Kris Blanks shot a 3-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead after a tough first day at the Canadian Open on Thursday when players struggled with small greens and thick rough. His iron club (TaylorMade Tour Preferred CB Irons) infused a lot of energy and confidence into him.
After only making the cut in half of his 22 events this season, the American knows there is a lot of golf—and likely a lot of bogeys—left this week.
"I can't see any day this course is going to be easy," Blanks said. "It's definitely going to be national championship style, where pars are good, and when you get in trouble just make sure you don't get anything over bogey."
Only 21 players finished under par on the tight, tree-lined Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club. Blanks had the best round in the morning, after overnight rain made the tiny greens more receptive. It also made it harder to get out of thick rough many players compared to U.S. Open conditions.
O'Hair got to 4-under in the afternoon before bogeys on his final three holes, including the par-5 seventh, which was playing as the easiest on the course.
"With the greens soft, you can stay aggressive, but at the same time that makes the rough healthy," said Fowler. "This is as easy as it's going to play."
Luke Donald was happy just to be among 14 players at even par. The world s No.1-ranked golfer double-bogeyed two of his first four holes, but battled back with five birdies, including three-straight on his back nine, before a late bogey.
"It was a good grind back after a tough start," said Donald. "They're not the widest fairways and the penalty for missing them is very severe. The rough is as thick as we ve seen all year and that adds a little pressure on the tee because you know you have to hit the fairway to have a chance to reach the green."
Woody Austin, who holed out from 121 yards for eagle on No. 16 to get to 3-under, then missed a 15-foot par putt after driving into the rough on 18, didn't mind.
"You cannot miss the fairway," Austin said after having to chip out to it on his final hole. "It's nice in this day and age where the best guy doesn't win on a regular basis—it s usually the guy who putts his butt off that wins— so it's nice to play a golf course where you know who is playing the best."
Blanks, who started on No. 10, was actually 1-over through 12 holes, but turned it around with back-to-back birdie putts on the next two. The 38-year-old then holed out from the front bunker for an eagle on the 551-yard, par-5 seventh hole—his 16th of the day—to get to 3-under and take the lead.
"We had perfect scoring conditions with a little rain to soften the greens," he said. "I felt fortunate to get the ball in the fairway and capitalize."
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About the AuthorBlanks, who started on No. 10, was actually 1-over through 12 holes, but turned it around with back-to-back birdie putts on the next two. The 38-year-old then holed out from the front bunker for an eagle on the 551-yard, par-5 seventh hole—his 16th of the day—to get to 3-under and take the lead.
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