Canada’s Pendrith, Conners aim to build on major success at U.S. Open

OAKMONT, Pa. — Taylor Pendrith took a solo spin around Oakmont Country Club Wednesday morning for nine holes. He would hit about a half-dozen pitches, putts and practice shots around each hole at one of the most punishing layouts in America in an attempt to dial in a strategy for the U.S. Open.

Pendrith hitting shots is a sight to see — but it’s even more impressive to hear.  

The Canadian told Sportsnet that he had a 9-wood in the bag earlier in the week, but hasn’t hit it yet — so it’s gone. He also has a ‘mini-driver’ that he hits about 300 yards consistently off the tee if there is no wind — that’s because his normal driver goes too far (must be nice) for some of the precise, lengthy shots that are required for success around Oakmont.  

Take the par-3 8th for example. It’ll measure about 300 yards all week long, but Pendrith has taken to just playing it as a short par-4. Bunt something down close to the green, chip and putt for an “easy birdie” (an actual par) and move on.  

“(Oakmont) is another really strong test of golf, and my game feels good,” Pendrith said. “I feel like the course suits me well — it’s just a matter of executing the shots and keeping it in the fairways and being smart on the greens. It’ll be a patience test for sure and an attitude test.” 

Kind of ironically, the foursome of Canadians this week — Pendrith, Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes and top-ranked Canadian Corey Conners — are looking at a bit of a lighter lift this week compared to the RBC Canadian Open one week ago.  

There have been back-to-back majors with a Canadian in the conversation through Sunday, and now they’re looking for even more.  

Pendrith finished tied for fifth at the PGA Championship last month at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina, the first time in 20 years a Canadian male has finished in the top five at a major championship. That came a month after Corey Conners was in the penultimate pairing at The Masters for both Saturday and Sunday en route to finishing tied for eighth.  

While Taylor comes into the week after earning low-Canadian honours at TPC Toronto Osprey Valley, and Hughes had his best week with the driver all season in Canada, it’s more likely to see Conners and Pendrith back in the mix at this major, too.  

Pendrith, who finished tied for 16th at last year’s U.S. Open, is fourth on the PGA Tour this season in strokes gained: off the tee and 16th tee to green. For a guy who hits the ball a mile, he also has a pair of soft hands and can craft a seriously impressive number of shots if he gets out of position.  

Pendrith also told Sportsnet his tidy finish at the PGA Championship helped to buoy his confidence heading into this week.  

“That was probably my best week other than my win that I’ve had on Tour,” Pendrith, who has four top-10s this year, said. “To play that well at a major championship with that pressure and the top players in the world felt great. It did a lot for my confidence. And I’ve felt like I’ve been playing a lot of nice golf in the weeks after that.” 

For Conners, who finished tied for ninth at the U.S. Open last year to firm up a spot at the Olympics, this is another week where he’ll have an opportunity to put his world-class ball striking on display. Conners is a popular long-shot pick this week (although so many people are leaning on the Canadian that the odds aren’t even that long) given his body of work through 2025 — and his skillset.  

“This (is) a different kind of golf course (than last year), but certainly nice to have had a decent run last year. Felt like I had a lot of patience and discipline. I was hitting it to the right spots last year. My game felt good,” Conners said. “That’ll be another key to rely on this week.”  

Conners has five top-10s this year and sits ninth in the FedExCup standings. Three of those top 10s came consecutively during the Florida swing, including at The Players Championship. Then there was the aforementioned result at the Masters before he finished tied for 11th at Philadelphia Cricket Club, a decent comparable to Oakmont.  

“All through the golf course there are some challenging holes. Just try to get in the fairway, get on the green and try to make putts — just trying to keep it as simple as possible,” Conners told Sportsnet. “I feel like if I can strike it well and like I can, it definitely can be less stressful and make things a bit easier.” 

Conners sits eighth on Tour in driving accuracy and 13th in greens in regulation. Statistically, he is one of the best on the PGA Tour, sitting 21st in strokes gained: total. His statistical successes have impressively come thanks to some great results on some of the hardest golf courses on the Tour schedule.  

There hasn’t been a test like Oakmont yet, however.  

“It’s a big-boy golf course,” Pendrith said. “Kind of brutal at times and it’s still a little bit soft. But if you put it in the fairways, you can give yourself some chances. If you get out of position, it’s hang-on-and-try-to-make-par, or even a bogey. It’s really tricky — just every part of it. The rough is really thick, the greens are slopey and fast.  

“It’s going to really test every part of your game.” 

And the Canadian crew is up for the challenge.  

Canadian tee times – U.S. Open (Round 1/Round 2) 

Taylor Pendrith – 7:07 a.m.*/12:52 p.m. 

Nick Taylor – 1:03 p.m.*/7:18 a.m. 

Corey Conners – 1:36 p.m./7:51 a.m.* 

Mackenzie Hughes – 1:58 p.m./8:13 a.m.* 

*Off 10 

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