CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Both of the Canadians at the 2025 PGA Championship saved their best for last, as Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners shot their best rounds of the week Sunday.
Conners shot a 4-under 67 while Pendrith shot a 3-under 68 and finished tied for fifth — his best-career result at a major championship.
Scottie Scheffler won his third major title, winning the PGA Championship by five over a trio of golfers, including Bryson DeChambeau.
Pendrith ended up tied for fifth at 5 under, seven back of Scheffler’s 12-under winning total.
The native of Richmond Hill, Ont. had an impressive start, making birdies on Nos. 2 and 4 before missing a five-footer for par on No. 5 and an eight-footer for par on No. 8. He rallied on the back nine, however, making three birdies in his last five holes including for the second day in a row on 18 — the hardest hole on the course.
“I felt a little shaky with the putter at times today because of the wind and the greens being so fast, and the pins were on some crazy slopes. It was nice to see that go in and be the last putt of the day,” Pendrith said.
Pendrith’s previous best finish at a major was a tie for 16th at last year’s U.S. Open.
He told Sportsnet he was thrilled to have been able to record such a nice result this week after playing well the last month or so, but just not getting any good finishes. In his last four tournaments, Pendrith has missed two cuts — including at the Masters — and finished T42-65 in his other two starts.
“This is a golf course I really like and have played well at in the past. For it to be a major championship — and having played with Bryson (DeChambeau) yesterday in front of a million people and hold up pretty good, and had a good finish yesterday to put me in good position to have another decent finish, it’s big for the confidence,” Pendrith said.
“There’s just a big, important part of the schedule coming up this summer, so the game feels good.”
Conners finished at 2 under for the week and finished tied for 19th — a continuation of his marked consistency this season. It was his ninth top-25 finish in just 13 starts.
Conners told Sportsnet he felt more like himself through Sunday’s finale, sitting fifth in strokes gained: off the tee and tied for second in strokes gained: total. Impressively enough, he was also fifth in strokes gained: putting — something he had done a lot of heavy work on through the week.
“Did everything really well today. I was able to hole some putts early in the round and got some momentum going,” Conners said. “I just felt more comfortable with the putter today and a little more free. Was able to roll in some nice birdie putts and some nice par-saving putts.”
Conners was 2 under through three holes before hitting his approach into the water on the par-5 7th en route to a bogey. He made four birdies in six holes once he made the turn before making a late bogey on No. 16 — playing as the second toughest hole of the day. He held on with par-savers from eight feet and three feet on Nos. 17 and 18, respectively.
“I felt like my game has been in a really good place all week, I just haven’t gotten things to go my way and haven’t got the results,” Conners said. “It’s been frustrating, but nice to finish off with a solid day.”
Pendrith and Conners are, for now, the lone Canadians in the field at the next major of the year, the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club next month.
They’re both off next week — they both rushed home in order to watch their beloved Toronto Maple Leafs’ effort in Game 7 versus the Florida Panthers — as the PGA Tour heads to the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Texas.
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.