CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Both of the Canadians at the 2025 PGA Championship saved their best for last, as Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners shot their best rounds of the week Sunday.
Conners shot a 4-under 67 and told Sportsnet he felt more like himself through Sunday’s finale. He was second in strokes gained: off the tee and also first in average proximity to the hole with his approach shots. Impressively enough, he was also fourth in strokes gained: putting – something he had done a lot of heavy work on through the week.
“Did everything really well today. I was able to hole some putts early in the round and got some momentum going,” Conners said. “I just felt more comfortable with the putter today and a little more free. Was able to roll in some nice birdie putts and some nice par-saving putts.”
Conners was 2 under through three holes before hitting his approach into the water on the par-5 7th en route to a bogey. He made four birdies in six holes once he made the turn before making a late bogey on No. 16 — playing as the second toughest hole of the day. He held on with par-savers from eight feet and three feet on Nos. 17 and 18, respectively.
“I felt like my game has been in a really good place all week I just haven’t gotten things to go my way and haven’t got the results,” Conners said. “It’s been frustrating, but nice to finish off with a solid day.”
Conners is set to finish inside the top-25 at Quail Hollow Club — a continuation of his marked consistency this season. It will be his ninth top-25 in just 13 starts.
Pendrith, meanwhile, had an impressive start, making birdies on Nos. 2 and 4 before missing a five-footer for par on No. 5 and an eight-footer for par on No. 8. He rallied on the back nine, however, making three birdies in his last five holes including for the second day in a row on 18 — the hardest hole on the course.
“I felt a little shaky with the putter at times today because of the wind and the greens being so fast and the pins were on some crazy slopes. It was nice to see that go in and be the last putt of the day,” Pendrith said.
Pendrith will notch his best-career result at a major championship as he sat inside the top-10 at the conclusion of his day. His previous best was a tie for 16th at last year’s U.S. Open.
He said he was thrilled to have been able to record such a nice result this week after playing well the last month or so but just not getting any good finishes. In his last four tournaments Pendrith has missed two cuts — including at the Masters — and finished T42-65 in his other two starts.
“This is a golf course I really like and have played well at in the past. For it to be a major championship — and having played with Bryson (DeChambeau) yesterday in front of a million people and hold up pretty good, and had a good finish yesterday to put me in good position to have another decent finish, it’s big for the confidence,” Pendrith said.
“There’s just a big, important part of the schedule coming up this summer, so the game feels good.”
Pendrith and Conners are, for now, the lone Canadians in the field at the next major of the year, the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club next month.
They’re both off next week — they both rushed home in order to watch their beloved Toronto Maple Leafs’ effort in Game 7 versus the Florida Panthers — as the PGA Tour heads to the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Texas.