Brandt Snedeker’s early record-tying round didn’t stand up to late charges by Scott Brown and Matt Kuchar at the RBC Canadian Open on Friday.
Snedeker fired a 10-under 60 to tie the Canadian Open’s record-low score. That was good enough for an early clubhouse lead on 11-under at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
But Kuchar and Brown, playing in the afternoon, went low, too, shooting 7-under 63s and finishing the second round as co-leaders at 12-under.
Brown and Kuchar agreed that Snedeker’s round was a mixed blessing. They said it challenged them to play their best and confirmed that low scores were possible.
‘You kind of feel like you have to go out and shoot a good one, and then you kind of feel like there is a good one out there,’ Brown said.
‘So I think the key is just to not get crazy aggressive. I’ve kind of been conservatively aggressive.’
Snedeker and Sweden’s Carl Pettersson are the only players to have shot 60 at the Canadian Open. Pettersson did it at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto in 2010 en route to a victory. Greg Norman also had a round of 10-under 62 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, in 1986.
‘I’m not scared about going low. I realise these days don’t happen very often,’ said Snedeker, who carded a 59 at the Wyndham Championship in August. ‘Almost get more excited when I feel like it’s going that way.’
‘More often than not, you’re getting beat up. You have to take advantage of it.’
Four Canadians were within four shots of the lead. Nick Taylor was tied with Snedeker for third after a second-round 65, good for 11-under.
Webb Simpson was another stroke back at 10-under after a 64.
Rory McIlroy followed an opening 67 with a 66 and was tied at 7-under.
Brooks Koepka followed an opening round 70 with a 66 and was at 4-under heading into the weekend, along with defending champion Dustin Johnson, who followed a 71 with a 65.
Erik van Rooyen failed to replicate his solid showing on Thursday as he followed his 64 up with a 70, despite only missing five greens in regulation. The US Open-bound Saffa went out in two-under par, but three bogeys in his final five holes saw him slip back to level as he shares 16th heading into the weekend.
Fellow South African Dylan Frittelli is one back at five-under par after a 68. The two-time European Tour winner is enjoying a steady rookie season on the PGA TOUR, and missed just one fairway on Friday.
His highlight was a sensational hole out on the 13th from over 50 feet in the greenside bunker. A birdie on 18 – the hardest hole on the course – from over 20 feet leaves him in T25 with two rounds to play.
Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
