Anderson leads strong homegrown group at Canadian Open

Anderson leads – Matthew Anderson fired a bogey-free 64 to share the lead at the RBC Canadian Open in Canada, sparked by birdies on two of his final three holes. Behind him, multiple Canadian contenders are clustered near the top at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, with Adam Sven

CALEDON, Ont. — Matthew Anderson’s final stretch on Thursday came with a handful of family and friends watching from the margins. In the last group of the day, that’s not nothing. It’s everything.

After a quiet start to the pressure, Anderson flipped the momentum in his closing holes, birdying two of his final three. He finished with a bogey-free 6-under 64 and sits tied for the lead at the RBC Canadian Open alongside five others.

“Just kind of clicked today. Was hitting it really nice. Obviously putted well. I mean, you can’t shoot 6-under probably on most golf courses without putting well. Just generally, all around pretty solid,” Anderson said. “I liked my attitude. Just kind of went one shot at a time. Just tried to keep going and see where we end up.”.

The scene is building for a distinctly Canadian story. With Anderson in the field this week on a sponsor invite. the Canadian flags are multiplying after opening day at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley’s north course. A repeat of 2023—when Nick Taylor won his home country’s national open—sits firmly in play.

Anderson’s path to this moment has been anything but smooth. He said he’s been “struggling lately” on his usual circuit. the Korn Ferry Tour. arriving at the Canadian Open having missed his last five cuts in a row. Still. he’s made the cut in the past at this event. which is also hosted at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

“You’re always working on stuff. I found I obviously haven’t played my best recently (on the Korn Ferry Tour). You’re always working on stuff. You’re always working on things you can get a little better at, and you never know when it’s going to click. It happened to kind of click today,” he said.

Anderson’s 64 has placed him in a crowded leadership group that includes Sahith Theegala, Sam Burns, and Brooks Koepka. Theegala went out early to post 64 before lunchtime. while Burns is in the mix after losing in a playoff to Ryan Fox last year. Koepka. meanwhile. is making his 12th start back on the PGA Tour since returning from LIV. and this is his first start in Canada since 2019.

Adam Svensson sits at 5 under—one shot behind the leading pack—while Taylor Pendrith is 4 under as the Canadian Open heads into the next rounds.

Pendrith’s day started in the worst way. On his first hole, he hit what he thought was an incredible opening approach shot. It scared the cup and then zipped all the way down into the water, producing a double bogey. For someone who has struggled with starts so far this season and was looking for a spark at home. it was. as he put it. less than ideal.

What followed was the kind of response that keeps you in contention. Pendrith didn’t flinch. He said he forgave himself quickly because he didn’t view it as a bad swing so much as a bad break. Then he made four birdies in a row to return to red figures and closed with a 66.

“Made a lot of putts today which was nice. Felt like I drove it really well,” Pendrith said. “I hit some really nice wedge shots, specifically on the first hole today. That was the best shot of the day and ended up making double. which was a little frustrating to start like that. But rolled in some nice putts pretty much all day.”.

Pendrith, who sits a tough 138th in strokes gained: putting on the PGA Tour, said comfort at home helped him on the greens, given how much golf he has played in Ontario growing up. He finished the day having gained more than three shots on the field with the putter.

“It was nice today to make a bunch of putts. That always feels good, especially early in the round it kind of gives you a little bit more confidence throughout the day,” he said.

Svensson’s round, by contrast, was powered more by ball-striking. He fired a 5-under 65 that matched his low round in relation to par so far this season and is tied for that mark.

“I hit the ball extremely solid. I think I missed one fairway… I hit it really well off the tee. This golf course is difficult. (you’ve) got to putt well. got to do everything well and I feel like I did that today. ” Svensson said. “I feel like my game’s been trending. I wouldn’t say it’s the best I’ve hit it. but it’s the most solid I’ve hit it in the wind today. I felt like I hit a lot of pure shots.”.

The stakes stretch beyond this leaderboard. The RBC Canadian Open is once again part of The Open Qualifying Series, which means the top three golfers on the leaderboard Sunday who are not otherwise in the field at Royal Birkdale Golf Club will earn spots in next month’s Open Championship.

For Svensson, that would be more than redemption—it would be a major return. If he earns his way into The Open, it would be his first major start in two years. He went viral earlier this week for a blunder at the U.S. Open qualifier at Lambton Golf and Country Club. where he was in an 8-for-3 playoff but mistakenly picked up his marker after the official U.S. Open spot was locked up. What Svensson didn’t realize was that there was still more of a playoff for the first and second alternate spots. with the first alternate very likely to get into the field at Shinnecock Hills next week.

“It was nothing but my fault,” Svensson said of what happened Monday evening. “We were playing for alternate spots. I had no idea. They just said, ‘three for one.’ And once he made that putt, I just picked it up.”

Pendrith’s season path is also tight. He is still inside the top 100 in the FedExCup standings, but sits at No. 92 for now. Svensson is 164th. with his best finish being a tie for 26th at both the Puerto Rico Open and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans—events that only offer limited FedExCup points. A strong finish in Canada would give Svensson a long runway toward re-earning PGA Tour status next season. since only the top 100 re-earn it.

With Anderson in contention after a career-turning kind of day, and Canadians clustered near the top, the final three days at the RBC Canadian Open are already set up to feel personal for the home crowd.

Anderson said he didn’t just hope to be there—he expected it.

“I definitely imagined being in contention this week,” Anderson said. “I had no doubts I could do it. Obviously feels great out there to feel the juices flowing and be in there and doing it. It feels awesome. Time to keep doing it.”

RBC Canadian Open Matthew Anderson TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley Adam Svensson Taylor Pendrith Sahith Theegala Sam Burns Brooks Koepka The Open Qualifying Series Royal Birkdale FedExCup