A repeat winner, and two Canadians near the top of the leaderboard—that’s how the PGA Tour opened its 2017-18 season at the Safeway Open.
While many are surprised the PGA Tour has started again after almost no downtime—golf’s season really never stops—Brendan Steele used his Wilson FG Tour irons to take consecutive titles. But for Canadians Graham DeLaet and Nick Taylor, the season also started with a bang, as the golfers from Weyburn, Sask., and Abbotsford, BC, recorded Top 10 finishes.
DeLaet, who is chasing his first PGA Tour win, shot even par on the final day to finish in a T5, while Taylor, who won in his rookie year, was in a tie for ninth.
In all, there were six Canadians in the field, with five (rookies Corey Conners and Ben Silverman, who both gained PGA Tour status through successful years on the Web.com Tour, and veteran David Hearn, who has conditional status on the tour this year) making the cut. Only tour winner Mackenzie Hughes failed to make the weekend.
What’s in the bag
Graham DeLaet
Driver: Titleist 917D3 (8.5 degrees)
3 Wood: Titleist 915Fd (15 degrees)
Hybrid: Cobra Baffler T-Rail+
Irons: Titleist 714 CB (3-5), Titleist 714 MB (6-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM6
Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Only Newport prototype
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Nick Taylor
Driver: TaylorMade M1 10.5
3 Wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour Issue 15
5 Wood: M2 Tour Issue 18
Irons: TaylorMade UDI 2 w/Aldila, TaylorMade M1 3 iron (16 degrees), TM 770 3-5, TM 750 6-PW
Wedges: Taylormade Tour Preferred EF (54-11, 60-07)
Putter: Odyssey O-Works 2-Ball