Canadian Corey Conners tied for 2nd at Masters: 'The course suits my eye'

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Corey Conners has said that Augusta National is his kind of course and he proved it again on Thursday at the Masters.

The Canadian birdied three of his final four holes to shoot an opening-round 4-under 68, walking off the famed golf course tied for the lead at the season’s first major.

Minutes later, Justin Rose made back-to-back birdies to reach 6-under, before finishing the day at 7-under, three clear of the trio of Conners, Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Aberg.

But Conners heads to Friday with his green jacket dreams alive and well.

“It’s a golf course that I love coming to. I don’t know how you couldn’t love coming here. It’s a spectacular event, a spectacular golf course,” Conners said after the round. “I feel like the course does suit my eye really well and plays into some of my strengths.”

The 33-year-old is known for his elite ball-striking, but on Thursday he was able to score well largely without his greatest strength.

“I was not really thrilled with some of my iron play, mis-hit a few shots, but I was able to scramble really well and get the ball in the hole and not really drop too many shots,” he said. “I was able to convert chances when I had them.”

After a slow but steady level-par start through six holes, Conners flubbed a shot from the greenside bunker at the par-4 seventh, leaving his ball in the sand. His second attempt, however, found the bottom of the cup as he holed out to save par.

“It was big,” Conners said. “I was a little bit sloppy on five, making a bogey. Again, a little bit sloppy on seven, left it in the bunker on my third shot. To see that go in, that was great. I was trying hard to get it up-and-down the second time, and it went in. That was a nice bonus and definitely a momentum builder.”

But the Listowel, Ont., native saved his best for last on Thursday. On the 17th hole, he got out of jail from the right pinestraw, hitting his approach shot to 24 feet and then making the putt with the new putter he first put in the bag at Bay Hill last month.

Conners capped off his round rolling in a downhill left-to-right sliding putt for one final birdie at the 18th.

“It felt good,” he said of the putter. “I felt like I was hitting my start lines well today. I like the speed of these greens. They’re obviously very fast. You don’t need to work too hard to get the ball to the hole.

“I feel like just the rhythm I have is good. I have confidence I’m getting started online, and I was able to hole some nice ones today.”

The centre-shafted Ping prototype putter has been working wonders for Conners as he arrived to Augusta with top tens in three of four starts since making the switch.

Although it’s his father Mike, watching from the gallery, who should take much of the credit.

“He was all over me to try it out,” Conners said. “I wasn’t really looking to make a change, but it’s been a good change.”

Nick Taylor shot an opening round one-over par 73. Mike Weir shot a three-over 75, and Taylor Pendrith made his Masters debut with a five-over 77.