Champ takes 2-shot lead, Canada's Taylor and Lee tied for 3rd heading
into weekend at Canadian Open
John Chidley-Hill
| The Canadian Press | Posted: June 6, 2025 11:39 PM | Last
Updated: June 6
2-time champion McIlroy struggles mightily, shoots an 8-over
round to easily miss cut
Image | GLF-Canadian-Open 20250606
Caption: Nick Taylor hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during
the second round of the RBC Canadian Open tournament in
Caledon, Ont., on Friday. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)
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Cameron Champ wasn't even supposed to be here today.
Champ shot a 4-under 66 to climb atop the leaderboard on Friday
at 12-under overall at the RBC Canadian Open for a two-stroke
lead over fellow American Andrew Putnam. A week ago, Champ was
the eighth alternate for the only PGA Tour event in Canada, but
enough golfers withdrew from the tournament that he made the
field.
"I definitely didn't think I was getting in, especially as
eighth," Champ told media after leaving the scorers' room at
TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. "I know the deadline, some guys
will withdraw over the weekend but as eighth, I was like,
'yeah, probably not getting in.'
"Luckily, I actually brought my passport. I don't know why I
brought it. I was like 'I'm just going to bring it in case' for
whatever reason, not even thinking about the tournament. So it
all worked out nicely."
* LEADERBOARD: Canadian Open
It's been five years since Champ last won on the PGA Tour and
he's been bouncing back and forth between the top-flight
circuit and the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour this season.
"It's been a grind. It's been a mental battle, that's for sure,
going back and forth and having limited starts," said Champ,
who has played in five PGA Tour events this year and eight on
the Korn Ferry Tour. "For me now, it's just more so embracing
it.
"Embracing the situation I'm in and just try to take advantage
of every opportunity I can."
Putnam shot an 8-under 62, the best round of the day, to take
sole possession of second at 10-under overall.
Vancouver's Richard T. Lee (64), Nick Taylor (65) of
Abbotsford, B.C., Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen (70) and Italy's
Victor Perez (65) were tied for third at 9 under.
WATCH l Canadians Taylor, Lee tied for 3rd midway through
Canadian Open:
Media Video | Canadians Nick Taylor and Richard T. Lee tied for
3rd midway through RBC Canadian Open
Caption: 2023 champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and
Toronto's Richard T. Lee, who plays on the Asian Tour, are at
9-under par, three shots back of the leader, following the
second round of the RBC Canadian Open in Caledeon, Ont.
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Taylor was grouped with Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont.,
and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. The all-Canadian trio was
easily the most popular pairing on Friday, with fans going wild
for each made shot.
"The fans are phenomenal. The ovation on the first hole alone,
we had the national anthem, it felt like, almost every tee
box," said Taylor, who had five birdies on the front nine. "It
was fun. The Rink Hole was buzzing. It was a fun day."
McIlroy struggles
Two-time Canadian Open champion Rory McIlroy struggled
mightily, dropping an 8-over round to easily miss the cut at 9
over. The par-4 fifth hole was particularly costly, as the No.
2 player in the world scored an eight.
McIlroy said his poor showing is a concern ahead of next week's
U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth, Texas.
"You don't want to shoot high scores like the one I did today,"
said McIlroy, who has been trying out a new driver after his
go-to was disqualified by the USGA at the PGA Championship. "I
came here with a new driver thinking that that was going to be
good and solve some of the problems off the tee, but it didn't.
"Obviously, going to Oakmont next week, what you need to do
more than anything else there is hit fairways. Still sort of
searching for the missing piece off the tee."
* Pendrith low Canadian at Canadian Open, 4 shots back of
co-leaders Olesen, Del Solar
* RBC Canadian Open poised for launch, as Nick Taylor's 2023
win helped spur a national golf renaissance
Lee and Taylor headlined a group of eight Canadians who made
the cut at the national men's golf championship, matching the
record previously set in 2023 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club
in Toronto and again at Hamilton Golf and Country Club last
year.
A special air quality advisory was in the area due to wildfires
in Manitoba and parts of Ontario. An Air Quality Index of 164 —
considered unhealthy — was recorded in the Greater Toronto
Area.
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