Perspective helps Canadian Mackenzie Hughes excel at Honda Classic
Canadian Mackenzie Hughes never lost faith in his game, even as he struggled through five consecutive missed cuts to start 2020. But Hughes’ professional troubles paled in comparison to the suffering of his friend Daniel Meggs, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 29 on Feb. 23, three weeks before his wife’s due date.
Hughes, who is also 29 and a father, honoured his friend by writing “DM” on his golf balls at last week’s Honda Classic. That added a dose of perspective every time he teed his ball up, helping Hughes finish second at the PGA Tour event and challenge Sungjae Im for the title.
“It wasn’t a tactic to, you know, help me play better golf, it was more just a reminder that life isn’t always fair and that the days that we have are meant to be lived and to be enjoyed,” said Hughes on Monday. “I kept thinking to myself what (Meggs) wouldn’t give for another round of golf and to see us, his family.
“I just thought it was a nice way to remember him but also keep things in perspective and remind myself that golf is not life.”
The memory of Meggs wasn’t the only thing that kept Hughes grounded as he shot a 5-under 275 overall to finish a shot behind Im and one ahead of Tommy Fleetwood. He was also thinking of his wife Jenna and his son Kenton, who were waiting for him at the 18th hole of the PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
“I came off and I was a bit disappointed and knew I had a good finish but wanted one shot better,” said Hughes, a native of Dundas, Ont. “But it’s just one of those things that, again, brings you back to what’s important and what’s actually going to bring you joy at the end of the day.”
“Kenton’s unconditional love and affection is what keeps me going. It’s just infectious.”
All week Hughes was surrounded by friends from his days as a junior and an amateur.
On Tuesday, he and fellow Canadians Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., and Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., threw a barbecue. They were joined by a handful of other golfers and caddies, who were Kent State University grads, Canadian, or somehow associated with either camp.
Hughes, Conners, Dave Markle, and Marc Bourgeois – all Canadian and Kent State alum – took a group shot together that Hughes sent to Herb Page, the head coach of Kent State and a product of Markham, Ont. That prompted a long phone call between Hughes and Page and later an inspiring text message from the coach that simply read “The hard part is over” after his former pupil was the only Canadian to make the cut.
That stuck with Hughes and he followed up his 71 and 72 in the opening rounds with back-to-back 66s.
“It was like ‘I’ve been fighting that monkey for a little bit this year’ and then to go there on Saturday for our tee time I was like, ‘All right, let’s just go play golf,”’ said Hughes, who had missed the cut nine of 11 times this season, with a tie for 55th a the Houston Open in October his best result before the Honda Classic . “And it was a really nice two days, to say the least.”
Finishing second moved Hughes 157 spots up the rankings from No. 223 to a much more comfortable 66th, just two points behind No. 65 Talor Gooch.
“It just gives me a bit of a shot in the arm going forward,” said Hughes. “I just know that, like I’ve been saying all along, that the game was not really as far off as it seems. I just need build on the momentum for this week and try and keep adding up those points.”
Canada’s Hughes rallies to finish solo 2nd at Honda Classic
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Moments after getting his first career PGA Tour win, Sungjae Im took a moment to reflect on what it means.
Not for himself – for his homeland, and for those dealing with a virus that has the world on edge.
The 21-year-old South Korean started fast and finished stronger Sunday, winning The Honda Classic by one shot over Mackenzie Hughes and two over Tommy Fleetwood for his first victory in 50 tries on tour. But before he could be whisked back to the course to collect the trophy, Im made sure to speak out about the coronavirus and tell those in South Korea – where nearly 4,000 cases have been confirmed – that he was thinking of them.
“Over in Korea right now, I know a lot of people are dealing with the coronavirus,” Im said. “And it’s kind of a huge deal with everybody. But I’m just glad as a Korean player that I can deliver some good news to the countrymen back home … to do something for the country and make everybody proud.”
Im shot a 4-under 66 on Sunday, finishing at 6 under to match the second-highest winning score since the Honda moved to PGA National in 2007. He was the tour’s rookie of the year last season, plus has played more tournaments and more rounds than anyone since the 2018-19 season began nearly a year and a half ago.
And now, he’s a winner, picking up $1.26 million this week and becoming the Honda’s 10th international champion in the last 16 seasons.
Im birdied four of his first five holes, then birdied two of the final four – after sticking tee shots on the tough par-3 15 and 17th holes within 8 feet both times – to finish off the victory.
Hughes, a Canadian who made the cut on the number Friday, shot his second consecutive 66. Playing alongside Im, he was part of some serious fireworks on the last two holes and missed a birdie putt at the par-5 finishing hole that would have gotten him into a tie for the top spot.
“I love being in the mix,” Hughes said. “I love having a chance to win, and yeah, it sucks to come up one short, to fight that hard all day. I just kind of thought I was going to do it. But still proud of the way I fought this week.”
Fleetwood (71) was alone in third and is still seeking his first PGA Tour win. He started the day one shot clear of the field and started birdie-birdie to get to 7 under at that point – matching what was the low score in relation to par of the week.
Then PGA National did what it usually does, that being not let anyone run away from the pack.
Fleetwood made bogey on the par-4 6th and couldn’t get up and down from a greenside bunker on the par-4 8th, giving back what was left of his lead at that point. Fleetwood birdied the par-3 17th to get within one, but his approach at the par-5 finishing hole found the water to all but seal his fate.
“I was going well,” Fleetwood said. “My swing wasn’t there today. It wasn’t like a comfortable day … things weren’t quite there, but I hung in well.”
Once Fleetwood’s attempt at a miracle hole-out after a drop from 120 yards on 18 didn’t fall, Im could finally exhale as the winner. He hugged his caddie in the locker room, where he watched the last 20 minutes or so on a monitor.
“I’ve been in this spot many times. … I just felt like the experience really helped,” Im said through a translator.
Some of Im’s best moments have come when no one has been looking.
This picture says it all.
Mini-Mac and all of Canada is proud of you @MacHughesGolf ??? pic.twitter.com/4B4zFKzM6Q
— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) March 1, 2020
He was third at the Zozo Championship in Japan last October, a finish totally overshadowed by Tiger Woods tying the PGA Tour record of 82 career victories. And in November he went 3-1-1 to tie for the best showing by a player on the International team at the Presidents Cup, but the U.S. team captained by Woods rallied in singles on the final day to win the trophy at Royal Melbourne.
But this time, he was on centre stage and embraced the moment.
Hughes, of Dundas, Ont., and Im went to the par-3 17th green – the end of the “Bear Trap” three-hole stretch – in wildly different spots. Im stuck his tee ball to just inside of 8 feet, while Hughes had nearly 55 feet left from above the hole.
Line it up! Never a doubt for @MacHughesGolf ? pic.twitter.com/HjNRMvfQuW
— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) March 1, 2020
Hughes rolled in his most improbable birdie to an enormous roar, pulling into a tie with Im at 5 under.
If Im was worried, it didn’t show.
Im took a couple looks at his downhill line, took his putter back just a couple of inches and watched the ball roll in for a birdie that allowed him to reclaim his lead at 6 under – which, he hoped, created a bit of relief at home.
“Right now, all I can do is pray for the best and just hope moving forward that not many more people get affected,” Im said. “Hopefully, this virus can calm down and sort itself out very soon.”
Golf Canada Annual Meeting concludes with Charlie Beaulieu elected to serve a second term as president
Mississauga, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Meeting culminated on Saturday, February 29 with the re-election of Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Qué., to serve a second term as the National Sport Federation’s President.
Beaulieu will continue to lead Golf Canada’s Board of Directors with Liz Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont., remaining in the position of 1st Vice-President and Dale Jackson of Victoria continuing in the role of 2nd Vice-President.
Based on the report of Golf Canada’s Nominating Committee, Beaulieu, Hoffman and Jackson will be joined on Golf Canada’s 2020 Board of Directors by Rob MacDonald of Winnipeg, Man., Susan MacKinnon of Calgary, David McCarthy of Toronto, Adam Daifallah of Montreal, Jean Stone-Seguin of Ottawa and Patrick Kelly of Vancouver. Paul Beaudry of Calgary and Alison Chisholm of Rothesay, N.B. have also joined the Board as Directors at Large.
Annual Report & Financial Statements
Click here to read Golf Canada’s 2019 Annual Report, which includes a recap of the past season, as well as the organization’s 2019 Financial Statements, which were released during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting.
Bill MacMillan selected as Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year
Bill MacMillan of Eastern Passage, N.S., was named the 2019 recipient of the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award. MacMillan has been a golf tournament official and major contributor to Handicap and Course Rating for more than three decades. This marks the 14th year in which the association has honoured volunteers for their efforts and commitment to grow the game in their community. Going forward, the citation has been renamed the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award in honour of Toronto native Bruce Mitchell who in 2017-18, became the first Canada to serve as Captain of the R&A. Click here for more on Volunteer of the Year honouree Bill MacMillan.
Richard Smith and Ian Hutchinson honoured as Recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award
This year’s recipients are a pair of long-time contributors to the sport of golf – volunteer Richard Smith of Regina, Sask. and golf journalist Ian Hutchinson of Newmarket, Ont. Created in 1993, Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award has been presented annually to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to the game of golf in Canada. Click here for more information on the 2020 Distinguished Service Award honourees.
Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Meeting took place February 28-29 at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel and Suites in Mississauga, Ont. It was conducted in partnership with Golf Ontario, who scheduled their respective Annual General Meeting activities to take place in conjunction.
Titleist & FootJoy become newest national partners of RBC PGA Scramble
Titleist & FootJoy have become the newest supporting partners of the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company.
In addition to this partnership, Titleist & FootJoy will continue as presenting sponsors of PGA of Canada’s Training Academy.
“Titleist & FootJoy’s commitment to the betterment of golf is first-rate,” said PGA of Canada President Mark Patterson. “We are proud to have their support as national partners and look forward to seeing them elevate an already exceptional experience for golfers across the country.”
Titleist & FootJoy become the first golf equipment and golf wear brand to join forces with the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company—something players will benefit from greatly this upcoming season.
As part of the agreement, golfers can anticipate enhanced prizing at each stage of the competition, as well as exclusive activations from Titleist & FootJoy at select events.
“The RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company has proven to resonate with passionate, dedicated golfers across Canada,” said Ted Manning, President of Acushnet Canada Inc. “We feel the audience aligns seamlessly with the Titleist & FootJoy brands and are excited to connect on a grassroots level with amateurs and golf professionals from coast-to-coast.”
The RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company is Canada’s largest series of national golf events designed for amateurs of all playing abilities and PGA of Canada professionals looking to participate in a fun and equitable competition.
Now in its fifth year, nearly 10,000 golfers are anticipated to play in over 150 local qualifying events nationwide, with hopes of advancing from the local to the regional stage, and ultimately on to the National Final at Cabot Links.
Canada’s Celeste Dao wins first collegiate event, leads Georgia to title
Georgia Bulldogs women’s golf coach Josh Brewer has long believed that Celeste Dao is a special player.
She proved him right this week.
Dao, from Notre-Dame-de-L’Ile-Perrot, Que., won the Gold Rush golf tournament on Tuesday, finishing 7-under 209, a shot better than teammate Caterina Don. The Bulldogs placed three players in the NCAA event’s top four to run away with the team title, besting second-place Fresno State by 23 strokes.
Playing a shotgun start, Dao’s coaches and teammates first had to track her down on the course at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, Calif., to tell her she had won and led the team to victory. Once Dao’s teammates had chased her down they all hugged to celebrate her first collegiate win.
“I think it says a lot about Celeste that when she was giving her victory speech she congratulated her team just 30 seconds into her speech on winning the team title,” Brewer said. “I’m just lucky as a coach to have an individual who is able to step back and say ‘what wonderful teammates I have.’
“That’s why the reaction was the way it was when she had won and she gave it right back to them.”
Dao, a graduate of Team Canada’s National Junior Squad, was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for women’s golf on Wednesday following the victory.
It’s the same sort of class that impressed Brewer when he first met Dao.
She had already won the Quebec Women’s Amateur title in 2017, and then the Mexican Junior Girls Championship and the Canadian Junior Girls Championship in 2018 when she and her family dropped in on Brewer at the University of Georgia’s campus in Athens. They spent 90 minutes together before parting company and then Brewer attended a nearby junior tournament Dao was competing in.
Brewer had already planned to attend the event for recruiting purposes and to support some of his student-athletes but followed Dao for a few holes.
She struggled in the first round of that event but then bounced back with rounds in the high 60s. That piqued Brewer’s interest.
“We both had good first impressions and the relationship just grew from there,” Brewer said. “She’s very upbeat, positive. Just works hard as far her golf game and is wanting to play professional golf, which we want.
“We want people who have big dreams and she wants to be the next Brooke Henderson, write her own chapter in women’s golf for Canada.”
Dao, an 18-year-old freshman, got better each round at the Gold Rush this week, shooting a 71-70-68. Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., who was named the 2019 female amateur of the year by the Golf Journalists Association of Canada, was 14th for Fresno State.
Brewer was impressed with Dao’s poise at the Gold Rush, holding on to her second-round lead.
“I would be fibbing if I didn’t say I didn’t know how she would respond. First time in that position, on a collegiate level,” Brewer said. “I think she handled the atmosphere well.
“It’s hard to close when you’re leading. I know she battled to the end and it was a tough one-shot victory. But again, winning in this sport is always to make par too when you’re coming down the stretch and you have a lead but she found a way to do it.”
The Chainsmokers and Keith Urban to headline RBCxMusic Concert Series at 2020 RBC Canadian Open
Golf Canada set for 2020 Annual Meeting
Mississauga, Ont. – Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Meeting is set for this week (February 28-29) at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel and Suites in Mississauga, Ont.
The event brings together Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, staff and volunteers as well as representatives from Canada’s provincial golf associations and other stakeholders. The group will assemble for select meetings and presentations in preparation for the upcoming golf season.
Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Meeting will be conducted in partnership with Golf Ontario, who have scheduled their respective Annual General Meeting activities to take place in conjunction.
CEO Laurence Applebaum will officially kick-off the Annual Meeting on Friday, February 28 at 4:00pm with an update on Golf Canada’s Strategic Plan (2019-2022) to increase Canadian participation and excellence in golf.
On Friday, February 28, Golf Canada will also celebrate outstanding contributions to the game of golf in Canada with the presentation of its 2019 Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award to William (Bill) MacMillan of East Passage, N.S. as well as Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award(s) to long-time volunteer Richard Smith of Regina, Sask. and golf journalist Ian Hutchinson of Newmarket, Ont. Canadian Olympic Committee CEO and General Secretary David Shoemaker will be the guest speaker at the celebration dinner.
Golf Canada’s Annual Meeting will culminate with the appointment of Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que., to serve a second term as President of the National Sport Federation. The formal appointment of Beaulieu along with the release of the association’s 2019 Financial Statements will take place during Golf Canada’s official Annual General Meeting on Saturday, February 29 at 2:30pm ET.
A full schedule of activities and presentations taking place during Golf Canada’s Annual Meeting is available here.
Corey Conners in solo 10th mid-way through Mexico Championship
MEXICO CITY – Bryson DeChambeau kept making so many birdies in the Mexico Championship that when he rolled in his ninth one from 45 feet, all he could do was throw his hands in the air in pure wonder.
He wasn’t alone Friday in making birdies, although Rory McIlroy would like to have joined the party.
DeChambeau made seven birdies in an eight-hole stretch at Chapultepec Golf Club for an 8-under 63, giving him a one-shot lead over Erik van Rooyen of South Africa and Patrick Reed at the halfway point of this World Golf Championship. DeChambeau was at 11-under 131.
Van Rooyen, who played college golf at Minnesota, celebrated his 30th birthday by making nine birdies to tie the course record with a 62. Reed made five birdies on the back nine for a 63
Justin Thomas ran off four straight birdies to end the back nine, and then holed a 35-foot eagle putt to build a three-shot lead through 10 holes. That was gone in a matter of four holes as player after player kept rolling in putts on a day with much less wind and far better scoring. The average score 70.28, more than two shots better than Thursday.
Hideki Matusyama was 9 under for his round through 15 holes and had a 20-footer birdie attempt from the fringe on the par-3 seventh. He missed that 3 feet to the left, then missed the next one. He bogeyed the next hole, too, and had to settle for a 64. That left him at 9-under 133, along with Thomas, who had to settle for a 66.
McIlroy wasn’t so fortunate. Staked to a two-shot lead at the start of the day, he opened with eight straight pars, didn’t make a birdie until his 12th hole and fell six shots behind at one point. Two birdies at the end gave him a 69, and the world’s No. 1 player was only three shots behind.
“I made eight pars in a row, and then it’s like, `OK, you’re either going to make a birdie or a bogey. What’s going to come first?’ And I ended up making bogey,” McIlroy said. “There’s a long way to go.”
DeChambeau can use all the science he wants with calculations for altitude and air density. The difference for him on this day wasn’t that difficult to figure out.
“I just made a lot of putts today,” he said.
His big run began on the 18th hole with a 15-foot birdie putt. He got up-and-down from short of the green on the reachable par-4 first hole, made a 15-footer on the net hole, added a few birdies inside 6 feet, and then made a 25-foot birdie. That apparently wasn’t enough.
His tee shot on the 223-yard seventh hole with a green fronted by water wenttoward the back of the putting surface, leaving DeChambeau a downhill putt that is tough to lag. His putt was perfect pace, and a perfect line, as it turned out.
“I just threw my hands up in the air. I mean, come on. Who thinks I’m going to make this one?” DeChambeau said. “Matt (Fitzpatrick) just looked at me and he was like, `What are you doing? Go get a lottery ticket or something.”’
Reed seems to play his best with a chip on his shoulder, and his 63 comes after a week in which Brooks Koepka and ex-CBS broadcaster Peter Kostis brought up his rules violation in the Bahamas, stirring more bad memories.
“I’m not going to lie, just the whole thing on the outside distracts us from our ultimate goal, and that’s to go out and play great golf and continue to try to improve every day on and off the golf course,” Reed said. “As long as you’re doing that, then you’re living the right way. So at the end of the day, you can’t please everybody, and I feel like I’m doing everything I need to be doing to continue to strive in the game of golf, hopefully on and off the golf course.”
Most intriguing of the lot is van Rooyen, who finished the year among the top 50 to earn his first trip to the Masters.
Now it’s about building a schedule on the road to Augusta. He has a sponsor exemption to the Honda Classic – van Rooyen moved to the area last summer – and needs to be in the top 50 each of the next two weeks to get into the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship. He currently is at No. 52.
“I think at a tournament like this and a field like this, if you can play well, you can play well anywhere,” van Rooyen said. “So if I continue the way I’m going, it’ll be a big confidence booster.”
Defending champion Dustin Johnson continued to struggle. A two-time winner in Mexico, Johnson has made only three birdies in two days. He shot 71 on Friday and was 16 shots behind.
Canadian Corey Conners was in 10th place, seven shots off the lead, after shooting a 70.
Golf Canada recognize two honourees with Distinguished Service Award
Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) –A pair of long-time contributors to the sport of golf – volunteer Richard Smith of Regina, Sask. and golf journalist Ian Hutchinson of Newmarket, Ont. – will be acknowledged for their tremendous contributions to the sport as the 2020 recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.
The presentation of the 2020 Distinguished Service Awards to Smith and Hutchinson will take place during a dinner on Friday, February 28 as part of Golf Canada’s Annual Meeting (February 28-29) at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel in Mississauga, Ont.
A former president of Golf Saskatchewan, Smith has spent more than two decades volunteering provincially and at the national level with Golf Canada serving in a number of areas including championships, membership, course rating and golf programming. As a member and past Chair of Golf Canada’s Handicap and Course Rating Committee, he played an instrumental role in Canada’s preparation and education around the roll-out of the new World Handicap System which took effect in 2020.
Hutchinson is a respected sports journalist who has covered the sport of golf for more than 40 years. He is a former golf reporter and columnist for Sun Media and has contributed to a multitude of publications and outlets during his tenure including Golf Scene, Pro Shop, World of Women’s Golf, Ontario Golf Magazine, ScoreGolf and Golf Canada Magazine. In 2008, he launched Golf News Now, a digital platform devoted to coverage of the Canadian golf industry.
“Golf Canada is proud to recognize volunteer Richard Smith along with journalist Ian Hutchinson as the recipients of our 2020 Distinguished Service Award,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “Each of their respective contributions to the sport of golf has left a meaningful impact on the Canadian golf landscape. It is with great respect and admiration that we honour these individuals for their passion and commitment to our sport.”
Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award has been presented annually since 1993 to recognize individuals who have had an outstanding impact on Canadian golf either nationally or within their community.
In addition to the presentation of the Distinguished Service Awards, Golf Canada will also recognize Bill MacMillan of East Passage, N.S. as the 2019 Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year.
On Saturday, February 29 during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting, Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Qué., will be sworn in to serve a second term as President of Golf Canada.
Golf Canada 2020 Distinguished Service Award Honourees:
Richard Smith (Volunteer)
Richard Smith of Regina, Sask. has been volunteering with Golf Saskatchewan for nearly 20 years and almost a decade with Golf Canada. Since 2003, the Katepwa Beach Golf Club member has been a key contributor to Golf Saskatchewan through his involvement with course rating, golf programming and member services. He has served on the executive committee and led Golf Saskatchewan as president in 2014-15. As a volunteer with Golf Canada, Smith has served on numerous committees and has volunteered at numerous regional and national golf championships as a starter and scorer. He has also served on Golf Canada Governor’s Council and as past chair of the Provincial Council served as a member of Golf Canada’s Board of Directors.
Among his many contributions, it was during his time as Chair of Golf Canada’s Handicap and Course Rating Committee (2015-18) and a member of the Handicap and Course Rating Committee that he was most impactful, supporting the National Sport Federation in the research, development, education and roll-out of the new World Handicap System which launched in 2020.
His leadership and commitment to Handicap and Course Rating have also been felt across the country with Smith having led numerous education seminars in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. In 2018, Smith was named the Sask Sport Inc. Volunteer of the Year and was also a recipient of the Golf Saskatchewan Long-term and Exemplary Volunteer Service Award. In 2019 he was a finalist for the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year honour.
Ian Hutchinson (Media)
Long-time journalist Ian Hutchinson of Newmarket, Ont. has had a meaningful impact over four decades chronicling the game of golf for a variety of outlets and trade publications during his distinguished career as a reporter and columnist. His career began in 1978, covering a multitude of sports including golf for community newspapers including the Newmarket Era, Mississauga Times and Mississauga News before moving on to become an associate editor at MVP, Canada’s national sports magazine at the time.
‘Hutch’ also covered the NHL, CFL, NFL and MLB, before transitioning into full-time golf as an editor with ScoreGolf Magazine. He would go to become managing editor of World of Women’s Golf Magazine before beginning a 14-year run as golf columnist for the Toronto Sun and other Sun Media newspapers. He has contributed to various Canadian and US golf publications as an editor or writer including Pro Shop Magazine, Ontario Golf Magazine, Golf Scene Magazine and Golf Canada Magazine in addition to writing for Golf Channel’s website.
In 2008, he reinvented himself in the digital space when he founded Golf News Now, a Canadian website and daily newsletter devoted to covering the golf industry. With GNN, he has become a trusted voice in the Canadian golf industry with daily insights and reporting on all facets of the game. He continues to make frequent radio and television guest appearances and in 2017, was honoured by the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame with the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award.
Conners sits 3 back of leader Rory McIlroy at Mexico Championship
MEXICO CITY – Rory McIlroy switched back to his old putter for the Mexico Championship and it made a world of difference. It helps that he’s still hitting the ball like the No. 1 player in the world.
McIlroy ripped a 4-iron from 275 yards into the thin air at Chapultepec to 15 feet for eagle on his second hole Thursday, made five more birdies and opened the Mexico Championship with a 6-under 65 for a two-shot lead.
This is the only World Golf Championship that McIlroy hasn’t won as he tries to join Dustin Johnson as the only players to win all four of them.
Justin Thomas and Bubba Watson were at 67 while Canadian Corey Conners shot a 68.
Abraham Ancer of Mexico got some of the biggest cheers, especially when he ran off three straight birdies to overcome a rough start. He opened with a 70.
The course, at about 7,800 feet above sea level, is ideal for McIlroy the way he launched the ball.
All class, champ ???? pic.twitter.com/ul0yWdfLTE
— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) February 21, 2020
But this was about his putting. He took only 26 putts and ranked No. 4 in the key putting statistic for the round.
He attributes that to his regular 34-inch putter. A week ago at Riviera, he tried a 35-inch putter to help get his shoulder and elbow in a better position. But he said it hurt with lining up the putts, and it cost him. McIlroy was tied for the 54-hole lead and shot 73 in the final round – including a triple bogey on the fifth hole – and tied for fifth
“It didn’t quite work out the way I want it to, so I went back to the 34-inch,” he said. “I just felt a little bit more comfortable today and was seeing my lines a little bit better. And yeah, it was a good day.”
As for swing? Efficient as ever.
The best example of his advantage was the par-5 15th hole early in his round. U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, who hits low-trajectory bullets, caught it a little high on the face of the club and it came out low with little spin. McIlroy launched a rocket and was 55 yards past him.
McIlroy, the reigning hit 9-iron from 192 yards that set up a two-putt birdie. It was like that all day.
“I think with the fairways being so soft, as well, on a coule of the par 5s I teed it up high and sort of launched it,” he said. “And then even the drive on the eighth hole, getting it up and over the trees, I hit a 9-iron in there, where Gary and Tommy (Fleetwood) were hitting 6’s in. So that’s a pretty big difference.”
Woodland was even with him until a few mistakes on the front nine sent him to a 70. He’s not about to change his game for one week in high altitude.
“Rory likes to hit it up in the air,” Woodland said. “This golf course … I’m surprised he hasn’t won here because it suits up perfectly for him.”
McIlroy played nicely last year, finishing at 16-under 268, and lost by five shots to Dustin Johnson, another guy whom the course suits well – just not this year.
Johnson, who has gone a year without winning, opened with a 76, his highest opening round since the British Open at Carnoustie in 2018. His only birdie was on No. 1 after making the turn. He hit 3-wood on 303-yard hole to 8 feet and missed the eagle putt.
Chapultepec has plenty of scoring holes, but it’s easy to get out of position and the poa greens are every bit as difficult to putt as Riviera last week.
Not making it any easier was a wind with gusts up to 15 mph, unusual in the four years this World Golf Championship has come to Mexico City.
“You can go so low, but man, if you’re not playing well, you can shoot over par in a heart beat,” Thomas said. “It’s pretty tough to manage your score.”
Louis Oosthuizen, Billy Horschel, Bryson DeChambeau and Corey Conners were at 67. Conners was in position to keep pace with McIlroy until missing a 10-foot birdie on the 15th hole, and then missing the 18-inch par putt.
Watson arrived in Mexico in a good frame of mind after missing the cut in Los Angeles, where he said he hit the ball great but could make a putt. He stuck around for the weekend, called Justin Bieber and had a foursome of fun at Lakeside.
“Freed it up and just had some fun and realized I was in a good frame of mind,” he said. “Who cares about missing a cut, really? We’ve got other things to worry about.”
His only worry Thursday was wind and elevation, a tough combination.
Jon Rahm, who has a mathematical chance to reach No. 1 with a victory, didn’t make a birdie until the 15th hole and still salvaged a 72. Adam Scott, who won last week at Riviera, opened with a 74, along with Jordan Spieth.
Only 18 players from the 72-man field broke par.