extra holes to determine a champion.

Burns required just one extra hole to take down his best friend on the PGA Tour and notch his third Tour title of the season.

“I kind of joked with him at the end, he ruined all the fun making a 40-footer,” Scheffler said. “It was definitely good to see him win. He’s obviously a great player and got a bright future ahead.”

Burns’s superb run – wins at the Sanderson Farms Championship and Valspar Championship too – still is one shy of the haul of Scheffler, who has won four times in his last 10 starts on his way to becoming world No. 1.

Grouped together in the first two rounds of the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto (along with Cameron Smith), Burns and Scheffler are still tied through 36 holes this week.

Canadian Open: PGA Tour streaming on ESPN+

Burns shot 67-69 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club while Scheffler reversed the scores going 69-67 to reach the halfway point at 4-under 136.

“We had a great time,” Burns said. “Fans out here were awesome, it was really exciting for us to be up here playing in front of them, having a lot of support. And it was nice that Cam played really well today, Scottie had a solid day, so just trying to feed off of that.”

Indeed, Scheffler and Burns should both be lurking and within striking distance of the leaders at the midway point of Canada’s national open.

Scheffler, who missed the cut at the PGA Championship, said he likes to play the week before a major and is pleased with his game.

Scottie Scheffler hits a shot from the fairway on the fifth hole during the second round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

“I feel like my game’s in a decent spot right now and so if I just kind of keep doing what I’m doing, not overreact to things,” he said.

On Thursday, Scheffler got off to a sluggish start with two bogeys to start the round and finished with a pair of bogeys too.

“Other than the start and the finish, yesterday was a great round,” Scheffler said.

The reigning Masters champion carded five birdies on Friday en route to 67 to catch up to Burns.

“I did some good things and some bad things out there,” Scheffler said. “Overall with how I played I’m happy to be somewhat in the tournament.”

He’s done his best work on St. George’s three par 5s, lighting them up to the tune of 6 under, with birdies on all three each round.

“It’s definitely key,” he said of taking advantage of the par 5s. “Like for instance today they all came in the beginning of the round and so kind of had to come out of the gates firing.”

With three birdies in his first eight holes on Friday, Burns climbed to 6 under, but made two bogeys on his way to the house.

“It’s just difficult to shoot a really low number,” Burns said. “I think if you can just kind of plot your way around this place and shoot 2- or 3-under every day you’re going to have a really good chance.”

He added: “Today I felt it could have gone either direction, either really good or really bad. But overall fairly happy with how I played.”

Burns and Scheffler will be aiming to make a move up the leaderboard on Saturday and see if one of them can possibly break their deadlock and leave the other in his dust.

“Just need to kind of tighten it up a little bit and see what can happen this weekend,” Burns said.

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John Rollins is pulling double duty, playing and announcing at the RBC Canadian Open

John Rollins is pulling double duty at this week’s RBC Canadian Open, as he’s playing in the tournament and announcing it.

On June 7, Nate Lashley withdrew from the RBC Canadian Open, opening the door for John Rollins to tee it up just outside of Toronto this week. But he isn’t just playing St. George’s Golf and Country Club, he still has a day job.

Rollins showed up Thursday morning, microphone in hand, and announced PGA Tour Live on ESPN+. But, once it was time to warm up, he changed into his golf clothes and headed to the range.

His opening round was impressive, mixing three bogeys with three birdies for a Thursday even-par 70.

On Friday, Rollins struggled, eventually signing for an 8-over 78. Despite the disappointing showing, he went right back out on the course for another stroll around St. George’s, this time with a microphone.

Canadian Open: PGA Tour streaming on ESPN+

The 46-year-old has three PGA Tour wins on his resume, the latest coming at the 2009 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.

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Why isn’t Ted Scott on Scottie Scheffler’s bag this week in Canada? He’s got a great excuse

Instead of carrying Scottie Scheffler’s bag this week in Canada, Ted Scott is teeing it up on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Scottie Scheffler battled hard to shoot 3-under 67 on Friday in Canada. The world No. 1 and reigning Masters champion is doing so with Jordan Guilford as his caddie this week at the RBC Canadian Open.

Asked in an interview after the round if his regular bagman Ted Scott would be back in action next week at the U.S. Open, Scheffler was quick to say, “Yeah. He’s OK. He’s all right.”

Scott, the veteran looper who was on Scheffler’s bag for his third green jacket winner, is doing better than all right and there’s a good reason why he isn’t north of the border – he’s competing in the Korn Ferry Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am in Greenville, South Carolina this week.

Scott, a former mini-tour pro and golf coach, describes his game as “the leader in other fairways hit” in his Twitter profile. He enjoyed some time behind the wheel on a race track ahead of the tournament and is listed as a “celebrity” amateur in the field.

Scott has been a caddie for 21 years, primarily with Bubba Watson, including for his wins at the 2012 and 2014 Masters. They split late last year and Scott joined Scheffler after the Ryder Cup at the RSM Classic. Scheffler, who was winless on the PGA Tour until February, has won four times in his last 10 starts.

Scheffler’s substitute caddie has worked for Andrew Putnam and Beau Hossler in the past, and Scheffler used him at two fall events before hooking up with Scott. Scheffler made it clear it’s a one-week gig.

For Scott, he’s soaking up the experience including having a caddie at his disposal.

“We were picking on him on the last hole,” Scott told PGATour.com, “because I said to him, ‘Hey, this is the one chance I have to get to have somebody get the pin out.’ He’s over there just hanging out with my buddy. ‘Like, dude, come over and get the pin out. I don’t want to touch this thing.’ ”

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2022 RBC Canadian Open Friday tee times, TV and streaming info

Everything you need to know for the second round in Canada.

The PGA Tour is in Canada for the first time since Rory McIlroy’s victory at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, when he was a closing birdie away from posting a final-round 59.

St. George’s Golf and Country Club is playing host to the event for the first time since 2010. It’s a par-70 track measuring just over 7,000 yards.

McIlroy got off to a nice start Thursday morning firing an opening-round 66. Matt Fitzpatrick also played well, signing for a 6-under 64. However, the leader is Wyndham Clark who sits one better than Fitzpatrick at 7 under.

Here’s everything you need to know for the second round of the RBC Canadian Open at St George’s Golf and Country Club. All times ET.

Canadian Open: PGA Tour streaming on ESPN+

Friday tee times

Tee time Hole Players
6:40 a.m. 9
David Lingmerth, Sahith Theegala, Alex Smalley
6:51 a.m. 9
Camilo Villegas, Rory Sabbatini, David Hearn
7:00 a.m. 1
Sangmoon Bae, Matt Wallace, Scott Gutschewski
7:02 a.m. 9
Kelly Kraft, Trey Mullinax, Roger Sloan
7:11 a.m. 1
Brice Garnett, Mark Hubbard, Aaron Rai
7:13 a.m. 9
Sam Burns, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Smith
7:22 a.m. 1
Ben Crane, John Huh, Mark Hensby
7:24 a.m. 9
Tyyrell Hatton, Justin Rose, Harold Varner III
7:33 a.m. 1
Jim Herman, Nate Lashley, Danny Willett
7:35 a.m. 9
Cameron Champ, Parker McLachlin, Sebastian Munoz
7:44 a.m. 1
Brendon Todd, Sung Kang, Martin Trainer
7:46 a.m. 9
Jonas Blixt, Sam Ryder, Kramer Hickok
7:55 a.m. 1
Martin Laird, Keith Mitchell, Emiliano Grillo
7:57 a.m. 9
Ryan Moore, Bill Haas, Jonathan Byrd
8:06 a.m. 1
Satoshi Kodaira, Sean O’Hair, Brandon Hagy
8:08 a.m. 9
Wesley Bryan, Matt Every, Robert Garrigus
8:17 a.m. 1
D.A. Points, Patrick Rodgers, Ricky Barnes
8:19 a.m. 9
Adam Svensson, Andrew Novak, Braden Thornberry
8:28 a.m. 1
Ryan Armour, Tommy Gainey, Stephan Jaeger
8:30 a.m. 9
Chase Seiffert, Paul Barjon, Albin Choi
8:39 a.m. 1
Ted Purdy, Callum Tarrern, Rasmus Hojgaard
8:41 a.m. 9
Austin Smotherman, Brett Drewitt, Dean Burmester
8:50 a.m. 1
Brian Davis, Dawie van der Walt, Aaron Cockerill
8:52 a.m. 9
Brad Adamonis, Stuart Macdonald, Johnny Travale
9:01 a.m. 1
Greyson Sigg, Seth Reeves, A.J. Ewart
9:12 a.m. 1
Wes Hefferman, Jeffrey Kang, William Buhl
12:00 p.m. 9
Scott Piercy, Harry Higgs
12:11 p.m. 9
Jason Dufner, Vaughn Taylor, Rafa Cabrera Bello
12:20 p.m. 1
Hank Lebioda, Vince Whaley, Matthias Schwab
12:22 p.m. 9
Seung-Yul Noh, Nick Watney, Lee Hodges
12:31 p.m. 1
Brian Stuard, Hayden Buckley, Max McGreevy
12:33 p.m. 9
Carlos Ortiz, J.T. Poston, Charley Hoffman
12:42 p.m. 1
Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Mike Weir
12:44 p.m. 9
Robert Streb, Tyler Duncan, Dylan Frittelli
12:53 p.m. 1
Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Corey Conners
12:55 p.m. 9
Jonathan Kaye, Adam Long, Luke Donald
1:04 p.m. 1
Shane Lowry, Brandt Snedeker, Matt Fitzpatrick
1:06 p.m. 9
Greg Chalmers, Henrik Norlander, Doug Ghim
1:15 p.m. 1
J.J Spaun, Tony Finau, Nick Taylor
1:17 p.m. 9
Danny Lee, Chris Kirk, Bo Van Pelt
1:26 p.m. 1
Jhonattan Vegas, Johnson Wagner, Cameron Percy
1:28 p.m. 9
George McNeill, Richard S. Johnson, Andrew Romero
1:37 p.m. 1
Austin Cook, Peter Malnati, J.J. Henry
1:39 p.m. 9
David Lipsky, Davis Skinns, Yi Cao
1:48 p.m. 1
Ben Martin, Scott Brown, Wyndham Clark
1:50 p.m. 9
Nick Hardy, Jason Bohn, Brendan Leonard
1:59 p.m. 1
Joseph Bramlett, Trevor Werbylo
2:01 p.m. 9
Dylan Wu, Joshua Creel, Joe Deraney
2:10 p.m. 1
Bo Hoag, Ben Kohles, Callum Davison
2:12 p.m. 9
Jared du Toi, Patrick Flavin, Myles Creighton
2:21 p.m. 1
Justin Lower, Curtis Thompson, Christopher Gotterup
2:32 p.m. 1
John Merrick, Jim Knous, Max Sekulic

TV, streaming, radio information

You can watch Golf Channel for free on fuboTV. ESPN+ is the exclusive home for PGA Tour Live streaming. All times Eastern.

Friday, June 10th

TV

Golf Channel: 3-6 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 12-6 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday, June 11th

TV

Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 3-6 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday, June 12th

TV

Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 3-6 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

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Denver native Mark Hubbard not-so-subtly trolls Canada with Avalanche shirt on PGA Tour

“Tell Canada, I want them to know it was the Avs,” Hubbard, probably.

As they wait for their opponent in the Stanley Cup Final, it’s worth reflecting on the Avalanche’s path to return to the NHL’s biggest stage.

In the first round, they swept the hapless Predators. Nashville never even had a chance. Then, despite a little more fight from their opponent, Colorado dispatched the rival Blues in six games without breaking much of a sweat. Maybe next year, Jordan Binnington!

Finally and most notably, they steamrolled Canada’s last chance at a Cup in 2022 by sweeping Connor McDavid and the Oilers. That makes it 29 years since any of the NHL’s Canadian teams last hoisted the Cup. Can you imagine a country loving a sport so much and never winning its top prize? Tough scene.

During the RBC Canadian Open on Thursday, Denver native/PGA Tour golfer Mark Hubbard made sure to remind the hometown fans of that fact in the funniest way:

Look at that confident strut after making his putt. That’s a man who knows he’s making himself a public sports enemy and is absolutely reveling in it. Sorry, Canada. Maybe, finally, next year will be the year.

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Rory McIlroy off to fast start in long-awaited title defense at RBC Canadian Open while Wyndham Clark shines

Rory McIlroy would love nothing more than to defend his title in the 111th playing of this national open.

Call Rory McIlroy a traditionalist, a history lover or even as he put it, “a self-confessed golf nerd,” but the four-time major winner from Northern Ireland always has believed there’s something special about winning a national open.

“Most of the oldest events in our game are National Opens and I’ve been very fortunate enough to win quite a few,” said McIlroy, who won the 2019 RBC Canadian Open as well as the Australian Open, Hong Kong Open, Irish Open and U.S. Open. “One of the great things about our game is you can in some way compare yourself to historical figures. Figures that I’ve never met before, but I look at a trophy that my name’s on and Walter Hagan’s name is on there or Gene Sarazen or Byron Nelson or Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer or whoever it is. And I think that’s one of the coolest things about our sport that not a lot of other sports can sort of tap into.”

McIlroy would love nothing more than to have his name etched on the RBC Canadian Open trophy again Sunday and his title defense at the 111th playing of this national open – three years later due to COVID-19 – in Toronto, Canada started swimmingly as he posted 4-under 66 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club.

RBC CANADIAN OPEN: Leaderboard | PGA Tour Live on ESPN+

“Really solid start,” McIlroy said. “I felt like the course was there to go even lower just from the rain and how receptive it was.”

Indeed, Wyndham Clark proved McIlroy correct as he notched seven birdies in a bogey-free round of 63, to stake a claim to the early clubhouse lead. Clark, 28, ranks 125th in the FedEx Cup point standings and is searching for his maiden Tour victory. He said his game has been trending in the right direction and the stars aligned on Thursday as he hit 16 greens and led the field in Strokes Gained: putting, holing 116 feet of putts in all.

2022 RBC Canadian Open
Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas’s caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay walk across a bridge on their way to the 13th green during the first round of 2022 RBC Canadian Open in Toronto. (Photo: Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via Associated Press)

“I haven’t shot a low one in a while,” said Clark, whose previous season-low score was 65 at the American Express in January. “Today it all kind of came together.That’s all I felt I’ve needed all year was just a little jump start like this where I see some putts and it’s OK, I’m doing the right things, and I’m finally getting rewarded for all the hard work.”

Matt Fitzpatrick signed for the second-best score, 6-under 64, thanks to birdies on three of his first four holes. The Englishman, who has won seven times on the DP World Tour but also is seeking his first Tour title, struck it well from tee to green, ranking first in the field in that statistical category, and his putter worked to his satisfaction.

The recipe for success for Fitzpatrick and most of the leaders at St. George’s began with finding the fairway.

“It’s penal if you miss the fairways, it’s thick rough,” said McIlroy, who defied the odds of shooting a low score despite finding only 5 of 13 fairways. “If you hit it in the rough, you don’t have a chance of getting to some of the hole locations.”

McIlroy ranked second in SG: putting, including sinking a 10-foot birdie at the 196-yard par-3 16th.

“Probably hit my best shot of the day on 16,” McIlroy said. “Hit a lovely little held 5-iron into that right-hand hole location and birdied there.”

Clark ranked third in SG: Off-the-Tee, and noted the big stick helped set up an aggressive approach on Thursday.

“I drove it pretty good off the tee,” Clark said. “I did miss some fairways, but when I missed it, it wasn’t that bad.”

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Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy among PGA Tour pros to support suspensions handed out by commissioner Jay Monahan

Two of the PGA Tour’s biggest names are standing firm in their support of the PGA Tour.

Count Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy among the PGA Tour pros who are “pleased” that PGA Tour Commissioner suspended members who violated Tour regulations by competing in the debut of the LIV Golf Series.

“I’m pleased. I think anybody that’s shocked clearly hasn’t been listening to the message that Jay and everybody’s been putting out. They took that risk going into it, whether they thought it was a risk or not,” Thomas said. “Like I’ve said the whole time, I have great belief and great confidence in the PGA Tour and where we’re going and continuing to grow to, and those guys just aren’t going to be a part of it.”

Thomas was asked if it will be awkward to see some of his former colleagues and Ryder Cup teammates such as Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and others next week at the U.S. Open.

“I saw D.J. last week at home, and it was fine. I would say a lot of guys, myself included, aren’t at a U.S. Open to socialize. I’m not there to have a conversation and catch up,” Thomas pointed out. “I’m sure it will be awkward. When I saw D.J. last week, I didn’t know what to say, if it was a congrats or a bye or whatever it was.

“It is what it is. I think we’re all grown-ups, and we understand there’s going to be some guys you can make some jokes to and some guys you have to leave it alone, but in the end, we’re all there to win a major.”

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Asked if he was concerned that more players would jump ship for the next Liv event in Oregon next month, Thomas said, “I mean, you don’t know. They’re obviously throwing so much money at people that it’s very hard to turn down. I don’t care what you say in terms of that people play for different reasons. It doesn’t matter who you are or what it is, everything has a number. They’re reaching that number for some people, and I hope that they don’t get others. But I think a very strong core group of us is very stable and firm in our position, and I hope that it stays that way.”

McIlroy, who is a player director on the PGA Tour policy board, reiterated  Wednesday that he would be staying put and supporting the Tour.

“I think at this point, Jay’s been pretty transparent in terms of he’s just going to act within the tournament regulations and the rules that are set for a PGA Tour member. All he’s doing is basically going by the book,” McIlroy said. “I think that the majority of the membership that are here this week and that haven’t went and played elsewhere really appreciate that. So I think he’s done the right thing because these guys have broken rules and done things outside of the tournament regulations, and because of that, there are going to be consequences, I guess.”

Asked if he planned to watch any of the LIV Golf on YouTube, McIlroy said he likely would. “I think like everyone else, I’m intrigued and I’m a fan of golf. I’ve got quite a few guys over there that I call friends that are playing,” he said. “Yeah, of course I’ll see it and watch it and see what all the fuss is about.”

Asked to name his favorite of the 12 four-man teams, specifically Team Majesticks or Fireballs, McIlroy said, “What are the other ones, like Iron Heads? I have no idea. Certainly not going out to buy any team merchandise any time soon.”

Canadian Corey Conners joined Thomas and McIlroy in throwing his support behind Monahan and the Tour.

“I have a lot of faith that the Tour’s making the right decisions,” he said.

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