Canadian Conners leads PGA Championship
Listowel native becomes first Canadian male to lead major since 2009
At the Listowel Golf Club, the unofficial Corey Conners Fan Club was already pumped — the course gets to reopen Saturday after a big announcement Thursday by Ontario Premier Doug Ford — but the club’s favourite son gave them all another reason to be excited.
Conners shot a five-under-par 67 and tops the leaderboard after the first round of the PGA Championship, becoming the first Canadian male to lead or co-lead a major round since Mike Weir at the 2009 U.S. Open.
“Truthfully, I’m more excited about Corey’s round,” Brenden Parsons, director of operations at Listowel Golf Club, said with a laugh. “Just so proud of him. Golf was going to return, but this is special.”
Conners, who recorded backto-back top-10 finishes at the previous two majors (both at the Masters, in November and April), has been playing steady the entire PGA Tour season. He’s notched seven top-10 results this season and told the Star earlier in the week that everything about his game was feeling solid as he prepared for the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina. That confidence was on full display Thursday.
“I definitely knew in my preparation that it was possible to have a decent round out here and shoot a 5-, 6-under-par round,” said Conners. “Kind of started the day thinking: Why not me?”
Conners, who has one PGA Tour title to his credit, opened with three birdies in his first seven holes. He bogeyed the par-4 ninth. but added three birdies on his back nine to finish at 5-under. This is his first 18-hole lead at a major championship.
“I was fortunate to have a good day. Made it as (stress-free) as possible on myself,” said Conners, whose on-course vibe is matched only by his swing tempo: measured and methodical. “I hit a lot of really good shots and holed some nice putts early in the round, and that really helped boost the confidence. I played with a lot of freedom.”
A big group was tied for second, including two past PGA champions. Those at 3 under par include Keegan Bradley (the PGA winner in 2011) and Brooks Koepka (champion in both 2018 and 2019). Viktor Hovland, Aaron Wise, Cam Davis and Sam Horsfield also shot 3-under 69s.
Koepka was a question mark heading into the week. He’s still rehabbing a knee injury, which caused him to stick his leg out wide while reading the greens at the Masters. He’s still struggling with putting pressure on the knee, but said he’s found another gear.
“It’s a major. I’m going to show up. I’m ready to play. I’ve been itching to do this since (the Masters). I mean, I feel so much better now,” said Koepka. “I don’t need to be a hundred per cent to be able to play good.”
A trio of pre-tournament favourites didn’t fare so well.
Jordan Spieth — who is hunting for the career grand slam having won the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship — finished five shots back.
Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, who played together, both finished at 3-over. Dustin Johnson, the world’s No. 1ranked player, was at 4-over. Johnson made two double bogeys including one on his final hole of the day, which included a penalty drop.
McIlroy fired his opening tee shot into the water and needed to take a drop. The entire field battled an unpredictable breeze through the first round, but it was Conners who navigated the conditions, and the course, the best.
“Definitely I have a lot of belief in myself, and I’ve been playing well for quite a while,” said Conners. “I’m excited for opportunity to play against the best players in the world and put my game to the test. I have a lot of confidence in my game and I’m excited for the rest of the weekend.”
Conners will also find time to watch his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Montreal Canadiens in their Stanley Cup playoff series, which opened Thursday night, and expects Auston Matthews to continue to fill the net.
“I like his chances to pot one,” said Conners with a smile. “I’m excited to watch.”
Fellow Canadians Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Hadwin both struggled. Hughes of Dundas, Ont., shot 75 and Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., finished at 77.