A fantastic round by Rory McIlroy, and steady play by Matt Kuchar has jammed up the top of the leaderboard. Canadians Adam Hadwin and Mackenzie Hughes are still lurking near the lead.
Round three—Windy and warm, with Hamilton Golf and Country Club drying out under the sun, Rory McIlroy, arguably the biggest name in a star-packed field, played a strong round to pull to the top of the leaderboard, alongside the likes of Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson and former RBC Canadian Open winner Brandt Snedeker. Abbotsford, BC’s Adam Hadwin is right in the mix, shooting 3-under to finish one shot back of the leaders. Can he become the first Canadian since 1954 to win Canada’s national golf title? No one separated themselves from the field, and warm sunny skies will ensure Hamilton Golf and Country Club plays firm and fast on Sunday. One more concert—Kingston’s Glorious Sons played Saturday night—and one more round will occur before we find out who will win this year’s RBC Canadian Open.
The leaders—13-under: Rory McIlroy, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar
McIlroy: In the midst of an exceptional year that includes a win at the Players Championship, McIlroy played a fantastic third round, with six birdies and a final score of 64. That moved McIlroy up 12 places on the leaderboard and into a tie for the lead heading into Sunday. McIlroy, who has played in Toronto previously with One Direction friend Niall Horan, is making his first appearance at the Canadian Open. He said the reception has been excellent—though it’ll be interesting to see how fans receive him if he keeps a Canadian from the top of the leaderboard. “It’s been awesome,” he said following his round. “ The reception is immense and it is such a pleasure to play in an atmosphere like that out there. I felt the atmosphere was great at the (Toronto Raptor’s) game on Sunday night, but the fans out here are trying to replicate that.”
Kuchar: Following up a great round with another exceptional one is always a challenge for the game’s best. Such was the case with Kuchar, who shot 63 in the second round, plotted his way around Hamilton, playing steady, if unspectacular golf. He finished the day at 1-under, after holing a quick downhill putt on 18.
Simpson: A spotless 3-under round moved the U.S. Open winner into the final group with McIlroy. Strong putting and solid iron play put Simpson into the mix on a course that suits his game.
The Canadians—Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Nick Taylor, and Ben Silverman: Twenty-six Canadians started in the field, but heading into Saturday, only three were in the mix. Silverman, who shot 61 in the second round, never found the same form. He made four bogeys against only two pars, and dropped 10 spots down the leaderboard to finish at 6-under par. Abbotsford, BC’s Nick Taylor struggled for much of the day, dropping four shots over holes 11 through 13. Similar to Silverman, that moved him down 10 spots.
Playing in the final groups of the day, Hughes and Hadwin were solid as the wind blew. Hughes didn’t have a strong putting day, but generated roars from the crowd on 18 when he hit a mid-iron to a back left flag. He finished the day at 1-under, and 9-under for the tournament. Hadwin made three birdies on the back nine, including a tidy birdie on the par 5 17 th , to finish at 3-under for the day, and 12-under for the tournament. On Sunday, Hadwin will attempt to become the first Canadian since Pat Fletcher in 1954 to win the RBC Canadian Open. Mike Weir, David Hearn, Jared du Toit and Hadwin himself, have all been in the mix to try to win the tournament over the last 20 years—not none would find themselves at the top of the leaderboard. Hadwin will try to break the Fletcher curse tomorrow, while 25,000 Canadians cheer him on for the tournament’s final round.