Rory McIlroy doesn’t think anyone can catch Tiger Woods: ‘I’ll never get there’

The Monday qualifier for the RBC Canadian Open had a distinct local flavor with all four spots going to Canadian players – but not before some playoff excitement. Michael Gligic and Russell Budd, who grew up close to Glen Abbey, took medalist honors with solid 4-under 67s at Heron Point Golf Links. But Justin Yong Woo Kim and Mitchell Sutton had to come through a 5-for-2 spot playoff against American’s Tyler McCumber and Blake Austin and Korean Seung-su Han to book their place in Canada’s national Open. Kim birdied the first playoff hole to advance, Sutton made birdie on the second. “Wow, that was pretty exciting coming down the last few holes and into the playoff,� said Sutton, who won back-to-back Canadian Junior Boy Championships in 2008 and 2009. “I’m pretty pumped up right now and looking forward to playing in my first RBC Canadian Open. I’ve played Glen Abbey a couple of times, but not in a while. I’m excited to go back.� Gligic has been in nice form of late on the MacKenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada but even he must have been worried after falling 3 over through three holes. Seven birdies in his last 13 holes, including three in the last four holes, helped him surge into his third national Open. But this is his first one at Glen Abbey – the venue he dreamed of playing at as a youngster. “I’ve been looking forward to playing one there, so it’s nice to finally punch my ticket,� Gligic said. “I definitely feel the best I ever have going into a RBC Canadian Open. My nerves got to me in my first one and in the second one my game wasn’t that great. But now I feel like my game is in a really good spot, so hopefully I’ll play well.� Two of this season’s most successful qualifiers missed out on earning a spot. Chase Seiffert, who finished T9 at the Travelers Championship, missed the playoff by two shots, while T.J. Vogel was not at his best as he chased an eighth successful qualification this season. There will now be 21 Canadians in the field. Here’s a closer look at this week’s qualifiers: RUSSELL BUDD (67) Age: 26 Hometown: Toronto, Ontario Alma mater: DePaul University PGA TOUR starts: Debut Notes: He has made eight starts on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica in 2018, missing the cut in five with a best finish of T39. MICHAEL GLIGIC (67) Age: 28 Hometown: Burlington, Ontario  PGA TOUR starts: 2 Cuts made: 0 Best PGA TOUR finish: MC, 2012 & 2014 RBC Canadian Open’s. Notes: Grew up just 10 minutes from Glen Abbey. Two top-6 results on Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in last three starts. Won the ATB Financial Classic Presented by TELUS on MacKenzie Tour in 2012. JUSTIN YONG WOO KIM (68) Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario PGA TOUR starts: Debut Notes: Has had handful of starts on Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and also tried to find his way in the PGA TOUR China Series over the last five years with limited success. A former winner in Canada’s Golden Horseshoe Area Tour. MITCHELL SUTTON Hometown: London, Ontario PGA TOUR starts: Debut Notes: Played MacKenzie TOUR – PGATOUR Canada in 2015 and 2016 with limited success. Played one event this year on same tour for a missed cut. Previous winner of multiple Canadian junior titles. BARBASOL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS T34. John Oda, 69-69-69-68 MC. Kevin Foley, 72-69 MC. Domenico Geminiani, 74-67 MC. Ryan Wenzler, 70-76 THIS SEASON’S QUALIFIERS Qualifiers: 83 Made cut: 26 Top-10s: 4 (Scott Strohmeyer, T4 at Sanderson Farms; Trey Mullinax, T8 at Valspar; Julian Suri, T8 at Houston; Chase Seiffert, T9 at Travelers) Top-25s: 6 Most times qualified: T.J. Vogel (7)

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SHANGHAI  — Dustin Johnson was handed a new putter 15 minutes before he teed off and shot a 9-under 63 on Friday for a one-shot lead over Brooks Koepka going into the weekend at the World Golf Championship-HSBC Champions. Johnson birdied his last four holes at Sheshan International using a TaylorMade Spider with a different insert. He was on the range when he got the new putter, rapped a few shots on the practice green and then made just about everything he looked at. Johnson, the No. 1 player in the world and winner of the HSBC Champions four years ago, was at 13-under 131. Koepka birdied his first two holes and two of his last three holes for a 68. Justin Rose shot 68 and was four shots behind.

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Here are nine tidbits from the first round of the Valspar Championship that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida plays to 7,340 yards and is par-71. Know Thy Enemy These were the top-10 picked golfers in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO. Each week there are always a few from the list above that don’t fire in Round 1. This week is not the exception as Stenson (74), Finau (74), McIlroy (74) and Spieth (76) did not pay off for investors on Thursday. People’s Choice: Sergio Garcia It looks like the #NappyFactor supporters are out in full force this week, and I’m on board as well. Garcia’s nous and ability to work the ball sticks out on difficult courses and the Copperhead Course more than qualifies. His opening round of 70 was one of 20 pros at -1 and included four circles against three squares without any “others”. The leaderboard today, similar to the parking lots and galleries, is packed tightly. Morning Show Corey Conners has appeared in this column a couple of times over the early part of the new season, so his name shouldn’t be unfamiliar to the regulars here. He opened with 67 (-4), the lowest round of the day, and was perfect until a bogey on his final hole. His key stat was ranking second in Strokes Gained: Putting. He’s made cuts in nine of 10 starts but the rookie’s best finish is just T29. Afternoon Edition Whereas Conners has never played this event, Nick Watney is more than comfortable on the Copperhead Course. He’s cashed in all of his previous 10 tries. He signed for the low round of the afternoon wave, 68 (-3), and that will put him in an excellent position to keep that perfect record intact. He’s posted five consecutive rounds in red numbers after his T14 last year. The key to his round today was sitting in the top 10 for both fairways hit (T9; 10 of 13) and GIR (T8; 12 of 18). Weather Report Suite The Copperhead Course played brutally difficult to open the proceedings. The greens are still growing in after being completely regrassed after the 2015 edition and are playing firm. The grain in the TifEagle Bermuda also makes for plenty of second-guessing on speed of putts. Throw in blustery and gusting winds and the field couldn’t hit 50 percent GIR. Even with four par-5 holes, there wasn’t much scoring throughout the afternoon with only 27 players breaking par. There were six pros that didn’t make a birdie today, including Ryder Cup studs Stenson, Ian Poulter (78) and Ross Fisher (76). Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth each made one. The course played +1.861 strokes above par. #Hard. The Tiger Factor The interesting question entering this week was how Tiger Woods would fare on a course he hasn’t played in over 20 years. His opening round 70 (-1) was under par and in his words, the hardest test of his season to date. He’s three shots off the lead and wasn’t near hitting top gear. His trusty flat stick ranked third in putts-per-GIR. The harder it plays, the better his chances as nobody grinds out rounds like he does. Collateral Damage I’m still trying to figure out how Sam Burns (T28, E) beat Woods by two shots two Sundays ago at The Honda Classic. He’s been the exception rather than the rule of Woods’ playing partners. I argued that the more experienced players could handle the circus but Stenson and Spieth didn’t keep up today. Stenson’s 74 was only his second round above par from 13 rounds and his worse by two. Spieth opened with 76 here last year and bounced back for 68. Last week he opened 70-67, so he’s a quick fix. Of his last nine rounds here, five are in the 60’s. I’m not panicking with either of these studs. Worry? Who Me? I’m trying to find angles to embrace as Rory McIlroy looks to get back into the top 10, let alone the winner’s circle. It’s not like he’s forgotten how to play the game but gamers are starting to wonder when the switch is going to flip. He teed it up three weeks in a row in February and never went lower than 68 and had more rounds above par than below it. This is his first trip to Innisbrook, and I thought a change of scenery and difficult track would be right up his alley. His opening round 74, with only six fairways and seven GIR, was saved by his ability to get up-and-down. He needed 14 putts on the seven greens he hit but just 12 on the 11 he didn’t. Please hold me. Study Hall For those of you who are invested with Bryson DeChambeau (No. 13 overall), it was mentioned during the broadcast that his back was bothering him. His opening round 76 didn’t inspire. … Kevin Na withdrew before his tee time in the afternoon wave. There are plenty of you who were pinched today that shouldn’t be tomorrow. … Jimmy Walker (69) and Luke Donald (70) signed the only clean cards on the day. Harold Varner III didn’t make a bogey, but his double disqualified him from joining this duo. Walker and Donald combined for 33 pars and three birdies. … Emiliano Grillo continues his very temperate form, as he’s the leader at the Hero Indian Open in New Delhi after 65. … Tweet of the Day

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