Dustin Johnson’s famous father-in-law once said: “You miss 100 per cent of the shots you don’t take.”

The deeper meaning behind those simple words from the great Wayne Gretzky speaks to the value of determination and persistence in the pursuit of one’s desired objectives – and it has resonated with the American golfer in his quest to score a PGA major.

Having finally accomplished his goal in June after a number of close calls, the 2016 U.S. Open champion can now fully appreciate the deeper message behind that motivational quote from the Canadian hockey icon.

Looking back at Johnson’s quest to capture his first PGA major, the Coastal Carolina University alumni, has had his fair share of heartbreak and failed attempts.

Johnson’s first near miss came at the 2010 PGA Championship when a two stroke penalty on the 18th hole cost him a chance for a three way playoff.

Then there was the British Open in 2011, when the South Carolina native fought hard for his first PGA major but had to settle for a second place tie.

But perhaps the one that was most painful and stands out the most came at the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

It was there that the 6 foot 4 inch American stepped onto the 18th hole with a 12 foot putt for eagle which would have finally given him his first career major title.

However, many golf fans will still remember the three-putt which left him emptied handed again and gave Jordan Spieth his second major.

In a sport where so much is played between the ears, that sort of break down on such a big stage can be devastating; and some simply aren’t able to recover mentally from such disappointment.

But that certainly was not the case with Johnson; who has used the disappointment from Chambers Bay as fuel to come back even stronger.

Johnson enjoyed a stellar start to 2016 with six top ten results in his first ten tournaments; and carried that momentum into this year’s U.S. Open.

Going into the final round at the Oakmont Country Club, the talented golfer known for his length off the tee put himself in prime position to take another shot at his first career major title – and this time he didn’t miss.

Despite the controversy of a potential penalty from the fifth hole of the final round where his ball moved prior to the actual shot, the American remained composed and managed to record a three shot victory.

“Especially with the things that happened last year at the U.S. Open on the 18^th hole, you know, to come back his year and to get it done, it’s definitely bitter sweet. It was a lot of fun,” said Johnson after claiming his first PGA major on Father’s Day – approximately nine years after turning pro in 2007.

“You know, coming into today, I’ve been in this situation time and time again. So I know what to expect. I know how to handle myself. For me to finally get it done on Sunday in a major, it’s a huge monkey off my back,” added Johnson who celebrated his 32^nd birthday just three days later.

2016 U.S. Open runner up Shane Lowry of Ireland spoke afterwards about the American’s composure despite the distraction of a possible penalty.

“I credit Dustin for playing the way he played on the way in, having that hanging over him, because I probably would have wanted to know straightaway if it was me,” Lowry noted.

After his triumph at Oakmont in June, Johnson continued his winning ways by capturing the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in early July.

By the time Johnson arrived in Canada in late July for the RBC Canadian Open, the excitement from capturing his first major had settled; and it was evident his focus had now shifted to winning his next major.

“One of the things is especially when I’m teeing it up in a major, I’m not still trying to get that first one. And I know what it takes; I know I’ve got what it takes to get it done. That obviously gives me a lot of confidence when I’m out there playing,” he said prior to teeing off at Glen Abbey.

While chasing greatness on the golf course will always remain a main focus, the 32-year-old married father of one highlighted the fact that his first priority ahead of everything else is now family.

“I’m definitely enjoying being a father. Tatum is one and a half, so it’s been so much fun.  It definitely changes your outlook on things. Where before, golf was probably my most important thing, and you know, now golf is kind of secondary and family is first,” said Johnson, who is currently the second ranked golfer in the world.

The American’s desire to put family first also explains his decision to opt out of the Rio Summer Olympics – with the 32-year-old citing the Zika virus as his reason to pass on the opportunity.

Given his family ties to Canada through his marriage to Paulina Gretzky, he spoke fondly about his return to Glen Abbey and having relatives onsite showing their support – including one of Canada’s most recognized and beloved hockey dads, Walter Gretzky.

When action got underway, Johnson played solidly and his name appeared at or near the top the leader board throughout the entire tournament.

Despite finishing in a three way tie for second place behind Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas, Johnson was pleased with his overall performance.

“Look, it has to do with the putter. I just did not roll it that well. Honestly I had a good finish,” he said after completing the 18^th hole. “I think the game is in really good shape.”

Looking ahead, if the 32-year-old American is able to maintain his current level play for the remainder of the season, he would be in great shape to take over as the world No. 1.

Having found balance off the golf course through his family; and having finally gotten over the hump in June at Oakmont to win his first major after nine years as a pro, Johnson’s confidence is finally at a point where it matches his talents.

And with this, it’s safe to assume that it won’t take Johnson another nine years – and as many near misses – to score his next major title.

CROMWELL, Conn. – Russell Knox nicknamed himself “The Beast” after playing two good rounds at the Travelers Championship.

He doubled down on that Sunday after sinking a 12-foot putt on the final hole to save par and beat hometown favourite Jerry Kelly by a stroke Sunday, hours after Jim Furyk shot the first 58 in PGA Tour history.

“I felt like the Incredible Hulk when it went in,” Knox said. “I could have ripped my shirt off.”

Knox closed with a 2-under 68 for a 14-under 266 total at TPC River Highlands. The 31-year-old Scot won for the second time on the tour, following his breakthrough victory in China in November in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.

Kelly, the 49-year-old former University of Hartford player, finished with a 64.

Furyk tied for fifth at 11 under. He opened with rounds of 73, 66 and 72.

Knox opened with consecutive 67s and had a 64 on Saturday. He took the lead with birdies at 13 and 14. He bogeyed the par-3 16th, and missed a chance to seal it on the par-3 17th when his 20-foot birdie putt stopped an inch right of the hole.

The Scot hit his tee shot on the par-4 18th right and into the crowd, and his second shot into a green-side bunker below the hole. He pitched out short of the hole, setting up a putt that went straight into the hole. He didn’t tear his shirt off, but did send his hat flying in celebration.

“Everybody dreams of making a putt on the last hole to win a tournament,” he said. “I just kept telling myself, this is your chance to make a putt to have a great celebration and hear the roars. I’m glad it went in.”

Justin Thomas was almost an afterthought despite shooting a 62 and stringing together five straight birdies to close out the front nine. He finished with nine birdies on the day and at 12 under for the tournament, tied with Patrick Rodgers for third place. Rodgers shot a 68.

Nick Taylor, of Abbotsford, B.C., shot a 72 in his final round to finish the tournament at 1-under 279 and in a tie for 64th.

Furyk, already one of six PGA Tour players to shoot 59, took advantage of soft, clean greens during the morning after Saturday afternoon rains.

The 46-year-old American bounced in an eagle from 135 yards on his third hole, ran off seven straight birdies around the turn and picked up his final birdie on the 16th hole with a putt from just inside 24 feet.

He rolled in a short par putt on the final hole, thrust his arms in the air and waved his cap to salute thousands of fans who had rushed to the amphitheatre around the 18th green to catch a stunning slice of history.

“No one else can say they’ve done that out here on the PGA Tour,” he said. “It’s really special.

It was tougher for the leaders in the afternoon.

Daniel Berger, who shot a 62 on Saturday, began the day at 15 under with a three-stroke lead. But he struggled, making four consecutive bogeys to start his back nine. He finished with a 74 to tie with Furyk, Robert Garrigus and Tyrone Van Aswegen at 11 under.

Kelly began the day at 7 under. He shot 32 on the front nine, then went to 5 under for the day when his second shot on the 13th hole found the cup for an eagle from 113 yards. Headed to the PGA Tour Champions in November, he acknowledged the fans were chanting “Jerry! Jerry!” by pounding his heart with his fist as he walked up the 18th fairway.

“The love that they showed me this week, that’s about the best of any year,” he said about the fans. “But, this is about the best I’ve played of any year too.”

Kelly won the last of his three PGA Tour titles in 2009.

Knox made back-to-back birdie putts inside 7 feet after great approach shots on 13 and 14. After a par on 15, he just missed the water by a few inches with his tee shot on 16. He bounced his next shot over the hole and had to settle for a bogey, before surviving the final two holes.

Patrick Reed had the best tournament of the three members of the U.S. Olympic team, shooting a 66 on Sunday to finish at 9 under. Matt Kuchar finished with a 65 and was 8 under, and defending champion Bubba Watson followed at 7 under after a 68.

“It was one of those weeks where you could easily see playing great next week or the week after,” Watson said, before getting on a plane for Rio de Janeiro. “Next week might help me get even further in the right direction or it could happen next week.”

Calgary – Due to heavy overnight rain that led to subsequent flooding of the area around Country Hills Golf Club, the final round of the ATB Financial Classic was cancelled after the golf course was rendered unplayable.

Having carried a two-stroke victory through 54 holes after a 7-under 65 on Saturday, England’s Charlie Bull earned his first career Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada victory with a 16-under 200 total.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. It’s so cool to win my first ever pro tournament,” Bull said. “It’s bizarre the way it’s all panned out. But I played great golf and even though it’s unfortunate not to have a four-round tournament I’m still so happy with how I played.”

The 24-year-old took a one-stroke lead to the back nine on Saturday with plenty of players making birdies behind him. Having never experienced holding a lead before, Bull’s performance under pressure proved his worthiness as a champion.

“To play the way that I did under the pressure yesterday knowing that I was leading and knowing there was bad weather coming in was really exciting to me,” Bull said. “I had never led a Mackenzie Tour event. I had been around the lead before, but to be able to hold the lead pretty much throughout the entire round, that’s exciting to me as a golfer. It’s what we play golf for.”

Just three weeks ago, Bull’s game was in disarray after missing the cut at the Staal Foundation Open in Thunder Bay to the point where he was unsure if he would even play the two-week stint in Alberta.

“To be where I was three weeks ago in Thunder Bay, to suddenly be here with a trophy is mind boggling,” said Bull, who jumps from No. 94 to No. 8 in the Order of Merit with four events remaining in the 2016 season.

Now with a win under his belt, Bull knows he still needs to finish strong.

“If I was further ahead on the money list I could start counting my chickens but now I have to go play some good golf the rest of the season and make sure I get into the top 5 and very worse top 10.”

With a total score of 14-under par 202 in a tie for second place, 19-year-old Austin Connelly finished as the top Canadian on the leaderboard, earning Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours and a $2,500 prize.

The top Canadian on the leaderboard each week takes home the award, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end earning the Dan Halldorson Trophy, Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours and a $25,000 prize.

BLAINE, Minn. – Joe Durant made a 10-foot eagle putt on the first hole of a playoff with Miguel Angel Jimenez on Sunday to win the PGA Tour Champions’ 3M Championship.

The 52-year-old Durant won on the par-5 18th after closing with a birdie on the hole in regulation for a 9-under 63. After a double bogey on the par-4 14th, Jimenez birdied the last four holes for a 67 to match Durant at 19-under 197 at TPC Twins Cities.

Jimenez birdied the 18th in the playoff, too, before Durant rolled in the right-to-left winner.

Durant won for the second time on the 50-and-over tour and the first by himself after teaming with Billy Andrade to win the Legends of Golf last year. Durant won the last of his four PGA Tour titles at Walt Disney World in 2006.

Durant opened with a 70 and shot a 64 on Saturday to begin the final round four strokes behind leader Jimenez. Durant birdied Nos. 1-2, 4-5 and 7-8 in a front-nine 30, and added birdies on Nos. 10 and 12. He dropped a stroke on the par-3 13th and got it back with a birdie on the par-4 14th.

Jimenez shot 67-63 to take a one-stroke lead over Kevin Sutherland into the final round.

Two weeks ago at Carnoustie in the Senior British Open, Jimenez took a four-stroke lead into the last day, only to shoot 75 and tie for third – three strokes behind winner Paul Broadhurst.

Jimenez won in Mississippi in March for his third career PGA Tour Champions victory. The 52-year-old Spanish player has 15 regular European Tour victories, the last in the 2014 Spanish Open at a tour-record 50 years, 133 days.

Two-time winner Bernhard Langer had a 64 to tie for third with Sutherland (68) at 17 under. Langer has broken par in all 24 of his rounds in the event.

David Frost (66) and Monday qualifier Glen Day (68) followed at 16 under.

Two-time defending champion Kenny Perry had a 68 to tie for 37th at 7 under.

John Daly tied for 71st at 3 over after a 75.

CROMWELL, Conn. – Jim Furyk set a PGA Tour record Sunday, shooting a 58 during the final round of the Travelers Championship.

The 46-year-old American got it going early, making his first birdie on his second hole at the TPC River Highlands course, then holing out for an eagle from 135 yards on the par-4 third hole. He finished his first nine holes in a course-record 27 shots.

Furyk, a member of Team RBC, shot 31 on the back nine, finishing with a 2-foot par on the final hole. The final birdie of his bogey-free round came on the par-3 16th, when he sunk a putt from just under 24 feet from the right of the hole.

Furyk, who has 17 PGA Tour victories – including two of the RBC Canadian Open – was already one of six golfers to shoot a 59 in his career. He did that during the second round of the BMW Championship in 2013.

History!

Jim Furyk shoots 58!

It’s the lowest round in PGA TOUR history.

Incredible. https://t.co/mzggwHU6tT

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 7, 2016

To shoot 58 … what a feeling that must be. pic.twitter.com/MKpc1DphvI

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 7, 2016

“It’s phenomenal … something you dream of.” https://t.co/ymfWWWnTwQ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 7, 2016

CROMWELL, Conn. – Daniel Berger, last season’s rookie of the year on the PGA Tour, missed three cuts in January and February and began hearing the whispers.

“Everyone was starting to say sophomore slump and that kind of got me upset a little bit,” he said. “Not upset, but kind of like, ‘Come on, let’s get going here.”’

Berger earned his first PGA Tour win two months ago in Memphis, and will be going for a second on Sunday. He shot an 8-under par 62 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Travelers Championship.

The 23-year-old Floridian made nine birdies, including seven on his final 10 holes, to finish at 15-under 195 after 54 holes.

Berger, who is still recovering from a left shoulder injury that forced him to miss several tournaments including the British Open, had just one bogey and was two strokes off the course record, following up rounds of 66 and 67 that had him tied for the lead coming into the day.

“I’ve shot better than 62, but I guess it doesn’t matter unless it’s on the PGA Tour,” he said. “It was just a great day.”

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., shot a 68 to climb into a tie for 49th place.

Russell Knox shot a 64 and Russell Henley and Tyrone Van Aswegen each shot 65 to tie for second place at 12-under par. Patrick Rodgers shot a 66 and was five strokes off the pace.

Berger, who is coming off a shoulder injury, is looking for his fifth top-10 finish since April, a string highlighted by his win at the St. Jude Classic.

Berger said he first tweaked his left shoulder in Memphis, then strained it at the U.S. Open. The injury forced him to withdraw after hitting his opening tee shot at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and he didn’t return until last week at the PGA Championship.

He said it expects the shoulder to be sore tonight, but it has not been bothering him on the golf course.

“It feels great this week and if I do the right thing then hopefully it’s gone forever.”

Berger said besides the win, he’s hoping for very personal reasons to secure a spot on the Ryder Cup team this summer. His father, Jay Berger, played tennis for the U.S. Davis Cup team.

“I think it would be pretty cool to have a father and son play Davis Cut and Ryder Cup,” he said.

The golfers went out early in trios Saturday off the first and 10th tees to avoid thunderstorms predicted for the area.

Knox set the pace, opening his round with three consecutive birdies. He putted the ball just seven times over his first six holes.

He also is looking for his second PGA Tour win, after a victory last November at the World Championships in Shanghai.

“I always tell myself, don’t be scared to play well,” he said. “You’ve got to go for it.”

Berger is not the only player coming off an injury.

Brooks Koepka, playing with a brace on his right ankle, shot a 30 on his back nine to finish with a 64 and go 9-under par for the tournament, tied for sixth place with Paul Casey.

Koepka tore a ligament earlier this summer and, like Berger, missed he British Open. He said he decided to play the tournament rather than rest because, like Berger, he wants to get enough points to play in the Ryder Cup.

“The better you play the better you feel,” he said. “Today is the best it’s felt in a long time.”

Koepka spent the day sparring with playing partner Daniel Summerhays, who also had four birdies on the back nine, before hitting a tree on his drive at the par-4 18th. He ended up saving a bogey with a 44-foot uphill putt and goes into Sunday at 8-under par, tied for eighth place.

“To see that go in, that was definitely a sigh of relief,” he said. “A good putt can forgive a lot of weaknesses and sins that you’ve committed in one hole.”

U.S. Olympians Bubba Watson and Patrick Reed each shot 68 and are 5-under par, 10 strokes back. Fellow Olympian Matt Kuchar shot a 71 and is at 3-under par.

Watson has insisted his focus this week is on Connecticut, but acknowledged that he wore his opening ceremony outfit on Friday night, texting a photo to teammate Rickie Fowler, who took parade in the parade of athletes.

“He texted me back his outfit,” Watson said. “I said I was there in spirit, so I had to wear my outfit, too.”

The shot of the day came from Ernie Els, who aced the par-3 16th hole from 176 yards. It was the 13th hole-in-one of his career.

Calgary – On a day where low scoring was the norm, England’s Charlie Bull shot a 7-under 65 at Country Hills Golf Club to take a two-stroke lead after 54 holes of the ATB Financial Classic, the eighth event of the 2016 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

Beginning the day two strokes behind co-leaders Austin Connelly and Carlos Sainz Jr., Bull eagled the par-5 second to close the gap before driving the green on the par-4 fifth hole to tap-in range for his second eagle of the day. Adding a birdie on the par-5 seventh hole, Bull made the turn with a one-stroke lead and never let it go.

“On the 330-yard par-4 [fifth] I hit it to two feet and that’s just pure luck,” said Bull, who is looking for his first career Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada win. “I hit a nice shot but it was still pure luck to get it that close and make eagle there so there were no complaints on the round. I got lucky where I did and took advantage of my opportunities which was nice.”

Bull, 24, finished off his third-round 65 with a lengthy downhill birdie on the 18^th to cap off his career-low round on the Mackenzie Tour in 19 events. With four other 65s on Moving Day in Calgary, Bull knows he is going to need another low round on the gettable Country Hills GC layout in order to secure his first title on Sunday.

“It’s going to take another low one tomorrow to get it done,” Bull said. “There are a lot of guys going low and I know I need to shoot a good round, but it was nice to be able to hold onto the lead today and keep myself in good position.

“Every single putt matters so there is no taking it easy on a putt. On 18 I had a downhiller but I knew I couldn’t leave it short so I gave it a run and got rewarded for it so you have to stay confident and aggressive in your game plan out here, otherwise you will get lapped all day long.”

Bull will take a two-shot lead to Sunday over a group of four players at 14-under and nine others that are within five shots, a position he has yet to experience in his career.

“I’ve never been in this position but it feels really nice to know that I’m playing well and hitting good shots,” Bull said. “It is relaxing knowing that I have to go deep. A lot of the time it’s difficult when you are trying to nurse a lead by making pars. Out here you are just trying to make birdies – there’s no other way around it because that is what it will take to get it done.”

Tyler McCumber, Conrad Shindler, 36-hole co-leader Connelly and Monday qualifier Scott Wolfes are tied for second at 14-under. Bull will be joined by Wolfes and Shindler in the final group on Sunday. All three shot 65 on Saturday.

Connelly birdied the 17^th hole on Saturday to shoot a 3-under 69 and remain in the hunt for his first professional title with 18 holes remaining.

Connelly is playing his first full season on the Mackenzie Tour and has two top-10 finishes through seven events, including a solo third three weeks ago at the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel – his best finish to date as a professional.

If Connelly were to win on Sunday, he would become the youngest player to win on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in the PGA TOUR era (2013-present), supplanting last week’s winner Aaron Wise.

He is playing in the PGA TOUR’s John Deere Classic next week on a sponsor’s exemption and already has five PGA TOUR appearances to his credit, making the cut on three occasions.

Connelly is also a former member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur team, having been selected as an 18-year-old for the 2015 squad.

BLAINE, Minn. – Miguel Angel Jimenez made a 17-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th hole Saturday for a 9-under 63 and the second-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ 3M Championship.

The 52-year-old Spanish player had five straight birdies on Nos. 6-10 and also birdied the par-3 17th in good scoring conditions at generous TPC Twins Cities. He had a 14-under 130 total.

“I played very solid all day long,” Jimenez said. “Finished with four birdies on the front nine and another at 10, then stopped making putts. Nice way to finish.”

Two weeks ago at Carnoustie in the Senior British Open, Jimenez took a four-stroke lead into the final round, only to shoot 75 and tie for third – three strokes behind winner Paul Broadhurst.

“I’m confident with my game right now,” Jimenez said. “Just play my game right now.”

Jimenez won in Mississippi in March for his third career PGA Tour Champions victory. He has 15 regular European Tour victories, the last in the 2014 Spanish Open at a tour-record 50 years, 133 days.

“This year, my goal was to make the Olympics,” Jimenez said. “I put too much pressure on myself early this year.”

Kevin Sutherland was a stroke back after a 64. He tied for second last year.

“I putted unbelievable well,” Sutherland said. “Struggled with my irons today … I think someone will have go low tomorrow. It’s going to take a good score tomorrow, maybe something like I shot today.”

First-round leader Glen Day was 12 under, following his opening 65 with a 67. He played his way into the field Monday, topping the five qualifiers with a 7-under 64 at nearby Victory Links.

Colin Montgomerie and Jeff Maggert each shot 67 to get to 11 under.

Doug Garwood had the round of the day with a 62 to join the group at 10 under. He used a TPC Twin Cities youth caddie Saturday after his regular caddie fell ill Friday.

“It all kind of came together,” said Garwood, one off tying the course record. “I kept making putts. I made so many, I lost track. … It was the putter today. Hit it decent, nothing great.”

Two-time champion Bernhard Langer was tied for 10th at 9 under after a 68. He has broken par in all 23 of his rounds in the event.

Two-time defending champion Kenny Perry had a 68 to move into a tie for 45th at 3 under.

John Daly had his second 72, leaving him tied for 62nd at even par.

Local favourite Tom Lehman shot his second 73.

KANATA — This year will go down as the year of Pickering’s Christopher Kertsos in the Ontario Senior Men’s division. Kertsos began the season by winning the Senior Men’s Champion of Champions and on Aug. 6th he added the 2016 Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Championship to his list of accomplishments.

Kertsos, 60-years-old from the York Downs Golf & Country Club, mastered The Marshes Golf Club in Kanata, along with the elements, as he capped off his week at two-under (71-72-71-214). Kertsos headed into the final round with a two-shot lead thanks to consistent play in the opening two rounds. He continued to be steady during the final round carding a bogey-free, four-under front nine. He went to the turn with a six-shot lead and would not be denied the title. He finished the back nine three-over to card a final round of one-under (71). In addition, Kertsos also claimed the 60+ Division title.

Afterwards, Kertsos talked about the win and how special this season has been.

“This one feels great! It has been a special season,” said Kertsos. “I’ve played well these last three days, I hit the ball really well. If I had putted well, then who knows what I could have shot. I didn’t know how I would feel today, if I would be nervous or calm, but I turned out to be pretty calm and just focused on not making any mistakes. I think I only made one during the entire round.”

Claiming the silver medal was local favorite, Ottawa’s Randy Blondin. Blondin, who is not only a member at the host club of The Marshes, but lives just off the 16^th hole, started the day two-shots back in second place.  He played a consistent round and finished the day one-over (73). That brought his tournament total to two-over (71-74-73-218).

Rounding out the podium, with the bronze, was Toronto’s Robert Gibson. Gibson, from the Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club, entered the day with a share of third. He would finish the day two-over (74) bringing him to four-over (72-74-74-220) for the championship.

In the 70+ Division, Collingwood’s Brian Jeffery took home the title. Jeffery, from Batteaux Creek Golf Club, held the lead in the division after the first two rounds and capped off the tournament with a five-over (77) during the final round to complete the event at 13-over (80-72-77-229).

In addition to the championships, the top 34 players earned a quota spot for the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship, Sept. 6-9, at Grand Niagara Golf Club. The top three also earn the right to represent Ontario in the team competition at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship.

In total, 137 players began the competition. For complete tournament information visit the tournament site.

CROMWELL, Conn. – Daniel Berger says he’s healthy again and hoping to regain the form that helped him to his first PGA Tour title two months ago.

Last year’s rookie of the year followed his first-round 66 with a 67 on Friday for a share of the lead in the Travelers Championship.

He matched 2012 Travelers champion Marc Leishman, Russell Henley and Tyrone Van Aswegen at 7-under 133. Leishman shot 68, Henley shot 65, and Van Aswegen 66.

Berger strained his shoulder at the U.S. Open after winning in Memphis at the St. Jude Classic, his fourth top-10 finish in seven starts. The injury forced him to withdraw after hitting his opening tee shot at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and he didn’t return until last week at the PGA Championship.

“I definitely played better than I thought I would,” he said. “This is my seventh round in six weeks and for a professional golfer that’s not a lot.”

Four players, including 49-year-old University of Hartford graduate Jerry Kelly, were a shot behind. Kelly had a 70 after sharing the first-round lead with a 64.

Nick Taylor, of Abbotsford, B.C., was the lone Canadian to make the cut, shooting a 71 to sit well back in a tie for 56th at 1 under. Fellow Abbotsford native Adam Hadwin and Derek Gillespie, of Oshawa, Ont., missed the cut.

Blayne Barber had the best round of the day with a 64 of his own to top the seven players two strokes back.

“The wind got up a little bit today, so you had to be playing good golf to shoot a really good number,” Leishman said.

U.S. Olympians Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar remained in contention. Kuchar shot a 67 to move to reach 4 under. Reed, who turned 26 on Friday, also shot a 67 and was tied with Watson at 3 under. Watson, the defending champion, had a 70.

Seventy-three players made the cut by shooting even par or better.

“If you’re close to the lead, you’re close to missing the cut,” said Paul Casey, who lost last year in a playoff and was among those tied for ninth place at 5 under.

Henley, who is playing this tournament for the first time, joined the leaders by sinking a 20-foot birdie on his final hole, the par-4 ninth.

“It was just a little bit tricky,” he said. “I think with no wind on this course we would have seen double digits (under par) by now.”

Van Aswegen put up an early 66 and led most of the day as the wind picked up and the greens dried out.

The 34-year-old, who is looking for his first PGA Tour win, followed up on his 67 Thursday with a second straight bogey-free round. His four birdies included a 45-foot putt on the par-4 10th.

“You make a birdie on 10, you’re gaining a stroke on the field there,” he said. “I’m hitting the ball quite well and putting really well.”

Kelly had five birdies and five bogeys. He won the last of his titles in 2009.

“I’m tired,” he said. “I’m going to watch a movie and see if I can rest a little bit and see if the old bones will work for two more days.”

Reed, one of six Olympians playing in the tournament, turned 26 on Friday. He was presented with a cupcake on the first tee, and blew out the birthday candle on top with a practice swing. Watson then led the crowd at several holes in rousing renditions of “Happy Birthday.”

“Half the people were chanting ‘Happy Birthday’ and the other half chanting for all of us, ‘USA,’ so it was cool,” he said.

Andrew Loupe, among the leaders after the first round, held a brief one-stroke lead Friday before on his fourth hole of the day, the par-4 14th. He hit his drive out of bounds left, overcompensated right on his next drive and finished with a seven on the hole and missed the cut after shooting a 76.

The most unusual play of the day came from Vaughn Taylor, who put his tee shot on the par-4 17th hole in the course’s signature lake. After conferring with a rules official, he was allowed to take a drop from the opposite shore near the 16th tee, because it was no closer to the hole. That gave him a better angle at the green. After a long cart ride around the lake, he was able to make bogey, despite clipping a corporate tent with his approach shot.

Matt Jones shot a second consecutive 69, despite suffering from what officials described as nausea and dehydration during his round. He took a 15 minute break at the turn and received three Intravenous bags of fluid.

After two days of sun and temperatures in the mid-80s, the forecast for Saturday afternoon include the possibility of severe thunderstorms. Because of that, tournament officials will have the players going out early in threesomes off both the first and 10th tees.