Bryson DeChambeau now 2 shirt sizes and 40 pounds bigger

OAKVILLE, Ont. – News and observations from the first round of the RBC Canadian Open, where Ollie Schniederjans, Hudson Swafford. Kevin Chappell, Matt Every and Brandon Hagy share the lead after firing matching 7-under 65s at Glen Abbey Golf Club. There was a rain delay Thursday that halted play for one hour and 55 minutes.  Smylie’s solid debut   The last time Smylie Kaufman was in Canada, he played poorly at a Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Monday Qualifier in Saskatoon, Sask. It was the opposite Thursday at the RBC Canadian Open, as he fired a 6-under-par 66. His 66 was his best opening-round result in 2017, and it was kick-started by going 5-under par over his opening five holes. “I’ve had starts like that in my career, so it’s kind of tough to keep it going as low as it felt like I was going. Definitely was on point with everything to start the round,â€� said Kaufman. Heavy rain started as Kaufman’s group arrived at the par-3 7th, and he saw his tee shot plug in a bunker en route to a double-bogey five. However, he chipped in on the very next hole to keep the momentum going. “It was one of those days kind of got some good breaks and I also got some bad breaks, too. I was able to kind of stay as levelheaded as possible and just try to bounce back and do as well as I can the next hole,â€� he explained. It’s no secret Kaufman is friends with Jordan Spieth, and although he said Thursday he didn’t get a chance to watch Spieth’s finish Sunday, he’s been in touch with the now 24-year-old a lot since his win. “I FaceTimed him right after the round, of course, and … it doesn’t seem like the Claret Jug has left him since he’s left The Open. He’s definitely enjoying it,â€� said Kaufman. “Looks like he’s staying hydrated out of the Claret Jug as well.â€� ‘Part-Canadian’ Bubba off to his best-ever start at Glen Abbey Whenever Bubba Watson returns north of the border, he makes sure everyone knows he’s practically Canadian. “We’re back to playing American golf (this week). I know we’re in Canada, but I’m part-Canadian since I married a Canadian,â€� Watson said after his 6-under-par 66 Thursday, his best-ever opening round at Glen Abbey Golf Club. Watson, whose wife Angie is from Markham, Ontario (about 50 miles from Glen Abbey), is having one of his poorer seasons in recent memory, sitting 117th in the FedExCup with only three top 10s. But you wouldn’t know it Thursday, as Watson was bogey-free and sits just one shot back of the lead. It was his first bogey-free round this season.   “I had a couple, I would say, maybe two wayward shots, two mistakes that I can think of. Other than that, though, it was a good day,â€� said Watson. The nine-time PGA TOUR winner admitted he’s struggled with his swing for ‘about a year’ and is unsure why. But it looked like he got things back on track Thursday and is looking forward to the upcoming stretch run. “Maybe it’s because of losing weight,â€� said Watson. “But that’s why I wanted to play so many rounds. That’s why I wanted to play six tournaments in a row so I can keep building on it and try to get better for the (FedExCup) Playoffs.â€�  Jared du Toit returns, now as a professional A lot has changed for Jared du Toit since he was the story of the 2016 RBC Canadian Open, playing in the final group Sunday and eventually finishing tied for ninth as an amateur. He’s finished school and turned professional – holding status on the Mackenzie Tour – and inked a handful of new sponsorships announced this week. On Thursday, du Toit, with brother Russell on the bag, fired a 1-under 71 and admitted he left a few shots out there on a day that was prime for scoring. “I was 3 under through 15 and cruising, and I would have liked one or two more because I was hitting my irons well and putting well. Missed a short birdie to get to 4 under and than had two bogeys coming in, so kind of a bitter way to end,â€� said du Toit. “I felt like I could have been 4 or 5 under, so to be 1 under is definitely disappointing.â€� With a smile, du Toit admitted there were ‘a little more’ fans following him on Thursday versus last year, but he had a fun day with his brother on his bag and good memories of a year ago to reflect back on. “A lot of things went my way (last year),â€� I was playing well and making putts and I’ve got a lot of good memories here,â€� he said. CALL OF THE DAY SHOT OF THE DAY BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

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LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND - The International Golf Federation Board convened a virtual meeting yesterday focused on long-term strategic planning and progress toward next summer's Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Originally scheduled for the Olympic House in Lausanne but moved online due to the continued impact of COVID-19, the Board was addressed by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on the status of the Olympic movement and then followed by IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell, who provided updates and answered questions regarding preparations for Tokyo. The overarching message was one of determination and confidence that the Olympic competition will proceed as scheduled with particular focus on health, safety and the simplification and reduction of the complexity of the Games. The Board expressed support and a shared commitment to deliver the golf competition with safety for the athletes and all involved a top priority. During his presentation at the beginning of the meeting, Bach recognized and thanked outgoing IGF President Peter Dawson for his 10 years of leadership and service. Dawson notified the Board that he would not seek reappointment when his current two-year term expires at the end of the year. In light of Dawson's decision, the IGF Board has elected Annika Sorenstam as the IGF President, effective Jan. 1, 2021. "It has been a great pleasure and privilege to serve as IGF President," Dawson said. "Golf’s reinstatement to the Olympic programme was a landmark for our sport and it was a true thrill to witness our return at Rio 2016. Our Olympic status has been a strong catalyst for increasing cooperation and coordination between the major organisations in golf and has significantly strengthened the bonds between the IGF and our National Federations. "My thanks go to so many people in golf and in the Olympic family for their support over the past 10 years," he added. "Their help and goodwill have been invaluable. I wish my successor, Annika Sorenstam, every success. The IGF could not be in better hands." IGF Board Chairman Jay Monahan commended Dawson for his decade of service with the IGF. "On behalf of the IGF Board, I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Peter for the outstanding job he has done over the past decade on behalf of the IGF, including helping to assure golf's highly successful return to the Olympic Games," said Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR. "Peter has had a distinguished career dedicated to the growth of golf and the IGF has been fortunate to have him as such a strong advocate. "With Peter's impending departure, we are thrilled to have someone as accomplished and universally respected as Annika Sorenstam to move into the role as IGF President. As a generational talent in women's golf, Annika played a prominent role in golf's successful Olympic bid by serving as a Global Ambassador with Jack Nicklaus and since retiring from competition, has been dedicated to promoting women's golf at all levels through her foundation. She is the ideal person to succeed Peter in this role." "Peter did a great job the last 10 years as IGF President and I am humbled and honored to have been asked to succeed him," Sorenstam said. "As an international player, having golf back in the Olympics means so much to me and to our sport. I very much look forward to working with the Board, the IOC and the governing bodies of golf in their efforts to continue to grow the game globally." In addition to naming Sorenstam as the new IGF President, the Board appointed PGA TOUR executive Ty Votaw to another term as IGF Vice President. In other business: · The Board approved the IGF's Strategic Business Plan for 2021-28 and a budget for 2021. The Business Plan reflects the culmination of a 12-month process of consultation, input and guidance from the IGF Board and the IGF Administration. The plan lists the IGF's key strategic priorities and outlines the activities it will deliver going forward and the finances required to do this. · Beyond receiving an update on planning and preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Board received an update on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. · The Board also approved the revised version of its Policies and Charters, following the IGF Administration's recent, thorough review of its governance and Policies and Charters to ensure they comply with statutory requirements, the IGF's commitments with the Olympic Charter and in response to the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations' third review of the IGF's governance.

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