Masters notebook: Corey Conners had another performance worth celebrating

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This article was published 10/04/2022 (1595 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Corey Conners rarely shows emotion on the golf course, but he offered a trifecta after birdieing the 18th hole Sunday at the Masters — a fist pump, a smile, and a wave to the crowd.

It was worth celebrating. The Listowel, Ont., native shot 2-under 70 Sunday and finished 3 under for the week. He ended up in a tie for sixth place, the best finish at the Masters by a Canadian since 2005, when Mike Weir finished fifth, and his third straight top-10 finish at Augusta National. He became the first Canadian since Stan Leonard in 1958-60 to finish inside the top 10 at the Masters three years in a row.

“I think every part of my game was working this week,” said Conners, who finished seven shots back of Scottie Scheffler’s winning total. “Overall, I’m happy with the round. Nice way to finish, making a couple of birdies at the end. Would have been nice to get off to a little better start, but it is what it is and, overall, a solid day.”

Conners had an adventurous final day, making four bogeys and six birdies. He rolled in a 12-footer and a 21-footer on the 17th and 18th holes, respectively, to close out the tournament.

Conners went 2 over in a three-hole stretch after making the turn, which derailed any chance he had of winning the tournament.

He admitted he “left a few out there” on the par-fives this week but said he is getting more and more comfortable around Augusta National.

“I feel like my game is suited well for this course,” he said. “Hopefully I can use (the experience) to benefit me in the future and keep playing well here.”

Rory goes on a run

Rory McIlroy tied the lowest final-round score in Masters history Sunday, notched his best-career result at Augusta National, and sent shockwaves through the iconic course as the sun began to set amongst the Georgia pines.

McIlroy shot an 8-under 64 to finish second. He made four birdies on his first nine, added another on No. 10, rolled in an eagle on No. 13 and topped it off with an electric hole-out from a greenside bunker on the 18th.

“It’s what you dream about, right? You dream about getting yourself in position,” McIlroy told CBS immediately following his round. “This tournament never ceases to amaze. Yeah, that’s as happy as I’ve ever been on a golf course right there.”

McIlroy’s playing partner, Collin Morikawa, knocked his bunker shot on 18 in the hole after McIlroy. The two major winners then celebrated with a big hug. Morikawa’s 67 was tied for second lowest round of the day.

Woods to play at St. Andrews

Fans won’t remember 2022 as the year Tiger Woods shot rounds of 78-78 on the weekend to finish 23 shots back of the winning total. They’ll remember that he even teed it up at all.

The five-time Masters champion said it was “without a doubt” one of the greatest accomplishments in his career, “for not winning an event.”

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“It’s one thing to play with my son at a hit-and-giggle, but it’s another thing to play in a major championship,” said Woods, who played the PNC Championship in December alongside his son, Charlie. “It’s been a tough road, and … I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to be able to grind through it.”

Woods finished 47th, 13 over for the week. This was his first PGA Tour start in 509 days after a horrific car accident last February.

Woods was non-committal about teeing it up at the second major of the year, the PGA Championship in mid-May, but he told Sky Sports he would be playing The Open Championship at St. Andrews in July. He calls the course “near and dear” to his heart.

Clarification — April 11, 2022: This file was updated to clarify that Corey Conners’ finish at the Masters is the best finish by a Canadian since 2005, when Mike Weir finished fifth.

Adam Stanley is an Ottawa-based contributor to the Star’s Sports section and the host of golf podcast Next Round’s On Me. Follow him on Twitter: @adam_stanley