SHANE LOWRY TOOK full advantage of some favourable afternoon conditions as he made eight birdies for an opening round of six-under par 64 at the Canadian Open in Toronto, leaving him three shots off the lead.
The Clara native continued his fine form as he went out in five-under par 30, taking full advantage of some excellent approach play with a couple of long birdie putts at the par-four fifth and the par-four eighth.
He came within inches of a hole-in-one at the par-three 11th, leaving him with the shortest of tap-ins to move to six-under before a wayward tee shot on the 13th led to the only bogey on his card for the day.
A closing eagle effort at the par-five 18th stayed just on the high side, leaving him with another tap-in for a round of six-under.
Earlier, Rory McIlroy — twice winner at this tournament — finished with back-to-back bogeys for a disappointing round of one-over par, while Seamus Power withdrew after just nine holes of his opening round.
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“I actually felt like I played OK,” McIlroy said. “It was my first outing with a new driver and I felt like that went pretty well. I hit some drives I liked and that I liked to see, so that was encouraging.
“Overall, I’m actually pretty happy with how I played. Obviously need to go a little bit lower tomorrow and over the weekend to have a chance.
“I’m still trying to work on some things, but I’m OK with where everything is.”
Chilean Cristobal Del Solar flirted with the lowest round in US PGA Tour history before settling for a share of the lead after the opening round.
Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Del Solar each fired nine-under par 61 to seize the 18-hole lead at rain-softened TPC Toronto Osprey Valley.
Olesen, a back-nine starter, eagled the par-five 18th and birdied three of his last four holes — from just inside 14 feet at seven and eight — after only making the field as a Monday qualifier.
“I played great, but my putting was exceptional,” the Dane said. “Don’t think I missed any putts really out there. I definitely holed some long ones as well. It was nice to see everything go in.”
Tour rookie Del Solar was 10-under through 16 holes but a bogey-par finish denied him a shot at the PGA record of 58.
“I was actually having fun,” Del Solar said. “One of the first few rounds of the year I’ve just let go and go out there and play golf.
“I wasn’t really thinking much about the score, which that kind of led to a great score. I hit the ball great, putted it probably the best I have putted in a while. I did everything that should be done.”
Del Solar, ranked 316th in the world, had picked up the nickname “Mr. 57″ after firing a 57 in February 2024 at Astra Championship in Colombia on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour — the lowest-ever round in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.
The lowest score in a PGA Tour event is the 58 fired by American Jim Furyk in the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship.
American Cameron Champ was third on 62 with countryman Jake Knapp on 63 and Lowry, Americans Trey Mullinax and Ricky Castillo and Dane Rasmus Hojgaard on 64.
Defending champion Robert MacIntyre of Scotland fired a bogey-free 65.
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Shane Lowry shoots opening 64 in promising start at Canadian Open
LAST UPDATE | 6 Jun
SHANE LOWRY TOOK full advantage of some favourable afternoon conditions as he made eight birdies for an opening round of six-under par 64 at the Canadian Open in Toronto, leaving him three shots off the lead.
The Clara native continued his fine form as he went out in five-under par 30, taking full advantage of some excellent approach play with a couple of long birdie putts at the par-four fifth and the par-four eighth.
He came within inches of a hole-in-one at the par-three 11th, leaving him with the shortest of tap-ins to move to six-under before a wayward tee shot on the 13th led to the only bogey on his card for the day.
A closing eagle effort at the par-five 18th stayed just on the high side, leaving him with another tap-in for a round of six-under.
Earlier, Rory McIlroy — twice winner at this tournament — finished with back-to-back bogeys for a disappointing round of one-over par, while Seamus Power withdrew after just nine holes of his opening round.
“I actually felt like I played OK,” McIlroy said. “It was my first outing with a new driver and I felt like that went pretty well. I hit some drives I liked and that I liked to see, so that was encouraging.
“Overall, I’m actually pretty happy with how I played. Obviously need to go a little bit lower tomorrow and over the weekend to have a chance.
“I’m still trying to work on some things, but I’m OK with where everything is.”
Chilean Cristobal Del Solar flirted with the lowest round in US PGA Tour history before settling for a share of the lead after the opening round.
Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Del Solar each fired nine-under par 61 to seize the 18-hole lead at rain-softened TPC Toronto Osprey Valley.
Olesen, a back-nine starter, eagled the par-five 18th and birdied three of his last four holes — from just inside 14 feet at seven and eight — after only making the field as a Monday qualifier.
“I played great, but my putting was exceptional,” the Dane said. “Don’t think I missed any putts really out there. I definitely holed some long ones as well. It was nice to see everything go in.”
Tour rookie Del Solar was 10-under through 16 holes but a bogey-par finish denied him a shot at the PGA record of 58.
“I was actually having fun,” Del Solar said. “One of the first few rounds of the year I’ve just let go and go out there and play golf.
“I wasn’t really thinking much about the score, which that kind of led to a great score. I hit the ball great, putted it probably the best I have putted in a while. I did everything that should be done.”
Del Solar, ranked 316th in the world, had picked up the nickname “Mr. 57″ after firing a 57 in February 2024 at Astra Championship in Colombia on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour — the lowest-ever round in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.
The lowest score in a PGA Tour event is the 58 fired by American Jim Furyk in the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship.
American Cameron Champ was third on 62 with countryman Jake Knapp on 63 and Lowry, Americans Trey Mullinax and Ricky Castillo and Dane Rasmus Hojgaard on 64.
Defending champion Robert MacIntyre of Scotland fired a bogey-free 65.
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as it stands canadian open Golf Rory McIlroy seamus power Shane Lowry Uphill task