“The Rise of Corey Conners: A Look at Canada’s Newest PGA Star”

Corey Conners: Is Canada‘s Rising Golf Star Poised for Major Success?

The 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, has seen a surprise at the leaderboard with Canadian Corey Conners in the final group of a major for the first time in his career. Along with Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland, Conners is tied for the lead at 5-under after 36 holes. Moreover, his short game and ball-striking skills make him a serious contender for the championship.

The Ingredients of Conners’ Success

According to Justin Ray of The Athletic, Corey Conners has similar stats to Jason Dufner’s 2013 season when he won the PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Both players entered the championship with two PGA Tour wins, top 10 in their last start, and ranked 21st and 29th in the OWGR. More interestingly, Conners ranks top 25 in Seasonal SG approaching the green and GIR. At Oak Hill, ball-striking skills are crucial, and Conners ranks seventh in Strokes Gained: approaching the green, having hit 24 of 36 greens so far. Even though he missed 12 greens, he ranks tied for 11th in scrambling percentage, saving par eight out of 12 times. Notably, Conners ranks fourth in Strokes Gained putting among the field. The combination of ball-striking and short game has made him an underdog in the tournament and a player to watch out for.

Your Canadian Underdog

Conners’ story is stunning, given that the last Canadian to lead or co-lead a major championship was the iconic Mike Weir, who won the 2003 Masters. Conners’ success at Oak Hill has generated tremendous support from his Canadian fans, many of whom have traveled down to watch him compete. At a press conference, Conners mentioned that the cheers from the Canadian fans “made him feel pretty special.”

Looking Ahead

Conners has the ingredients of a future major champion. Yet, as with all underdogs, the pressure may eventually become too great. As he tees off in the final group on Saturday, he must remain calm and focused, knowing that he is only halfway through the championship. Every hole counts, and if he can continue to execute, he will stand a chance of becoming Oak Hill’s new champion and a beacon of hope for Canadian golf enthusiasts.

Regardless of the outcome, Conners has already made history, and his performance should inspire many young golfers in Canada, who now have someone they can look up to and emulate. With his story far from over, there is no doubt that golf enthusiasts will continue to follow the success of Canada‘s newest golf star.