RBC Canadian Open First Round: Clanton’s Grit, Surprising Leaders, and a Tight Cutline
The RBC Canadian Open teed off with drama, surprises, and inspiring performances. From Luke Clanton’s first pro round to unexpected names atop the leaderboard, Day 1 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley didn’t disappoint.
🌟 Luke Clanton’s Fairytale Start as a Pro
There was plenty of buzz around Luke Clanton — the top-ranked amateur turned professional this week — and he didn’t shy away from the spotlight. Notably, Clanton became the first amateur since Jack Nicklaus to post three or more top-10 finishes in a single PGA Tour season before turning pro.
Clanton began his round on the back nine with a steady par at the 10th. Trouble, however, arrived quickly. On the 11th — a tough par 3 over water — he missed left, couldn’t save par, and made bogey. He followed it up with another bogey after leaving his wedge 60 feet from the pin and failing to convert a two-putt on the 12th. At +2, things looked shaky.
But Clanton showed heart. He steadied himself with solid ball striking, including a 289-yard drive down the 16th. Though he dropped another shot there, his round turned on the 18th. The par 5 was his launching pad — he hit the green in two and drained a 35-footer for eagle, finishing the front nine at +1.
Turning to the front side, he missed a birdie on the easiest hole — par-5 1st — but scrambled brilliantly for pars on the next two holes. A birdie on the challenging 5th hole (488 yards, par 4) gave him momentum. Clanton hit greens in regulation on his final six holes, closing with an even-par 70 — a strong start under pressure.
🏆 Surprise Leaders: Olesen and Del Solar Shine
Day 1 ended with a leaderboard few predicted. Thorbjørn Olesen and Cristobal Del Solar lead the RBC Canadian Open at 9-under-par 61, stealing the show with dazzling rounds.
Olesen started on the back nine and caught fire early, making eagle on the par-5 18th and three more birdies to make the turn at -4. A lone blemish on the card came at the short 12th hole. He capitalized on both par 5s, going -3 on those holes — a key stat at Osprey Valley. His back nine included a hat trick of birdies from 6 to 8, giving him a scorching -5 on the inward half.
Meanwhile, Cristobal Del Solar, known for his historic 57 on the Korn Ferry Tour, looked like he might chase another sub-60 round. He made five birdies on the front, including three in a row from holes 5 to 7. Then he rattled off four straight birdies from 9 to 12, reaching 10-under through 16 holes. However, a bogey at 17 and a missed birdie at the 18th left him tied with Olesen at -9.
🇨🇦 Canadian Contenders: Pendrith Leads the Charge
Taylor Pendrith leads the Canadian pack with a strong 65 (-5). Nick Taylor, the 2023 champion, carded a 66 (-4). Adam Hadwin, Hunter Thomson, and Richard Lee each shot 67 (-3), putting themselves in the mix.
🔥 Chasing Pack and Big Names
- Cameron Champ at -8
- Jake Knapp at -7
- Shane Lowry at -6
- Rory McIlroy: 71 (+1), with work to do in Round 2
On the flip side, Rory McIlroy struggled to get momentum. He made 3 birdies and 4 bogeys for a 1-over-par 71, leaving him outside the projected cut. With the cut currently at -2, Rory will need a sharp Friday performance to stick around for the weekend.
⛅ Weather & Cutline Watch
The cut line currently hovers at -2, with a chance of moving to -3. Friday’s weather is expected to be cloudy with showers, but minimal wind means scoring could remain low.
✅ Final Thoughts
The RBC Canadian Open opened with fireworks. Clanton’s debut, Del Solar’s near-59, and a wave of Canadian contenders set the stage for a thrilling Round 2.
