It may have taken three years, but Rory McIlroy was finally able to defend his 2019 RBC Canadian Open win, taking home the event by shooting a 19-under for the tournament and a 62 in the final round. This event was canceled in 2020 and 2021.
The victory on Sunday at St. George’s was McIlroy’s 21st career tour win. That’s one more than Greg Norman – head of the new LIV golf that wants to rival the PGA Tour – and McIlroy couldn’t resist taking a dig at the Shark saying his 21 wins is “one more than somebody else.” Norman had 20 wins in his career.
McIlroy was 10/1 heading into the weekend in Toronto and now has momentum heading into this weekend’s U.S. Open.
McIlroy’s Sunday Did It
We had a pretty high-name final group on Sunday, with McIlroy going head to head with PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas as well as Tony Finau. The Irishman proved right out of the gate that he was ready to take home #21, making five birdies on the front 9 and his first three on the back nine.
Finau put up a good fight, shooting a 62 on Saturday and a 64 on Sunday but he ultimately fell two strokes short of McIlroy. Finau gained 4.6 strokes per day which wins most tournaments but McIlroy was dialed in, losing strokes putting on Sunday and still firing a 62.
Thomas had a nice primer to the U.S. Open this weekend, also shooting 64 on Sunday to finish in third at -15. Once again Thomas put up numbers that win most tournaments, but he’s still got momentum heading into a chance at collecting his second straight major.
No Luck for Canadians Once Again
Pat Fletcher remains the last native countryman to win the Canadian Open, and that was all the way back in 1954. The fact that Mike Weir’s playoff loss at Glen Abbey to Vijay Singh is still talked about as a heartbreak moment just goes to show how the country is longing for a hometown guy to get the win.
Weir couldn’t repeat his magic from 18 years ago in just missing the cut, but Corey Conners represented the Great White North well in finishing sixth to take home the Rivermead Cup as the lowest Canadian.
It was a disappointing weekend for both Mackenzie Hughes (T28) and Adam Hadwin (T35), two Canadians who have fared well in this event in the past and had outside hopes of competing for the 2022 crown.
Scheffler Looking Ahead to The Country Club
Scottie Scheffler came to St. George’s as the betting favorite at 6/1, and although he was in contention early a 71 on Saturday eliminated all championship hopes. Scheffler still finished T18, even more impressive considering his regular caddie Ted Scott wasn’t on the bag as he was playing in the Korn Ferry BMW Charity Pro-Am.
Scheffler and the rest of the PGA Tour now turn their sites to Brookline and the U.S. Open where Jon Rahm will try to defend his 2021 Championship.
