McIlroy, Finau lead Canadian Open as war for golf’s future rages – Toronto Sun

On the week that saw the beginning of war for the future of professional golf, Canada proved to be more than up for the fight.

Engulfed by an atmosphere rarely, if ever, seen on a Saturday, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and several others of the game’s biggest stars put on a show at St. George’s. With the golf world heavily distracted by the debut of Greg Norman’s Saudi-funded LIV Golf Series, the PGA Tour badly needed the RBC Canadian Open — with five of the world’s top 10 players in the field — to deliver a great tournament. Through three rounds of play, it has over-delivered.

“I mean I can’t remember the last time I played in an atmosphere like that,” four-time major champion McIlroy said after his round. “It was really special. Walking on to the 16th tee there, the Rink, my ears were ringing hitting that tee shot.”

The four-time major champion was speaking of the hockey-themed par-3 16th hole that features a Zamboni and hockey boards surrounding the tee box. The scene two holes later walking up the 18th hole was even more special. The atmosphere was reminiscent of the wild Waste Management Phoenix Open, but instead of thousands of college kids partying on Super Bowl weekend, it was Canadian golf fans letting loose after waiting three years for the return of their national open.

Defending champion McIlroy shot a five-under-par 65 and was serenaded by fans the entire way around the famous Toronto course. After a wonderful approach to the par-4 18th hole, McIlroy had a chance to blow the gates off the course with a closing birdie to take the solo lead, but his short putt slid just past. The fan favourite heads to the final round tied for the lead with Tony Finau, who shot an eight-under 62, the low round of the week.

Sunday at the Canadian Open couldn’t be set up any better with McIlroy and Finau tied at the top and reigning PGA Champion Justin Thomas and a red hot Sam Burns in a group four players two shots back at nine-under.

Postmedia asked McIlroy if a win this week would be any more significant considering all that is going on in the golf world. He said, not necessarily but re-iterated how amazed he has been with the support he has received in Canada before subtly taking aim at the LIV Golf Series inaugural event in England where Charl Schwartzel won a staggering $4.75 million on Saturday.

“I’m pretty sure what’s going to happen over the final 18 holes here is going to be more entertaining than what other golf was played this week anywhere else,” McIlroy said. “It would be great to win, but I think what a success this tournament is anyway. You look at it out there today. I mean it’s certainly the best atmosphere of any golf tournament going on this week.”

Hours before the fireworks that ended the day, Canada’s top golfers made the most of moving day at their national open.

Two-time PGA Tour winner Nick Taylor shot a three-under 67 and is top Canadian heading to Sunday, tied for 15th at five-under.

“I’m probably not going to do much leaderboard watching, just keep my head down,” Taylor said. “I’ll see tonight what the lead is and have an idea of probably where I want to get to. But it’s such a jam-packed leaderboard and there’s a stretch of holes where you can really get after it.”

Corey Conners shook off two days of being stuck neutral with a four-under 66 and he begins Sunday at four-under.

“Obviously I have high expectations of myself,” Conners said. “I’m not out here feeling like I need to prove anything, I’m out here trying to have fun and play golf and see what happens. I feel comfortable with my game and starting to feel more comfortable in these situations.”

Adam Svennson (67) is three-under for the week, and Adam Hadwin (69) sits at two-under.

The only thing standing in the way of a fantastic Sunday is the weather. With rain and thunderstorms in the forecast, tee times have been moved up and players will play in threesomes beginning on both the first and ninth holes.

The final group of McIlroy, Finau, and Thomas will tee off at 12:51pm.

If you’re the PGA Tour and the RBC Canadian Open fighting a war for the future of professional golf, it doesn’t get any better than that.