FedExCup Update: Cantlay makes like 2011

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TORONTO — Wyndham Clark closed with an unlikely par save Friday to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Rory McIlroy and four other players into the weekend in the RBC Canadian Open. After bogeying Nos. 15 and 16 in windy conditions at St. George’s, Clark got up-and-down from about 50 feet from a semi-plugged lie on the downslope in a greenside bunker on the par-4 18th. He was 7 under after an even-par 70. “Really had no chance,” Clark said. “And I would love to say I was trying to do what I did, but I was trying to punt a little bit out to the right and somehow how when I came into the ball it like plopped up to the left and landed in the rough and trickled down to 4 feet. It was definitely the best save I’ve had of the year. It was pretty awesome.” McIlroy (68) was tied with Matt Fitzpatrick (70), Alex Smalley (67), Keith Mitchell (67) and Jim Knous (67). McIlroy had to wait three years to defend his 2019 title because of the COVID-19 pandemic that canceled golf’s fourth-oldest championship the last two years. “Challenging,” McIlroy said. “I think the only thing this golf course needs for it to feel a little more major like is just a bit of length. I think that’s the only thing that’s missing. The rough is very penal, the greens are tricky, the wind’s up, it’s drying out a little bit because of the wind. All of a sudden you’ve got a pretty testing golf course.” Fitzpatrick closed double bogey-birdie-bogey-bogey-bogey. “Just a poor finish,” Fitzpatrick said.” Just didn’t hole the putts I needed to on the last three. Just pathetic. Yeah, just pathetic finish really with the putter.” Clark birdied the par-14th to reach 9 under, then bogeyed the next two. On the par-5 15, he drove into the right fairway bunker and saved bogey with a 10-footer. On the par-3 16th, he missed a 7 1/2-foot par try after hitting short and right into a bunker. “Honestly, I played really well,” Clark said. “It was tough out there. It was windy, there was some tough pin placements. You guys have seen, these greens are very tough and you get into some tough spots where you have to be defensive even from 10, 15 feet.” Clark opened with a 63 on Thursday after rallying Monday in a 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier to get into the field next week at The Country Club outside Boston. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was 4 under after a 67. Aaron Cockerill and Nick Taylor were the top Canadians, tied for 21st at 2 under. Cockerill, making his PGA TOUR debut, shot a 68. Taylor had a 70. “First PGA TOUR event and I’m in a decent position going into the weekend,” Cockerill said. “Kind of where I want to be and see if we can throw a low one on the board tomorrow and see what happens.” PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas also was 2 under after his second 69.

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Tiger Woods arrived at the Farmers Insurance Open this week with two drivers and two 3-woods in the bag. It wasn’t an innovative bag setup aimed at tackling both Torrey Pines courses, however. Rather, the 15-time major champion was testing TaylorMade’s new SIM driver and SIM Max Rocket 3-wood. Eternally discerning with his equipment, Woods was mulling over the switch from the TaylorMade M5 models of each club he played last year. We’re including the specs for all the clubs pictured in Woods’ bag, but we can report it’s the SIM driver and M5 3-wood that Woods put into play in Thursday’s first round as he chases his record-breaking 83rd PGA TOUR victory. Following his round – a 3-under 69 on the North course – Woods was asked if he was pleased with his new equipment. “Yeah, I was,â€� replied Woods, who averaged 293 yards off the tee while hitting 57.18% of his fairways. “I felt like the start lines were a little bit tighter, which was nice. Felt like I shaped the ball well off the tees. I didn’t quite get as many fairways as I needed to today, but overall all my misses were in good spots.â€� Woods also was asked about the new Bridgestone Tour B XS ball that he put into play. “I felt like I picked up maybe probably a quarter of a club in my irons, which was nice, without sacrificing any spin around the greens,â€� Woods said. “I think it’s a little bit better in the wind, into the wind. I don’t feel like I have to flight the ball as much as I did with my other ball, I don’t have to lean on it as much, so technology certainly helps.â€� All photos below are courtesy of GolfWRX. Driver: TaylorMade SIM (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 60 TX Driver: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade M5 (15 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade SIM Max Rocket 3 (14 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 70 TX 5-wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 80 TX Irons: TaylorMade P7TW (3-PW) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Wedges: TaylorMade MG 2 “Tiger MT Grind” (56-12, 60-11 degrees) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS Grip: Ping PP58 Blackout Golf ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord More Tiger photos from his bag can be found at GolfWRX’s official site.

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