Conners keys PGA Championship start to chase first major

Corey Conners fired a 2-under 68 to stay near the lead at the PGA Championship, while Canadian compatriot Nick Taylor impressed with putting.

Corey Conners gave a confident reminder of what he can look like when everything clicks, delivering a composed 2-under 68 on Thursday at the PGA Championship and positioning himself close to the front at Aronimink Golf Club.

Playing in Newtown Square, Pa., the Canadian surged early and at one stage shared the lead, before finishing the opening round just one stroke behind the top spot. He did so with a steady display that matched the demands of a course presenting tricky conditions for many of the field.

Conners’ round included only one bogey, coming on the par-4 15th after his approach landed in the greenside bunker. Other than that slip, his ball placement and decision-making kept him in rhythm, allowing him to build momentum when birdie chances appeared.

The highlights came at multiple points. Conners birdied the par-5 ninth and then delivered consecutive birdies on holes 12 and 13. He also had several scoring chances that could have elevated his score even further, missing five birdie attempts from inside 15 feet, including two from inside 10 feet.

Those near-misses didn’t hide the bigger story of his performance: Conners was among the best in key statistical categories.. He led the field in strokes gained for approach the green and ranked second in strokes gained: tee to green. evidence of how well he controlled the most important stretches of the course.

Speaking about his day, Conners said he felt he struck the ball well and executed demanding shots at crucial times, helping him sustain momentum while keeping stress low. His comments reflected the kind of calm that often separates players when conditions tighten and scoring can swing quickly.

He also acknowledged that bogeys can arrive easily when wind plays a significant role. especially with the course set up to punish errors.. Conners’ ability to keep himself largely out of trouble. even when he found the rough. helped him transition from recovery lies into legitimate chances around the greens.

The early leaderboard pressure is real for players chasing a first major, and Conners knows that.. He’s trying to climb higher heading into the weekend. with the defending champion Scottie Scheffler sitting among the players out in front.. Scheffler has also been ranked No.. 1 in the world for more than 150 weeks in a row. a context that adds extra weight to what Conners and the rest of the field are up against.

For Conners personally, the day carried a meaningful historical thread.. He was looking to become the first Canadian male since Adam Hadwin in 2022 at the U.S.. Open to hold at least a share of a first-round lead at a major.. Conners has previously led the PGA Championship after Thursday in 2021. but the Canadian standard of success on opening days at majors has been higher only in select cases. with Mike Weir’s 2009 performance being a notable example.

Just as important as the current position is what comes next.. Conners is scheduled to return early Friday, aiming to keep the momentum going into the next round.. He said he feels excited to tee off again in the morning and that he wants to carry the same feeling from Thursday forward. knowing that plenty of golf remains before the final push.

The Canadians weren’t done yet on the opening day. Nick Taylor also finished in red figures, posting a 1-under total while leaning on a hot putter. He gained more than three shots on the field with the flatstick to end the first round tied for 15th, just two shots behind the lead.

Taylor’s putter has become a storyline of its own in the lead-up.. He had told Sportsnet earlier in the week that the putter he’s using now is the same red-painted model he used to win the RBC Canadian Open in 2023.. After switching to something new earlier in the year. Taylor returned to “old red. ” and he followed that choice with back-to-back top-15 finishes heading into the PGA Championship.

Elsewhere among Canada’s representatives, Taylor Pendrith shot 2-over 72.. He felt that his performance was better than his score suggested. an indication that the round may have had encouraging moments even if the numbers didn’t fully reflect them.. Sudarshan Yellamaraju, making his major-championship debut, struggled with a 5-over 75 as the first-round challenges took their toll.

With the tournament early in its journey, Thursday’s contrasting Canadian showings set up a dynamic Friday at Aronimink.. Conners will look to turn his near-lead position into a stronger platform. while Taylor’s putting form offers a different route up the leaderboard.. For the rest of the field. the conditions that influenced Thursday are unlikely to vanish. meaning the players who manage wind. distance control. and scoring chances under pressure may end up deciding who contends as the weekend unfolds.

PGA Championship Corey Conners Nick Taylor Aronimink Golf Club Scottie Scheffler Canadian golf