Top Canadian Taylor Pendrith tied for 20th with Scottie Scheffler at PGA Championship

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Taylor Pendrith got a few good bounces along the way on Thursday, including an eagle from the fairway, and hopes it’s a sign of what’s to come at PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.

The big-hitting Canadian hasn’t had a good result on the PGA Tour since the end of March when he finished T5 at the Houston Open, but with a two-under par start at the season’s second major, he leads the five-man Canadian contingent in Charlotte.

“I’ve been struggling lately a bit with some things and drove it really nice today, and my speed on the greens was good,” he told Postmedia after his round. “Obviously, holing out a nine-iron from the fairway helps. I played very solid.”

That shot of the day came from 173 yards at the par-4 third hole and vaulted the Richmond Hill, Ont., native into red numbers.

“Back left pin, the wind was kind of quartering in off the left and I tried to just flight it down and skip it back to the pin, and if it didn’t get back there I’d be OK with it,” he said. “And it got up the hill and rolled in like a putt.”

If a nine-iron into the wind from 173 yards isn’t enough, Pendrith finished his day with a nifty par-saving up-and-down at the brutish uphill 531-yard par-4 ninth hole after hitting his five-iron approach over the green from 237 yards.

“Nine is playing brutal, I hit five-iron right at it and thought it as going to be great, and it just flew a little bit too far, but still nice to save a shot on the last.”

Corey Conners and Adam Hadwin finished Thursday at two-over. Nick Taylor struggled with a five-over round, and Quail Hollow member Mackenzie Hughes had a day to forget at seven-over.

The stress will extend off the golf course on Friday for Pendrith as his beloved Maple Leafs try to survive an elimination game versus the Florida Panthers in Florida.

“I’m nervous,” he said.

He’s not alone.