SO, RED AND WHITE TOMORROW?
There was plenty of banter between Adam Hadwin and Dustin Johnson who showed up at the Canadian Open wearing very similar shirts and pants. What about tomorrow? “Well, its Red and White day. I’m sure there’s a better chance of it than there was today,” Hadwin quipped. For more on the opening round from Glen Abbey,
OAKVILLE, ONT. — As good as Robert Garrigus has been at the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament, he thinks he could have been even better in Thursday’s first round.
The American shot a 9-under 63 to take the clubhouse lead. Garrigus was one shot ahead of fellow American Adam Schenk when inclement weather suspended play in the afternoon at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
“Could have been 59 there if a couple putts didn’t lip out,” said Garrigus, who had birdie putts lip out on Nos. 10 and 17. “This was a good day, get to enjoy it for a minute, but I’ve got to close my mind off.”
Keeping focused has been an issue for Garrigus of late. He shot an impressive 6-under 66 in the third round of the Barbasol Championship last Saturday, before coughing up an ugly 7-over 79 in the final round. The low point for Garrigus was when he quadruple bogeyed the 567yard par-5 No. 17, finishing the tournament tied for 66th at 4 under.
“I prayed a lot this week, I’ll tell you that much,” said Garrigus.
Last year at Glen Abbey, Garrigus shot a 10-under 62 in the third round to match the course record. “I love this place. I’ve always played well in Canada. There’s a lot of good vibes here. And the golf course is absolutely pure,” said Garrigus.
“I mean, I was walking on the fairway on No. 8, and it just felt like you were walking on carpet.”
Schenk made the most of the conditions, closing out his round in the rain with three straight birdies as the morning group finished its day at the US$6.2million PGA Tour event.
Chris Stroud was third after shooting a 7-under 65. Ben Crane and Hudson Swafford and England’s Ian Poulter were tied for fourth at 6 under.
David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., shot 4-under 68 for the top score among Canadians. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., the top-ranked Canadian on the PGA Tour, fired a 2-under 70.