Highlights from the final round of RBC Canadian Open – Part 3
Luke Donald and Ernie Els took a spot in the top 17 after posting an aggregate of two-over-par.
World number one Luke Donald teed-off from the back and managed to break par with the help of five birdies and two bogeys. The Englishman finally got hold of the course, which had made it impossible for him to keep the ball on the fairways during the opening
three rounds.
However, after playing three rounds on the tree-lined Shaughnessy, Donald realised the tip to safely reach the greens was to keep the ball long and straight. Following the strategy, Donald attained a success rate of 86 percent in driving accuracy and 89
percent in Green Hits in Regulation.
When asked to comment on the severity of the course, Donald replied, “Not really. I think they are very close to having it set up well. I think the rough is just a little bit too penal. I think they need an intermediate cut. I hit a great drive on 7, it
just drew with the wind and took one bounce left and I couldn't advance it more than 50 yards.”
Meanwhile, Els compiled the lowest score of the day after teeing-off from the back. The South African, who also became the winner of 2010 Grand Slam, birdied three of the four opening holes on the back and sealed it with a 33.
Els, who is also known as Big Easy, climbed 36 spots later in the day after catching two more birdies. He said he took motivation from Darren Clarke, who is also 42 years of age and still won the Open Championship.
“If Clarkie can do it, why can’t I? I haven’t played good golf this year. If you asked me about that (his career being in decline), I’d say yeah. But after what Clarke has done it gives you inspiration. He’s given us all a lot of new energy,” said Els.
Tommy Gainey, who shot 65 in the second round, failed to emulate a similar performance by the end of the tournament. He clamped four birdies in the day against two bogeys and one double-bogey.
Scott McCarron teed-off from the front and wrapped it at par after clamping one birdie against one bogey. The player walked towards the back and dropped three consecutive shots, which shattered his game. The American wrapped the four-day session with a 71.
Article continued in Part 4…
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