AUGUSTA | The weeks go by and are not alike for Corey Conners. A bit like this season for the Canadian.
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However, he landed in Augusta in confidence very late, Sunday evening, after his victory at the Open Valero of Texas, at TPC San Antonio. He had just signed his second career victory on the PGA Tour, at the same place that opened the doors to the Masters Tournament in 2019.
And for good reason, he had recorded three top 10s in a row at the prestigious Georgian club. He hoped to stabilize his season with an encouraging performance.
Unfortunately for the 31-year-old Ontarian, a disappointing opening round of 73 (+1) and a poor second card of 79 (+7) on Friday will oust him from the soggy weekend in Augusta.
“It’s very disappointing, because my expectations were high when I arrived here. I didn’t deliver my best game. Still, I’m happy with some aspects in this one, but for some reason I wasn’t able to control my irons. I was hitting hard, but I was all over the course and unable to get the ball near the flags. »
The Canadian is however recognized for the quality of his strikes with his irons. Coaches and experts call it one of the most effective in the world.
inconstancy
Since February, Conners has been delivering up-and-down performances. He’s still trying to line up four good rounds. His results speak for themselves, since he claims only two top 10 finishes in his 12 outings.
“Even though my game is doing well, I’m quite fickle. I really have to put the pieces of the puzzle together every week,” he remarked, as he wanted to build on that victory in Texas and use another good performance at the Masters to get back on track. rails.
Despite this poor performance at Augusta, Conners can console himself. His title in San Antonio is worth its weight in gold. Not just for its finances, but above all for its assured qualifications for the “prestige” events announced on the new 2024 calendar.
save honor
Mackenzie Hughes worked hard to save Canada’s honor Friday afternoon. Three sparrows on the way allowed him to go back to the table.
He will therefore be the only Canadian to participate in the final rounds, as Mike Weir (+4) and Adam Svensson (+9) packed their bags at the same time as Conners (+8).