Standings, Canadian Open scores 2023: Carl Yuan leads with Rory McIlroy, Corey Conners draw after Round 2
Several star powerhouses rose to the top of the charts on Friday at the RBC Canadian Open as Rory McIlroy hit 67 points to break into the top 12, Tyrrell Hatton hit 8 under 64 for the day’s innings and Corey Conners the Canada is still hot with 69 to stay in round one. However, all three trailed Carl Yuan in the lead after he shot 67 of his own and took a 9-point lead heading into the weekend.
Let’s see that lead and what happens over the next 36 holes.
Leader
T1. Carl Yuan (-9)
You might ask, “Who is Carl Yuan?” You won’t be alone. Korn Ferry Tour’s graduation record so far this season has not been good with him only breaking into the top 25 at the Sony Open in January and no top 50 on the list since. However, he performed superbly in his first two days in Canada and actually led the field in terms of shots from tee to green, just ahead of Conners.
Can he hold on to the lead? The gambling market said no, and so did Data Golf, which only gave him a 6% chance of winning a golf tournament. If he somehow wins from the front, it will be a life and career-changing victory.
other candidates
T2. Tyrrell Hatton, Corey Conners, Aaron Rai, CT Pan (-8)
T6. Brendon Todd, Chesson Hadley, Andrew Novak, Justin Lower, Harry Higgs, Jonathan Byrd (-7)
T12. Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, SH Kim, Mark Hubbard, Nate Lashley (-6)
McIlroy, oddly enough, is the two-time defending champion here. He won it back in 2019 and then defended it last year after the tournament didn’t take place in 2021 and 2022. He currently leads the field of putting, which usually means winning. arrived. The key for him will be hitting better approaches and putting him in a better position to score over the next two days. He is currently ranked 88th on approach shots. However, Rory’s inclusion is a win for this tournament and clearly gives confidence to next week’s US Open.
“I think winning the league the last few times helps a lot,” McIlroy said. “I thought, am I the only player in the top 10 in the world here this week? So I guess maybe the appreciation I’ve come back to defend. But, yeah, …since the first time I’ve played the Canadian Open, I feel like I’ve received a lot of support. And it was great to play in that atmosphere this afternoon.”
Canada Open 2023 odds and picks updated
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
- Tyrrell Hatton: 18/5
- Corey Conners: 11/2
- Rory McIlroy: 11/2
- Aaron Rai: 12-1
- Justin Rose: 12-1
- CT Pan: 16-1
- Carl Yuan: 16-1
All eyes are clearly on Conners to see if he can do something that hasn’t been done in over 60 years as a Canadian expanding his nation. So far, he’s excelled from tee to green and is a good bet here, even with the added pressure of trying to win in Canada.
McIlroy said of Conners: “Very calm, down to earth, even a cold person. “I don’t think if he’s in contention this weekend, I don’t think that moment will really come to him that much. He’s clearly playing well. He’s had a great chance here. Oak Hill. He’s been really good at playing on the Tour now for the last three years.”
Other numbers I like? Roses at 12-1. He was 8th from tee to green and played such great golf with T9 at the PGA Championship and T12 at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Odds are right to bet on him to potentially move in the next 36.
In a solo performance, Rick Gehman broke the 2nd round of the RBC Canada Open. Tyrrell Hatton dropped, Rory McIlroy scored 67 and surprised to the top of the rankings. Follow and listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts And Spotify.
