Latest news with #CoreyConners
National Post
20-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Corey Conners finishes 66-66 at The Open, shares details of U.S. Open injury
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — The young man carrying the sign with Corey Conners' score on it Sunday had a very busy back nine at Royal Portrush. Rarely was a hole going by without the lad digging into his apron to find a new number as the Canadian made five birdies in six holes. Article content 'That's brilliant though, I love doing that,' the standard bearer said as he collected an autographed ball from Conners after the round. 'When it's red numbers, it's fine.' Article content Article content Article content Conners would agree, and it was plenty of red numbers for the Listowel, Ont. native over the past two days at the Open Championship as he began Saturday right on the one-over par cutline and finished it at nine-under par and inside the top 10. Article content In all his years and across all his rounds, Conners couldn't remember a stretch where he hit the ball any better than he did over the last two days at Royal Portrush. Article content And that's saying something. The Canadian golfer with a reputation as one of the world's finest ball-strikers could only recall two shots he didn't like over the final 36 holes at the season's last major, where he shot 66-66 to vault up the leaderboard. Article content 'I've went through stretches where I've struck the ball really well in my career, but…' he said before pausing slightly. 'This was good.' Article content The two shots in question were his approach shot on the 18th hole on Saturday. (Where he rolled in a 42-footer for birdie.) And his drive into a fairway bunker on the ninth hole on Sunday (Where he saved par with a chip and a putt.) Article content Article content 'The last couple days it felt like I was in great control of the ball, especially the back nine today,' he said. 'I was doing everything really well. It was a solid round I can draw on in the future.' Article content Article content In April, the 33-year-old notched his fourth top-10 at the Masters and finished T8. In May, he grabbed his third top-20 at the PGA Championship and finished T19. June wasn't great as Conners was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Open after injuring his wrist in one of Oakmont's gnarly bunkers. Article content 'I felt like my game was great at all the major championships, really,' he said. 'Disappointing at the U.S. Open having to pull out, and struggling with the wrist at the end of the day Saturday.' Article content It was a disappointing result, but it could have been much worse. The golfer escaped major injury, but revealed a few more details on Sunday. Conners said he didn't touch a golf club for more than two weeks, and couldn't even chip or putt. Article content 'Not really, it was still a little bit uncomfortable,' he said. Article content To avoid going into golf withdrawal, he got creative at home. Article content 'I had a club in my hand once in a while, was chipping around left-handed in the backyard,' he said. 'It was the longest I've not touched a club probably in my life, especially in the summertime. I'm happy that the game didn't leave me when I came back.' Article content
National Post
19-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Corey Conners goes low at The Open, golfer uniquely celebrated in hometown
PORTRUSH, Nothern Ireland — Corey Conners' regular group at his Listowel, Ont. coffee spot likely hadn't even sat down for their morning cup when their pal was rolling in one last birdie at Royal Portrush on Saturday. More on the golfer's morning hang later. On Saturday, Conners gave Canadian golf fans a nice surprise to wake up to at Royal Portrush, catapulting up the leaderboard at the Open Championship by shooting a five-under 66. 'I felt like there were a few more scoring opportunities and I could be a little bit more aggressive with my approach shots,' Conners told the Toronto Sun after his round. After making the one-over cut on the number Friday night at 8:30 p.m., Conners and Germany's Matthias Schmid were back at it again first out of the gate on Saturday morning. The Canadian didn't waste any time, birdieing the first hole for one of six birdies on the day and leaving the course after a speedy 3-hour-and-50-minute round in a tie for 10th position, at least temporarily. 'I really hit a lot of quality shots today. I think there were a few more opportunities where the wind was helping you get it close to the pin locations,' he said. Conners also birdied his last hole of the day, rolling in a 42-footer after a rare mis-hit iron shot. Worried he might have too much club, and trying to take a little off his shot, Conners flared his approach to the right but caught a break as it banked back onto the putting surface. How good was he hitting it on Saturday? It was the only mis-hit Conners could remember. 'I was pretty solid the last couple of days,' he said. 'I can't really think of too many.' After some struggling with his putter over the first two days, Conners decided the answer was to lean even more heavily on his exquisite ball-striking and try to hit the ball a little closer to the hole. That might not sound like rocket science, but around Portrush's dangerous links caution is usually the best policy. But after discussions with his caddy Danny Sahl and swing coach Derek Ingram, and considering that even Conners is finding his iron play mightily impressive this week, the 33-year-old opted to get slightly more aggressive with his approach shots on Saturday. It paid off. 'It's a nice strength ot have for sure,' Conners said of his ball-striking. Conners has one more day of Open Championship golf ahead, then he will head back home to Listowel, two hours north-west of Toronto, where the global golf star spends his summers with wife Malory and the couple's two young children. 'It's a nice place. It's just home,' Conners said. 'It's where Mal and I grew up and we can live pretty simply. We built a nice house there and I enjoy reconnecting with family and friends that we are away from so many weeks a year.' This is the third summer the family has spent back in Ontario after living full time in Florida earlier in Conners' career. At last count, Listowel had a population of just under 10,000. Ten-thousand people and one famous golfer. 'Yeah, everybody knows me but I'm just a normal guy,' he said. 'And I really feel like a normal person there. A lot of the people in town and around the golf course have known me since I was growing up. I know they are really proud of me but they know me as just a simple person.' Conners says he spends most of his time at Listowel Golf Club, the course he grew up on, and at home where his children Reis and Tate have plenty of room to play. One day a few years ago, the golf club was short-staffed so the 24th ranked golfer in the world jumped behind the counter. Because, why not? 'I came out of retirement from the pro shop and hopped behind the desk and checked people in,' he recalled. Back to his golf game for minute. With a swing that has been the envy of many of his peers for years, but a putter that has at times held him back, I asked Conners if he has ever wanted to trade and be a lights-out putter rather than a great ball-striker. Conners cut the question off mid-sentence. 'I'd pick being in control of my ball from tee to green for sure,' he said. 'It keeps things as simple as possible out there when you're hitting a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. Not a ton of stress. It's nice to always be able to fall back on that.' According to the golfer, he has seen plenty of positives with his putter this season and he pointed to the first two rounds at the Masters in April. For two days at Augusta National, Conners says he wasn't striking the ball anywhere near his standards but stayed in the mix on the strength of his putter, even on some of the toughest greens he faced all year. His comments are backed up by statistics. For the season on the PGA Tour, Conners ranks 47th in strokes-gained-putting, picking up 0.223 strokes against the field on the greens. If he can keep it up, 2025 will mark the first season of his career where he finishes the year positive in that important category. 'I've seen a lot of bright spots with the putter this year,' he said. 'And that's happened more and more. It's frustrating to have some off days, but I've had plenty of good days that have given me relief.' Conners arrived at Portrush ranked 14th in the season-long FedEx standings. In previous majors this year, Conners has tied for 8th at the Masters and tied 19th at the PGA Championship, before being forced to withdraw from the U.S. Open with a wrist injury suffered in an Oakmont bunker. Away from the PGA tour, home in Listowel he's just a regular guy. Although that changed slightly a few weeks ago. 'I've got a statue of myself at the golf course now,' he said. 'It wasn't my idea for sure, but it's pretty cool.'
Belfast Telegraph
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
The Open: Rory McIlroy ‘can make a run' as day three gets under way after contentious Shane Lowry penalty
Saturday tee-times The Saturday tee-times have been released at The Open, after the R&A confirmed they had been moved forward by around 15 minutes to help accommodate both The Open and a loualist band parade, consisting of over 70 bands and starting at 8.30pm in Portrush. The first group out tomorrow, consisting of Matti Schmid (+1) (and NI caddie Chris Selfridge) and Corey Conners (+1), is out at 9.35am. Shane Lowry (E) is out at 11.30am alongside Jon Rahm (E), while Rory McIlroy (-3) tees off at 2.30pm alongside England's Jordan Smith (-3). The leading pair of Scottie Scheffler (-10) and Matt Fitzpatrick (-9) will tee off at 3.35pm. Round three tee-times in full 9:35: Matti Schmid (+1), Corey Conners (+1) 09:45: Sepp Straka (+1), Hideki Matsuyama (+1) 09:55: Takumi Kanaya (+1), Adrien Saddier (+1) 10:05: Sebastian Soderberg (+1), Henrik Stenson (+1) 10:15: Thomas Detry (+1), Jacob Skov Olesen (+1) 10:25: Nathan Kimsey (+1), Bryson DeChambeau (+1) 10:35: Maverick McNealy (+1), Thriston Lawrence (+1) 10:45: Justin Leonard (+1), John Parry (+1) 11:00: Andrew Novak (+1), Sergio Garcia (+1) 11:10: Jesper Svensson (+1), Francesco Molinari (+1) 11:20: Riki Kawamoto (E), Wyndham Clark (E) 11:30: Shane Lowry (E), Jon Rahm (E) 11:40: JJ Spaun (E), Dustin Johnson (E) 11:50: Phil Mickelson (E), Jhonattan Vegas (E) 12:00: Viktor Hovland (E), Jordan Spieth (E) 12:15: Russell Henley (E), Antoine Rozner (E) 12:25: Romain Langasque (E), Daniel Berger (E) 12:35: Sungjae Im (E), Dean Burmester (E) 12:45: Matt Wallace (E), Akshay Bhatia (-1) 12:55: Jason Kokrak (-1), Lucas Glover (-1) 13:05: Tommy Fleetwood (-1), Justin Thomas (-1) 13:15: Aaron Rai (-1), Rickie Fowler (-1) 13:30: Marc Leishman (-1), Oliver Lindell (-2) 13:40: Ryggs Johnston (-2), Xander Schauffele (-2) 13:50: Kristoffer Reitan (-2), Matthew Jordan (-2) 14:00: Ludvig Aberg (-2), Justin Rose (-2) 14:10: Harry Hall (-2), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (-2) 14:20: Sam Burns (-3), Lee Westwood (-3) 14:30: Jordan Smith (-3), Rory McIlroy (-3) 14:45: Keegan Bradley (-3), Nicolai Hojgaard (-4) 14:55: Tony Finau (-4), Chris Gotterup (-5) 15:05: Harris English (-5), Robert MacIntyre (-5) 15:15: Tyrrell Hatton (-5), Rasmus Hojgaard (-5) 15:25: Haotong Li (-8), Brian Harman (-8) 15:35: Matt Fitzpatrick (-9), Scottie Scheffler (-10)
Toronto Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Corey Conners rallies late at The Open, Nick Taylor leaves Portrush frustrated
Corey Conners of Canada tees off on the first hole during day two of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on Friday. Photo by Warren Little / Getty Images PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Corey Conners is the only Canadian left standing after two days at the Open Championship, and it took a furious Friday finish at Royal Portrush for him to get it done. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Conners made back-to-back birdies and hole Nos. 15 and 16 to reach one-over par and make the 36-hole cut right on the number 'I did kind of know where I stood, especially on 16,' the Canadian told the Toronto Sun after his round. 'I saw that the cut was still at one over. I thought it would have moved to two. I saw that and kind of knew that I had to give myself some birdie looks.' One hole earlier on the 15th tee, Conners caddie Danny Sahl told his player, 'We got lots of golf left.' 'I don't really know why I said it,' Sahl said after the round, but it didn't hurt as Conners' rally was about to begin. It was a tough two days with the putter for the 33-year-old from Listowel, Ont. 'I just feel like I'm not making great strikes on it,' Conners said about his putting. 'With the greens being slower here I have to pick up the pace on the stroke a little bit and I don't feel like the ball is coming off solidly.' Jon McCarthy has something for every golfer, with a notably Canadian slant. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The good news is after some struggles with his irons trying to navigate the firm links turf, Conners has his trademark ball-striking dialled in heading to the last two days. 'I hit the ball really wonderfully today, a lot of great iron shots,' he said. 'So the plan is to keep going that and get the putter going and I'll be all right.' The weather brought a little bit, and in some cases a lot, of everything on Friday. 'It was beautiful in the warm-ups and then started pouring when we started the round. Then it got nice again, and then it rained again. Umbrella up and down all day.' The end result after 36 holes for Conners was a chance to play another two days, which is something none of the other three Canadians will do. Taylor Pendrith never recovered from beginning his Open Championship career on Thursday morning with an out-of-bounds tee shot. After starting Thursday four over through four holes, Pendrith played the next 32 holes in one-under par, but it wasn't enough as he missed the cut by two at three over. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Five-time PGA Tour winner Nick Taylor also finished at three over, and continued an unfortunate trend of poor major championship performances. 'I made a couple of steps forward this year but I missed two of the four cuts,' Taylor told the Sun. 'It sucks. I know my game is good, I just have to clean up the dumb stuff like yesterday to compete.' Taylor won the Sony Open in January and entered the week 15th in the FedEx Cup standings. 'At majors the line between a decent shot and the spot where you're probably going to make bogey is finer than at regular tournaments,' he said. 'And it's not that I have to learn that, I know it. I just have to not do it.' The big mistakes of the week both came on Thursday when twice he found chips rolling back toward his feet after failing to navigate the tricky hills at the par-5 second hole and the closing par-4 18th. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Just shots you can't make to start your round or to finish it,' he said. But the 37-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C. wasn't looking for any excuses in the bad bounces of links golf. 'The mistakes that I made were foolish, they weren't unlucky,' he said. The Open Championship is the type of golf Taylor feels he should excel at, and he left Portrush frustrated ahead of a two-week break. 'I wasn't respecting it enough. It's a fine line out here. I've just got to be better,' he said. 'I envision myself competing to win this tournament one day, but it hasn't panned out that way yet.' Mackenzie Hughes shot one-under 70 on Friday but it wasn't nearly enough to recover from a disastrous Thursday 79 and he missed the cut as well. Read More MMA Toronto & GTA Tennis Celebrity Toronto & GTA
National Post
18-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Corey Conners rallies late at The Open, Nick Taylor leaves Portrush frustrated
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Corey Conners is the only Canadian left standing after two days at the Open Championship, and it took a furious Friday finish at Royal Portrush for him to get it done. Article content Conners made back-to-back birdies and hole Nos. 15 and 16 to reach one-over par and make the 36-hole cut right on the number Article content 'I did kind of know where I stood, especially on 16,' the Canadian told the Toronto Sun after his round. 'I saw that the cut was still at one over. I thought it would have moved to two. I saw that and kind of knew that I had to give myself some birdie looks.' Article content One hole earlier on the 15th tee, Conners caddie Danny Sahl told his player, 'We got lots of golf left.' Article content 'I don't really know why I said it,' Sahl said after the round, but it didn't hurt as Conners' rally was about to begin. Article content It was a tough two days with the putter for the 33-year-old from Listowel, Ont. Article content 'I just feel like I'm not making great strikes on it,' Conners said about his putting. 'With the greens being slower here I have to pick up the pace on the stroke a little bit and I don't feel like the ball is coming off solidly.' Article content Article content The good news is after some struggles with his irons trying to navigate the firm links turf, Conners has his trademark ball-striking dialled in heading to the last two days. Article content 'I hit the ball really wonderfully today, a lot of great iron shots,' he said. 'So the plan is to keep going that and get the putter going and I'll be all right.' Article content The weather brought a little bit, and in some cases a lot, of everything on Friday. Article content 'It was beautiful in the warm-ups and then started pouring when we started the round. Then it got nice again, and then it rained again. Umbrella up and down all day.' Article content The end result after 36 holes for Conners was a chance to play another two days, which is something none of the other three Canadians will do. Article content Article content Taylor Pendrith never recovered from beginning his Open Championship career on Thursday morning with an out-of-bounds tee shot. After starting Thursday four over through four holes, Pendrith played the next 32 holes in one-under par, but it wasn't enough as he missed the cut by two at three over. Article content 'I made a couple of steps forward this year but I missed two of the four cuts,' Taylor told the Sun. 'It sucks. I know my game is good, I just have to clean up the dumb stuff like yesterday to compete.' Article content Taylor won the Sony Open in January and entered the week 15th in the FedEx Cup standings. Article content 'At majors the line between a decent shot and the spot where you're probably going to make bogey is finer than at regular tournaments,' he said. 'And it's not that I have to learn that, I know it. I just have to not do it.'
