Nick Taylor knows what it takes to make putts when the pressure is on. In fact, his recent RBC Canadian Open-winning stroke from last summer may go down as this country’s greatest putt in history.
But Thursday at the Open Championship, he struggled mightily with the flatstick. It’s been a weird run for Taylor, a multi-time PGA Tour winner and until last week Canada’s top-ranked male golfer for most of 2024. He hasn’t made a cut at a major championship since the fall Masters of 2020, and his second-best result in a major came when he was in an amateur, in 2009.
His run of major struggles continued Thursday at Royal Troon, as he shot a 4-over 75 – tied with fellow Abbotsford, B.C. golfer Adam Hadwin. It prompted Taylor to shrug his shoulders with confusion about what he’s going to try to do to rectify his effort at the final major of the season.
“I might throw my putter in the ocean or go work for three hours,” Taylor told reporters in Scotland. “We’ll see.”
While there was no confirmation either way about the 36-year-old’s post-round plan, it was a jarring day on the greens for Taylor. He had nine birdie looks from inside 21 feet and made just one (a tap-in from about two feet on No. 16). He had zero three-putts, but the frustration stemmed from being third in strokes gained: approach but 156th in strokes gained: putting – dead last.
“Hit some nice shots, just wasn’t able to make anything today. That was frustrating,” Taylor said. “Just can’t make the putts today.
“With some of the wind, you’ve really got to hit it. Just slight misreads … I don’t think I was necessarily hitting a lot of bad putts, just nothing went on the green. (Hopefully) I can make a few more tomorrow and see the ball going in, but it doesn’t want to go in the hole currently.”
With Taylor and Hadwin in the house at 4 over, fellow Canadian Corey Conners was his usual steady self and shot an even-par 71 to start his Open Championship. Like Taylor, Conners struggled on the greens – he’s 128th in strokes gained: putting through the first round.
His incredible ball-striking was firmly on display again – as it has been over the last few months – and Conners sits 18th in strokes gained: around the green and 13th in strokes gained: approach. Conners’ elite tee-to-green game allowed him to tame the Troon winds through Thursday, but he knew there were some missed opportunities in the opening round.
Still, he’ll be just a handful of shots back of the lead heading into Friday. Justin Thomas had the clubhouse lead at 3 under after his round.
There were plenty of early struggles from some of the game’s best as Rory McIlroy shot a 7-over 78 and last month’s U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau shot a 5-over 76 Thursday morning. Among those also over par by mid-afternoon Thursday included Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa, and defending champion Brian Harman.
The final of four Canadians in the field at the Open Championship, Mackenzie Hughes, was 2 under through nine holes before bogeying No. 11. He teed off in one of the final groups of the day and will try to stay in red figures heading into Friday.
The 2019 Open Championship winner, Shane Lowry, had the lead as the afternoon chugged along, at 4 under.
