In what turned out to be an epic week for Canadian golf, it didn’t work out as planned for Corey Conners at the Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
Conners, from Listowel, held a share of the first-round lead after a five-under-par 67 and had remained solidly in contention at the close of third round play. But he got off to a poor start on Sunday and couldn’t recover.
In the end, Connors’ two-over 74 dropped him into a tie for 20th, nine shots back of winner Nick Taylor, who broke a 69-year drought and became the first Canadian to win the national championship.
At the close of play on Saturday, Conners said that it would require a “special day” to climb up a packed leaderboard that included two-time defending champion, Rory McIlroy.
“I start every week trying to get (myself) into the mix and (at least) an outside chance on Sunday,” said Conners.
Forced to press, it went the other way for Conners and he made two bogeys and a double in his first five holes to drop out of contention, though he played the final 14 in two-under.
When asked about the Canadian brotherhood that exists on the PGA Tour and how the country’s half dozen or so elite players help one another along, Taylor paid tribute to Conners in his victory press conference.
“Corey has played unbelievable the last two of three years in major championships,” said Taylor, “It’s been inspiring to watch him play well at the top of the best fields (and tournaments) out here.”
To that end, Conners now travels to the west coast to contest the U.S. Open beginning Thursday at Los Angeles Country Club in Beverly Hills.
The U.S. Open is the season’s third of four major championships; at last month’s PGA Championship Conners was leading the tournament until he made double bogey on the penultimate hole of the third round.
Like Sunday at the Canadian Open, he could not bounce back and finished in a tie for 12th.
Though his recent results in majors and at this year’s national championship may seem like a negative, the fact remains that Conners continues to work himself into contention in important events. He also won for the second time in Texas, a tournament where he had his maiden victory four years earlier.
One of these times, it will happen for him, like it did for Taylor on Sunday, on a much bigger stage; and how it happened for Mike Weir in Augusta 20 years ago in winning the Masters.
Conners spoke to the importance of those experiences and how they only bode well long-term, even if the short-term results don’t pan out.
“I feel like as a golfer…I continued to become more refined and consistent,” said Conners, pointing out that it’s also happening as he became a father for the first time to his daughter, Reis. “I’ve had a lot of good finishes and gave myself a number of chances. It’s not easy to win, but I feel like there have been a lot of positive developments as a person and as a golfer between my two (PGA Tour) wins.”
There was another interesting scene last week far away from the glare of television cameras and the news that the PGA Tour was forming an alliance with the Saudi-backed PIF/LIV.
It took place Wednesday on the practice range when Conners and his caddie, Danny Sahl, were waiting for a shuttle back to the main clubhouse area. Weir hopped out of his own ride and Conners went over to speak with him, letting his own ride leave without him. The respect that both had for one another – one Canadian great chatting with a player who many feel possesses a similar potential – was evident from the outset.
“I grew up idolizing Mike Weir,” explained Conners, “…he’s been a great mentor to me over the last few years and I know he’s going to be a great captain of the International Team (at the 2024) Presidents Cup. It would be a huge honour for me to be part of that team.
“With Mike (as captain) it would make it extra special.”
Conners did not comment formally after Sunday’s final round but he was there to witness Taylor’s monumental achievement and engaged in some polite banter with media, fans and Canadian officials who were part of the raucous scenes around Oakdale’s 18th green. The crowd included Weir, who spoke about the importance of having Conners continue to grow and develop.
The Canadian golf legend made it clear that his expectation is to have Conners on the International side in Montreal next year.
“I expect three of four Canadians to be part of that team and I expect both Nick and Corey to be one of them,” said Weir.
