PRIDDIS, Alta. – Canadian golf sensation Brooke Henderson spent well over an hour hammering balls on the driving range at Priddis Greens on Monday as veterans and rookies alike marvelled at her amazing year heading into this week’s CP Women’s Open.

Henderson, just back from the Summer Olympics in Rio, signed a couple of autographs before retiring to the driving range – working out the kinks as rain started to fall and a blustery west wind continued to blow at her back.

Her success and work ethic have not gone unnoticed.

“I think it’s very inspirational to be honest,” said Victoria’s Naomi Ko, a talented amateur who gained an exemption into the CP Women’s Open. “It kind of gives me a way to give myself a chance and know if they can do it I can give myself a chance and hopefully succeed like they do.”

Ko, like Henderson, is 18 and said Henderson’s play isn’t a surprise to anyone who knows her.

“She’s been playing really well but she’s always been a great player,” Ko said. “She’s always been and I think it was just a matter of time for her to get used to it.

“It’s amazing. It’s making Canada proud.”

Stephanie Meadow, an Irish professional golfer who made her debut at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open, sees a lot of similarities between Henderson and three-time Canadian Open winner Lydia Ko.

“First off they’re both great people,” said Meadow, who represented Britain at the Rio Olympics. “I’ve played a lot with Brooke and a few times with Lydia and I can’t say enough good things about them.

“Golf-wise they’re fantastic players. They’re extremely consistent. Brooke hits it a long way for her size and fights it out. They’re mentally very tough.”

Tournament director Brent McLaughlin said because the CP Women’s Open is a national championship, it’s a major in the eyes of many competitors.

He also couldn’t say enough about the kind of year Henderson is having.

“It truly is a joy to watch someone like that grow up in front of your eyes and be so beyond her years,” he said. “She’s exactly what Canada needed.

“They needed a great hero on the women’s golf side. She is that.”

McLaughlin said Henderson has been embraced by the LPGA Tour much like Canadian Eugenie Bouchard was in the world of tennis.

“All sports need heroes and if you don’t have a young hero in your sport _ it’s tough,” he said. “You need heroes that you root for and Brooke, whether she likes it or not, is that in Canada.

“She means everything to the game.”

The $2.25-million Canadian Open, which begins Tuesday and runs through Sunday, returns to Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club, southwest of Calgary, after a stop there in 2009. The lucrative purse _ which includes $337,500 for the winner _ is expected to lure the game’s stars out of any post-Rio fatigue.

Tour veteran Lorie Kane of Charlottetown will join Henderson in the Canadian contingent after her induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Si Woo Kim won the Wyndham Championship by five strokes Sunday for his first PGA Tour title.

The 21-year-old South Korean player closed with a 3-under 67 to finish at 21-under 259 at Sedgefield Country Club, tying the tournament 72-hole record set eight years ago by Carl Pettersson.

Kim matched Pettersson by sinking an uphill 14-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

Kim set a tournament record with a 60 in the second round. He earned 500 FedEx Cup points and $1,008,000 in prize money in the regular-season finale.

Luke Donald was second at 16 under after a 67. Hideki Matsuyama and Brandt Snedeker were 15 under, also each shooting 67.

Kim pretty much locked up the tournament on the par-5 15th.

Donald birdied that hole to pull within three strokes of Kim at 16 under, and Rafa Cabrera Bello – Kim’s playing partner – joined him by chipping in for eagle from a greenside bunker on that hole.

Kim then pushed a 15-foot eagle putt to the right of the hole, but tapped in a 4-footer for the birdie that put him back up by four strokes with three holes left.

With only six players left on the course and the final pairing headed to the 17th tee, play was suspended for 1 hour, 21 minutes as thunderstorms passed through.

That only meant Kim had to wait a little while longer for his victory party.

He vaulted to the top of the leaderboard Friday with his record round – he missed a 50-foot putt on his final hole for 59 – then stayed there Saturday with a 64 that put him up by four strokes entering the final day.

He’d come close to a win once before, losing to Aaron Baddeley in a playoff last month in Alabama in the Barbasol Championship.

It looked as if Kim would cruise in this one after he had four birdies on his front nine, including two in a row on Nos. 8-9 to move to 22 under and put him on pace for the record. When he made the turn, nobody was within six strokes of him.

But things briefly got tense on the back nine: Kim lost a stroke on the 10th after missing a 4-foot par putt in a driving rain, then gave two more back with bogeys on Nos. 13-14 to slip to 19 under.

“You had to play a perfect round of golf” to catch Kim, Snedeker said. “If he did what he has been doing all week, he’s really, really tough to catch.”

The dominant subplot each year at the Wyndham – the tour’s regular-season finale – is the push by the bubble players to crack the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings and qualify for The Barclays next week at Bethpage Black.

While Kim – who came to Greensboro at No. 43 on the points list – didn’t need any help, others certainly did.

Whee Kim, a South Korean player who arrived at No. 125, and No. 124 Matt Jones both slipped out of the playoff field after missing the cut.

Kyle Stanley and Shawn Stefani both finished 12 under – good enough to put them both in The Barclays. Stanley arrived at No. 127 while Stefani started at No. 133.

“I knew I had to come in here and have a good week,” Stefani said. “Just been a whirlwind of emotions this week and I’ve really felt good about my game and really love the direction my game is headed.”

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Si Woo Kim followed his tournament-record 10-under 60 with a third-round 64 on Saturday to increase his lead to four strokes in the Wyndham Championship.

The 21-year-old South Korean player had an 18-under 192 total at Sedgefield, a stroke off the tournament 54-hole record set by Carl Pettersson in his 2008 victory.

Kim is in contention for his first PGA Tour victory for the second time in a month after losing a playoff to Aaron Baddeley in Alabama in the Barbasol Championship.

“I think tomorrow is much pressure, but I’m just trying to keep confidence. That’s it,” Kim said. “I feel very good now. My shots like much more consistent. Only problem have pressure. … I’m experienced before like Alabama in Barbasol, that’s good experience. Good for tomorrow.”

After making an eagle and eight birdies Friday, Kim played the front nine in 3-under 35 on Saturday with four birdies and a bogey. He added birdies on the par-4 13th, par-5 15th and par-4 18th.

“I feel like really pressure because first time, first time I lead third round, but start very good, first hole and second hole start birdie,” Kim said. “But after little pressure, I felt little better.”

Rafa Cabrera Bello was second after a 65 in the PGA Tour’s regular-season finale. The Spaniard was fifth last week in the Rio Olympics.

“The greens are brilliant,” Cabrera Bello said. “You play good and give yourself chances you will roll putts and that’s what I’m going to try to do tomorrow.”

Jim Furyk, Luke Donald and Kevin Na were 13 under.

Furyk is playing his first event since shooting the first 58 in PGA Tour history Aug. 7 in the Travelers Championship. After playing a three-hole stretch in 4 under with a 60-footer for eagle on 15 and two birdies, he bogeyed the final two holes for a 67.

“Had it rolling and then missed the fairway at 17 and I missed the fairway at 18 and the rough here doesn’t allow you to hit a ball,” Furyk said. “It’s hard to control. I’m disappointed with the two bogeys. Overall, still some good position with the tournament. Need to get over that and play a good round tomorrow.”

Donald scrambled to save par on 18 for a 64.

“I hit a poor tee shot left and had to chip out,” the Englishman said. “I had a good number with a little wedge, stick it to that pin. Would have been disappointing to drop one there after playing so well for the rest of the round.”

Na made a double bogey on 18 for a 67. He hit over the green, chipped off the front edge, and ended up missing a 4-foot par try.

Davis Love III, the tournament winner last year at age 51, is sidelined following hip surgery.

The top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings will qualify for The Barclays next week at Bethpage Black. It the next-to-last chance to earn Ryder Cup points, with the top eight players determined after The Barclays. Love will make his first three captain’s picks Sept. 11 after the BMW Championship. The final pick comes two weeks later after the Tour Championship.

Graeme McDowell, Billy Horschel, Brandt Snedeker and Hideki Matsuyama. McDowell birdied the final four holes for a 64. Horschel also shot 64, Snedeker had a 65, and Matsuyama a 68.

“It’s nice to get the juices flowing a little bit tomorrow,” McDowell said. “I came here for a couple of reasons this week. Obviously, as a bit of a warmup for next week going into the playoffs with Atlanta being my big goal this season and partly to try put myself back on the Ryder Cup radar.”

Patrick Reed had a 64 to move into a tie for 18th at 9 under. The U.S. Olympian won the 2013 event for his first tour title.

“We’re just plugging along,” Reed said. “I just need to tidy it up. It’s close. I go through spurts like today, I went through spurts, nine holes, playing some really solid, pretty good golf and then I go to the back nine and just started getting a little loose. I need to get that better and just kind of figure out a way to tighten it up for all 18, not just nine.”

U.S. teammate Rickie Fowler was tied for 25th at 8 under after a 68. Lucas Glover followed his second-round 61 with a 73 to drop into a tie for 33rd at 7 under.

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., collected five birdies on the day, including three across a bogey-free back nine. The 4-under 66 performance moved him into a share of 25th.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Si Woo Kim shot a tournament-record 10-under 60 on Friday at Sedgefield to take the second-round lead in the Wyndham Championship.

Trying to become the second player this month to break 60 on the PGA Tour, the 21-year-old South Korean player slid a 50-foot birdie putt by the right edge on his final hole – the par-4 ninth. He drove into the left rough, costing himself a clean shot at the front pin position.

“Tee shot aggressive,” Kim said. “Yesterday, hit 3-wood, but today just try to hit driver. Hit driver and then missed left. Just tough, tough lie and … tough pin. I’m trying before like 10 yards, 15 yards landing, but almost hit the green landing. Putting, really fast down grain and just trying to par, but almost close there.”

Jim Furyk shot the first 58 in PGA Tour history Aug. 7 in the final round of the Travelers Championship. Six players, including Furyk, have shot 59.

Kim eagled the par-5 fifth, hitting a 347-yard drive and a 170-yard approach to 10 feet. He made the last of his 10 birdies on the par-4 eighth, holing another 10-footer. Kim played his opening nine in 6-under 29, and also birdied the par-4 second – making another 10-footer.

“My irons and putting game is much better,” Kim said. “Much more putting practice last week.”

After making three bogeys in an opening 68, Kim had a 12-under 128 total for a two-stroke lead over Furyk, Lucas Glover, Kevin Na and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.

“Not so much celebrate today,” Kim said. “After this week, play good, I celebrate. Just trying rest today and then to see dinner.”

Furyk had a 64, birdieing four in a row on Nos. 13-16.

“I’m a little surprised how low the scoring is,” Furyk said. “The fairways are pretty firm. They’re extremely quick, have a lot of slope in them. If you get the ball in the fairway, it’s playing short, the ball is rolling. I can see guys hitting lot of wedges. I’m still shocked we had so many guys going that low.”

Glover shot a 61. He also missed a chance for 59 – and 60 – when he closed with a bogey on the par-4 18th. He birdies Nos. 11 and 13-16 in the PGA Tour’s regular-season finale.

Matsuyama also shot 64.

Na, tied for the first-round lead with Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello at 63, had a 67.

“I’m in good position for the weekend,” Na said. “Keep attacking those flags and we’ll see.”

Cabrera Bello was three strokes back at 9 under after a 68.

“I felt I played good for the majority of the round, just the putts didn’t want to drop in,” said Cabrera Bello, fifth last week in the Rio Olympics.

U.S. Olympian Rickie Fowler was tied for 11th at 6 under after his second 67.

Patrick Reed was 3 under after a 71. He won the 2013 event for his first tour title.

Nick Taylor from Abbotsford, B.C., posted a 3-under 67 to move into a tie for 35th. Fellow Abbotsford product Adam Hadwin shot 65, but along with David Hearn (Brantford, Ont.) and Graham DeLaet (Weyburn, Sask.), will not advance to weekend play.

Davis Love III, the tournament winner last year at age 51, is sidelined following hip surgery.

The top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings will qualify for The Barclays next week at Bethpage Black. It the next-to-last chance to earn Ryder Cup points, with the top eight players determined after The Barclays. Love will make his first three captain’s picks Sept. 11 after the BMW Championship. The final pick comes two weeks later after the Tour Championship.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Rested after the Rio Olympics, Rafa Cabrera Bello shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday in the Wyndham Championship for a share of the first-round lead with Kevin Na.

Cabrera Bello eagled the par-5 fifth and closed the bogey-free round with a birdie on Sedgefield’s par-4 ninth. On Sunday, the 32-year-old Spaniard tied for fifth in Rio.

“Last week was a big adrenaline week,” Cabrera Bello said. “It was the first time I was really not playing for myself, just playing for my country and obviously it’s a huge honor, but also big responsibility. I wanted to do good and I was pleased with my result. … Coming into this week, I felt the game was good, just needed a bit of rest.”

The four-time European Tour winner is trying to stay in position for a Ryder Cup spot, with more ranking points available in North Carolina than the European event in the Czech Republic. The shorter travel also played a role in his decision to play the tournament.

“There was a chance of me not making it through the money list and making it through the world ranking points list, that’s what I wanted to focus on,” Cabrera Bello said. “I’m pretty sure this week has a stronger world ranking than the one in Europe and I also felt that it was going to be easier to travel south to north than from Rio to Czech Republic, jet lag-wise.”

Na had seven birdies in his bogey-free round in the PGA Tour’s final regular-season event. The American tied for eighth last week in the John Deere Classic. He won his lone tour title in 2011 in Las Vegas.

“Hit it well,” Na said. “Made a lot of putts. That putter has not been all that hot this year and it was nice to see a lot of putts go in. It’s usually over the years been my strong part of game but I felt like I really found something.”

Luke Donald, Brandt Snedeker, Derek Fathauer, New Zealand Olympian Danny Lee and Peter Malnati shot 65. Donald made a hole-in-one on the 16th.

“Had a perfect number, downhill a little bit, 159 (yards) and it was playing straight downwind and good 9-iron for me and looked good all the way,” Donald said. “Hit a foot short and went in the hole. Bonus when it goes in, obviously, and nice to win a holiday for life. Apparently that’s what I got for it.”

Snedeker, the 2007 winner at Forest Oaks, bogeyed the final hole. He’s fighting for a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

“I want to be on that team. I love playing Ryder Cups,” Snedeker said. “‘m going to use that as motivation to go out there and work hard and grind my tail off the next three days.”

Jim Furyk had a 66 in his first round since shooting the first 58 in PGA Tour history two weeks ago in the final round of the Travelers Championship.

“Right now, a touch frustrating,” Furyk said. “If I went back, I think I hit a bunch of greens. I might have hit every green. Two three-putts were the two bogeys. The greens are just really difficult. They’re very quick. There’s a ton of slope in them.”

Patrick Reed also had a 66. He won the 2013 event for his first tour title.

“Just a special place to us and one of the places I need to come back and play,” said Reed, coming off a tie for 11th in Rio. “I’m off to a good start.”

U.S. Olympic teammate Rickie Fowler birdied his last two holes for a 67. He tied for 37th in Rio.

“We enjoyed being down there and the big thing coming from there up to here is not how much of a time change, there’s only an hour back,” Fowler said. “That makes things a lot easier.”

Abbotsford, B.C., native Adam Hadwin leads the Canadian contingent at T58 following a 69. David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., opened with a 2-over 72. Nick Taylor, also from Abbotsford, shot 74, while Weyburn, Sask., product Graham DeLaet carded a 76.

Davis Love III, the tournament winner last year at age 51, is sidelined following hip surgery.

“It’s disappointing not to get to play,” said the U.S. Ryder Cup captain, a three-time champion in the event. “The surgery went well. Rehab is going even better.”

The top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings will qualify for The Barclays next week at Bethpage Black. It the next-to-last chance to earn Ryder Cup points, with the top eight players determined after The Barclays. Love will make his first three captain’s picks Sept. 11 after the BMW Championship. The final pick comes two weeks later after the Tour Championship.

Robert Allenby had two double bogeys in a 74. The Australian was arrested outside a casino in Rock Island, Illinois, last week after missing the cut in the John Deere Classic. He was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing. In January 2015, Allenby was found with severe bruises several hours after visiting a restaurant with friends. Allenby, who had missed the cut in the Sony Open, claimed to have been abducted and beaten. A Hawaii man was sentenced to five years in prison for using Allenby’s credit cards and identification.

SILVIS, Ill. – For all the late pars and the closing run of 46 holes without a bogey, Ryan Moore thought the key to his victory Sunday in the John Deere Classic was a 24-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole.

It moved him to 20 under and kept him two strokes ahead of Morgan Hoffmann, who was about to birdie the fifth hole.

“That was huge to get another birdie early, just to show the guys behind me I’m not messing around,” Moore said. “The worst thing to do is to be even or 1 over after five or six holes. Then all of a sudden you’ve got 10 guys thinking, ‘All right, I can go get this today.'”

With Moore making three birdies on the front nine and another on the 10th hole en route to a 4-under 67, they had no chance. He won his fifth PGA Tour title by two strokes over Ben Martin.

The 33-year-old Moore finished at 22-under 262 at TPC Deere Run, making only one bogey in 72 holes. He won for the first time since successfully defending his CIMB Classic title in Malaysia in 2014.

“Every win is a little different,” Moore said. “I like how steady this was, with no bogeys on the weekend.”

Martin had three straight back-nine birdies in a 68.

“I never got a whole lot going,” Martin said. “I just told (Moore), ‘You couldn’t make one bogey out there for me today?’ Hats off to him for just a solid round of golf. I don’t think he really ever sniffed a bogey.”

South Korea’s Whee Kim shot 67 to tie for third with Hoffmann (71) at 17 under.

Moore birdied Nos. 2, 4, 9 and 10 and closed with eight pars. He had a five-stroke lead when Hoffmann bogeyed the 12th hole. Martin, playing with Moore in the final twosome, birdied Nos. 12-14, but couldn’t get closer than two strokes. Martin parred his last four holes, and Hoffmann his final six.

“I just wanted to make a putt, which didn’t happen all day,” Hoffmann said. “In the middle of the round, it kind of went sideways.”

Moore hit 13 of 14 fairways in the final round and 14 of 18 greens in regulation, including the 18th, which he two-putted from 47 feet for the victory. He opened with three straight 65s in the event thrown off schedule by rain Thursday and Friday.

Jordan Spieth chose not to defend his title because he didn’t think it would be appropriate in light of his decision to skip the Rio Olympics.

Wesley Bryan, the leader Friday when play was suspended, tied for eighth at 14 under after his second straight 70. He earned a PGA Tour card last week with his third Web.com Tour victory of the year. Bryan was joined by Abbotsford, B.C., native Adam Hadwin who carded eight birdies through the final day of competition to move into his share of eighth.

NCAA champion Aaron Wise followed his third-round 63 with a 70 to tie for 16th at 12 under in his PGA Tour debut as a pro. The former Oregon player won a PGA Tour Canada event two weeks ago in Edmonton, Alberta.

Zach Johnson, the 2012 winner and member of the tournament’s board, shot a 69 to tie for 34th at 9-under 275. He’s from nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Steve Stricker had a 72 to tie for 52nd at 6 under. The 49-year-old Stricker, a former University of Illinois player from Wisconsin, won the event in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

SILVIS, Ill. – Ryan Moore shot two more rounds of 6-under 65 on Saturday to take the third-round lead in the John Deere Classic, finishing at 8:25 p.m. in nearly dark conditions.

After opening Thursday with a 65, Moore barely got on the course Friday in the tournament that finally got back on schedule Saturday when the players raced to finish before dark.

“It was a long day, Moore said. It was a lot of golf holes I played today, so to play that solid all day long, I’m very encouraged about it. I think that was 34 holes I played today. It will be nice to get to sleep a little bit tomorrow and be well rested and just ready to get after it again tomorrow.”

Play was delayed 3 1/2 hours Thursday when an inch of rain fell, then the start was delayed five hours Friday after an overnight storm dumped another 2.4 inches on the soaked course.

Morgan Hoffman and Ben Martin each shot 62 to pull within a stroke at 17 under.

The 33-year-old Moore has four PGA Tour victories, winning the CIMB Classic in 2013 and 2014. He was third in March in the Valspar Championship and has five top-10 finishes this season.

In the third round, Moore birdied the par-4 14th, hitting a 60-yard approach to a foot, and made a 6-foot birdie putt on par-3 16th. He parred the final two holes, putting out on the par-4 18th with a large scoreboard providing just enough light to see.

“There actually was plenty of light for the tee shot and the second shot,” Moore said. “I think we would have gone a lot faster on the green there if it wasn’t for that giant sign there that kind of lit it up. We could actually see just fine around the green and went ahead and played as normal from there. I think we would have finished one way or another.”

Hoffman had six straight birdies on Nos. 11-16 and parred the last two. He’s winless on the PGA Tour.

“It is really dark, and the last few greens are getting really soft and bumpy, too, so it was hard to read,” Hoffman said. “I guess they’re running in right now.”

Martin birdied the first five holes and four of the last five, chipping in for birdie on the par-4 18th. He won the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October 2014.

“It was one of those days where all the putts were going in,” Martin said. “It would have been nice to get the first five and the last five, but strong start, strong finish.”

Johnson Wagner was fourth at 14 under after a 67.

Wesley Bryan, the leader Friday when play was suspended, was tied for fifth at 13 under after a 70. He earned a PGA Tour card last week with his third Web.com Tour victory of the year.

South Korea’s Whee Kim also was 13 under after a 64.

NCAA champion Aaron Wise was 11 under after a 63. Making his PGA Tour debut as a pro, the former Oregon player won a PGA Tour Canada event two weeks ago in Edmonton, Alberta.

Steve Stricker shot 68-68 to reach 7 under alongside Abbotsford, B.C., native Adam Hadwin. The 49-year-old Stricker, a former University of Illinois player from Wisconsin, won the event in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

“This is pretty hard today.” Stricker said. “It’s wet. It’s tough to control your ball out of the fairway. If you hit it in the rough, it’s thick and lush. So you have to be in the fairway. But even out on the fairway, it’s hard to control it because the fairways are wet. We’re lucky to be playing. The course took a lot of rain. It’s still in great shape, but it’s tough.”

Zach Johnson shot 71-71 to remain at 6 under. The 2012 tournament winner and two-time major champion is from nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“Frustrating. Long. Stale. Very stale,” Johnson said.

Jordan Spieth chose not to defend his title because he didn’t think it would be appropriate in light of his decision to skip the Rio Olympics.

SILVIS, Ill. – Wesley Bryan took the lead in the rain-delayed John Deere Classic on Friday, five days after earning a PGA Tour card with his third Web.com Tour victory of the year.

Bryan played 26 holes in 10 under Friday at TPC Deere Run, birdieing three of the final holes to finish off a first-round 66 and shooting a 64 in the second to reach 12-under 130.

Area favorite Zach Johnson faced a long day Saturday after not even getting onto the course Friday.

Play resumed five hours late at noon after nearly 2.4 inches of rain overnight – on top of the inch Thursday morning and afternoon that delayed play 3 1/2 hours. Because of the wet conditions, the players were allowed use preferred lies in the fairways in the second round.

Bryan has made a fast rise since focusing on tournament golf last year after working as a trick-shot artist. The 26-year-old former South Carolina player dominated the Web.com Tour this season, winning in Louisiana, Mexico and Kansas and earning $449,392 in 13 starts.

Steve Marino was a stroke back after rounds of 66 and 65.

Johnson opened with a 65 on Thursday. The 2012 tournament winner is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Abbotsford, B.C., natives Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor sat T42 and T64 when play was halted. Dual citizen Austin Connelly is T112.

SILVIS, Ill. – Andrew Loupe topped the John Deere Classic leaderboard at 8 under Thursday when first-round play was suspended because of darkness at rain-soaked TPC Deere Run.

The 27-year-old former LSU player was facing a 6-foot par putt on the par-4 15th hole when play was called for the day.

The tournament was delayed for 3 1/2 hours by a storm that dropped just over an inch of rain. The round resumed at 3:08 p.m., with none of the afternoon starters able to finish.

Loupe had five birdies in a seven-hole stretch on the front nine and added birdies on the 11th, 13th and 14th.

Zach Johnson, Patrick Rodgers and Ryan Moore were in at 65, and Tom Gillis also was 6 under with two holes left. Johnson won the 2012 tournament. He’s from just up the road in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., shot a complete 2-under 69 first round, while former Team Canada National Team member Austin Connelly of Irving, Texas stayed even through seven holes before play was suspended due to darkness. Abbotsford, B.C., native Adam Hadwin was 1-over through 10 holes, and Mike Weir of Sarnia, Ont., finished the day 5-over with six holes left to play.

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.