There’s a new Canadian threat on the PGA Tour.
Taylor Pendrith, a 31-year-old Ontario native who qualified for the Tour in 2020 via the developmental Korn Ferry Tour, but had to wait a full year to strut his stuff because of a Covid-19-related graduation freeze, has wasted little time in showing he belongs among the world’s best.
Twenty and thirty years ago, Canadians challenging for victories on the PGA Tour was a rarity, but in recent years, the likes of Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor and Mackenzie Hughes have been in contention, and occasionally winning, periodically.
Now, Pendrith has been added to the list of Canadians making a splash. One of the longest hitters on tour, according to U.S. network golf announcers, Pendrith dominated the recent Bermuda championship for three days before falling victim to first-year jitters on the final day and plunging to fifth place. Still, Pendrith won $251,000 and served notice that he’s got enough game to be a regular threat.
Pendrith shot a tournament record 61 on the second day of the tournament, and followed it up with a 65 in Saturday’s third round, opening up a three-shot lead heading into Sunday. A victory would have come with perks galore — two years of Tour security, a berth in the 2022 Masters, a spot in January’s Tournament of Champions at Kapalua in Maui, not to mention nearly $1.2 million in prize money. But it was an Australian, Lucas Herbert, who picked up the Bermuda win on a windy and rainy final Sunday as Pendrith struggled.
Pendrith, Conners and Hughes all attended Kent State before turning pro. Pendrith got married two weeks before his near-triumph in Bermuda, with Conners standing up as his best man.
Other Canadians with some Tour status include veteran David Hearn, Michael Gligic, Roger Sloan and Adam Svensson. Technically, Graham DeLaet of Weyburn is still a PGA Tour member, but medical problems have prevented him from playing a full schedule since 2017 and it’s possible his playing career is over.
Meanwhile, Pendrith has full Tour status for at least all of 2022. His early showings give a pretty strong indication he’s going to be more than a one-tournament wonder.
• Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “The expansion Kraken is putting a Seattle spin on the ‘three stars’ postgame hockey tradition — having each of the stars toss a stuffed salmon into the stands. What’s next, throwing a can of 30-weight at Oiler games?”
• Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “A Rams receiver stole an athletic crotch protector made out of light, pinkish-orange metal alloy from a covered kitchen shelf. That's right, Cooper Kupp copped a copper cup from a cupboard cabinet.”
• Tim Hunter of Everett’s KRKO Radio, on a survey of 2,000 Americans revealing that men cry more than women: “Especially men who are also Detroit Lions fans.”
• Sportswriter Chris Burke of The Athletic: “The bye week opens as a 13.5-point favourite over the Lions.”
• Columnist Steve Burgess of Vancouver, on Twitter: “I now believe football helmets are useless. I did my own research, mostly by listening to Aaron Rodgers.”
• Glenn Howard’s daughter Carly, on Twitter: “Can’t decide if I’m more impressed that my dad is still curling at the top of his game or that he has yet to use his broom for balance.”
• Alex Kaseberg again: “You think Aaron Rodgers is furious his unvaccinated status was leaked? Wait until they reveal his emails to Jon Gruden.”
• Herb Page, a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fam, who coached at Kent State when Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith were on the school team: “YOU’D be in the hall of fame if you coached that team!”
• Kaseberg again: “Did Aaron Rodgers really compare himself to Martin Luther King Jr.? That's like comparing Rob Gronkowski to Albert Einstein.”
• Comedy writer Brad Dickson of Omaha, on Twitter: “A high school football team in L.A. just won a game 106-0. Hey, that reminds me that Nebraska plays Ohio State tomorrow.”
• Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “Give Aaron Rodgers credit. He's doing his part to make sure Tom Brady doesn't get the NFL fan ‘QB we most love to hate’ award.”
• Headline at theonion.com: “Astros Start Nolan Ryan in Game 6 on 10,268 Days’ Rest”
• fark.com headline: “After bombshell report, NBA hires law firm to probe the dark side of the Suns.”
• Dwight Perry again: “The Seahawks’ Russell Wilson (broken finger) and the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (unvaccinated arm) will face off Nov. 14 in Green Bay — maybe. Just call it the Pins and Needles Bowl.”
• Another one from Perry: “Astros win the World Series this year? No can do.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
