Latest news with #Pendrith
Toronto Star
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Taylor Pendrith returns to RBC Canadian Open contention with a bag full of advantages
It'll be 11 years ago next month that Taylor Pendrith first emerged on the PGA Tour's radar, firing an opening-round 65 in his first RBC Canadian Open as a 23-year-old amateur. What stood out at the time wasn't only the 5-under-par score that put Pendrith in a tie for third place at Royal Montreal. It was the prodigious power he displayed off the tee, leading the field with an average driving distance of 309 yards, including a 365-yard bomb that set up one of seven birdies. Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Taylor Pendrith paces group of Canadians off to hot start at 2025 RBC Canadian Open
Three of the top Canadians in the field at the RBC Canadian Open are off to as hot of a start as the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL's Stanley Cup Finals. Less than 24 hours after the Oilers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to take an overtime win in the first game of a best-of-seven series, Ontario's Taylor Pendrith birdied four of the first seven holes on Thursday and capped off the day with a birdie at 18 to shoot a 5-under 65 at TPC Toronto's Opsrey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ontario, and share the early clubhouse lead in the first round. Advertisement 'It's the week that we look forward to every year,' he said of competing in the RBC Canadian Open for the fifth time. 'So it was a lot of fun.' Adding to the enjoyment was the friendly grouping with good friends and fellow Canadians Nick Taylor and Mackenzie Hughes. Taylor, who became the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open after holing a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole in 2023, birdied two of the first three holes and sat atop the leaderboard until he bogeyed 18 and settled for 66. Hughes had the shot of the morning, making eagle at the par-4 fifth by holing his second shot from 194 yards. His usually dependable putter was performing a bit off key and he pulled up the rear of the marquee threesome with a still-respectable 2-under 68. On a wet morning that caused the PGA Tour to implement preferred lies for the first round, the Canadians still drew the home faithful to watch them – raindrops be damned. Advertisement 'It was great out there,' Pendrith said. 'I felt like the crowd really filled in on the back nine. Nick was making some birdies, and I was making some birdies. Mack holed a 6-iron on 5. So it was a lot of fun. The crowd was into it. Nice to see a lot of people out here on a rainy day. Yeah, we had a blast out there, and we all played pretty well.' Taylor Pendrith of Canada hits his tee shot at the third hole during the first round of the RBC Canadian Open 2025 at TPC Toronto in Caledon, Ontario. The weather was an annoyance but it softened the course, which is hosting its first Canadian Open, and resulted in good scoring conditions. Alex Smalley and Paul Peterson matched Pendrith with 65. 'It was umbrella up-and-down,' said Taylor, who noted he felt bad for caddie Dave Markle "because the bag was probably 60 pounds.' Advertisement 'I took my rain jacket on and off ten times,' Pendrith added. 'The crowd built over time, once the rain kind of went away. I don't blame them.' Pendrith arrived at TPC Toronto with positive vibes, having played two Mackenzie Tour events at the venue before, including having a chance to win once. 'Also played numerous rounds here with my friends from home in carts and music, so I feel pretty comfortable on the grounds,' he said. Pendrith, one of the Tour's best bombers, led the field in Strokes Gained: Off the tee and rolled in three birdie putts of more than 10 feet, including an 18-footer at No. 3. At the 229-yard par-3 seventh, he drilled his tee shot inside 5 feet and sank the putt. Advertisement 'You're not expecting to make birdie there,' Pendrith said. 'That was a bit of a bonus.' Two dozen Canadians are in the field this week competing for a winner's prize of $1.76 million, as well as the Rivermead Cup, which is awarded annually to the low Canadian. Hunter Thomson shot 67, the third-lowest score by a Canadian after Pendrith and Taylor. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Pendrith leads Canadian group off to hot start at 2025 RBC Canadian Open
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Taylor Pendrith paces group of Canadians off to hot start at 2025 RBC Canadian Open
Taylor Pendrith paces group of Canadians off to hot start at 2025 RBC Canadian Open Three of the top Canadians in the field at the RBC Canadian Open are off to as hot of a start as the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL's Stanley Cup Finals. Less than 24 hours after the Oilers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to take an overtime win in the first game of a best-of-seven series, Ontario's Taylor Pendrith birdied four of the first seven holes on Thursday and capped off the day with a birdie at 18 to shoot a 5-under 65 at TPC Toronto's Opsrey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ontario, and share the early clubhouse lead in the first round. 'It's the week that we look forward to every year,' he said of competing in the RBC Canadian Open for the fifth time. 'So it was a lot of fun.' Adding to the enjoyment was the friendly grouping with good friends and fellow Canadians Nick Taylor and Mackenzie Hughes. Taylor, who became the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open after holing a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole in 2023, birdied two of the first three holes and sat atop the leaderboard until he bogeyed 18 and settled for 66. Hughes had the shot of the morning, making eagle at the par-4 fifth by holing his second shot from 194 yards. His usually dependable putter was performing a bit off key and he pulled up the rear of the marquee threesome with a still-respectable 2-under 68. On a wet morning that caused the PGA Tour to implement preferred lies for the first round, the Canadians still drew the home faithful to watch them – raindrops be damned. 'It was great out there,' Pendrith said. 'I felt like the crowd really filled in on the back nine. Nick was making some birdies, and I was making some birdies. Mack holed a 6-iron on 5. So it was a lot of fun. The crowd was into it. Nice to see a lot of people out here on a rainy day. Yeah, we had a blast out there, and we all played pretty well.' The weather was an annoyance but it softened the course, which is hosting its first Canadian Open, and resulted in good scoring conditions. Alex Smalley and Paul Peterson matched Pendrith with 65. 'It was umbrella up-and-down,' said Taylor, who noted he felt bad for caddie Dave Markle "because the bag was probably 60 pounds.' 'I took my rain jacket on and off ten times,' Pendrith added. 'The crowd built over time, once the rain kind of went away. I don't blame them.' Pendrith arrived at TPC Toronto with positive vibes, having played two Mackenzie Tour events at the venue before, including having a chance to win once. 'Also played numerous rounds here with my friends from home in carts and music, so I feel pretty comfortable on the grounds,' he said. Pendrith, one of the Tour's best bombers, led the field in Strokes Gained: Off the tee and rolled in three birdie putts of more than 10 feet, including an 18-footer at No. 3. At the 229-yard par-3 seventh, he drilled his tee shot inside 5 feet and sank the putt. 'You're not expecting to make birdie there,' Pendrith said. 'That was a bit of a bonus.' Two dozen Canadians are in the field this week competing for a winner's prize of $1.76 million, as well as the Rivermead Cup, which is awarded annually to the low Canadian. Hunter Thomson shot 67, the third-lowest score by a Canadian after Pendrith and Taylor.
CBC
a day ago
- Climate
- CBC
Canada's Taylor Pendrith tied for clubhouse lead in 1st round of Canadian Open
Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., has a share of the clubhouse lead in the first round of the Canadian Open. He was tied with Americans Alex Smalley and Paul Peterson at 5-under 65 in the morning wave in Caledon, Ont. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., the 2023 winner of the men's national golf championship, was a shot back tied with a group for fourth. Pendrith, Taylor and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., are one of the marquee groups of the first two rounds. Hughes was tied for 20th after a 2-under round. A thunderstorm Wednesday night and continued rain into the morning made the greens soft and accuracy important.
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Canadians sizzle, Rory McIlroy fizzles in first round at RBC Canadian Open
Richmond Hill native Taylor Pendrith finished his round atop the leaderboard at TPC Toronto Get the latest from Jon McCarthy straight to your inbox Taylor Pendrith lines up a putt on the 10th green during the first round of the RBC Canadian Open. Getty Images CALEDON, Ont. — Taylor Pendrith is very comfortable and familiar with TPC Toronto, and he proved it on Thursday at the RBC Canadian Open playing in an all-Canadian marquee group with Mackenzie Hughes and Nick Taylor. 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 'It was great out there,' Pendrith said after shooting a 65. 'Nick was making some birdies and I was making some birdies. Mac holed a 6-iron. So it was a lot of fun. The crowd was into it. Nice to see a lot of people out here on a rainy day.' On a drizzly and gray morning in Caledon, Ont., the RBC Canadian Open didn't waste any time getting the stars out on the golf course with the Canadian group teeing off just before 7:30 a.m. and Rory McIlroy headlining another featured trio ten minutes later on the back nine at TPC Toronto's North Course. All three Canadians shot under par in the opening round, with Pendrith walking off the 18th hole the early leader at five-under as the afternoon groups began their day. 'It's one of the biggest events for us and it's one that we look forward to all year,' Pendrith said. 'It's nice to play in a group with those guys and have all the fans supporting us. It's the week that we look forward to every year. So it was a lot of fun.' 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. Pendrith comes into the week full of confidence, three weeks removed from being the first Canadian in 20 years to finish in the top five at a major championship after a great performance at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. The big-hitting Richmond Hill native has more experience at this new home for the Canadian Open than any contender in the field. 'I've played two Mackenzie Tour (now PGA Tour Americas) events here, had a chance to win on the Mackenzie Tour here,' he said. 'I also played numerous rounds here with my friends from home in carts and music, so I feel pretty comfortable on the grounds.' Nick Taylor, the man whose 2023 celebration silhouette is now part of the tournament's permanent logo, also got off to a good start on Thursday, shooting a four-under 66. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I think the difficulty today was the softness of the greens with the short irons,' Taylor said of the soggy conditions. 'There was a lot of spin. So some of the back pins, you couldn't hit your normal stock wedges because they were going to spin back 20 feet. That was probably the biggest challenge of the day of managing how much spin, taking some off with shots.' It was a more challenging day for short-game wizard Hughes, who didn't get the usual magic out of his putter, although he did conjure up a disappearing act with his 6-iron on the fifth hole by holing a blind approach shot for eagle from 194 yards. The Dundas, Ont., native shot a two-under 68. As for playing alongside good friends Pendrith and Hughes, Taylor said it was a good reminder of how far they have all come, mentioning that at his first Canadian Open in 2008, he teed off at 7:30 p.m. following a long weather delay — a very different experience than playing in a marquee group. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More 'It's what we dreamed about,' Taylor said of Thursday's round. 'It felt like a practice round. It was a lot of fun. We kept it loose. It was nice to see a few birdies go in.' Two-time winner Rory McIlroy will have some work to do if he hopes to add another Canadian title to his resume this week. The five-time major winner struggled on Thursday shooting a one-over 71. 'I actually felt like I played OK,' McIlroy said. 'Hopefully that's the end of the rain and it can firm up a little bit. Overall, look, it's a very gettable golf course, especially with how soft it is. I'm going to have to do a little bit better tomorrow to be here for the weekend and give myself a chance.' McIlroy should get his wish, as the weather forecast looks much better for the next three days as the golf world gets its first look at the RBC Canadian Open's new homebase at TPC Toronto. Ontario NHL Olympics Columnists Columnists
