I covered the Canadian Open. Absolutely Fcukin' Electric atmosphere at Toronto's classic beauty, St. George's, on Sunday. The joint was absolutely rockin' from the first tee off. This was the first Canadian Open in three years (Covid, eh?) and fans were super hyped.
Fcuk the Liv Tour, the MLS of pro golf. This was what top pro golf was all about.
If I was a fan and Phat Filled Mickelson was in front of me, he'd get dog's abuse from me until I was happily evicted from the course. That shallow, facetious traitor Dustin Johnson would be equally abused. Absolute cnut to proclaim his loyalty to the PGA and his long-time sponsor, RBC (Royal Bank of Canada), who were making him the face of the event they were title sponsor for. Then he tinkles off at the 11th hour to suck Saudi q'ock. What a compleat coward.
It rained early Sunday morning so they delayed tee times for the final round, shifted the normal pairings into threesomes and had the final round tee off on both the first and tenth tees. That gave us a final threesome of McIlroy, Finau and Thomas. And we just knew we were in for fireworks with the greens softened and ready to hold aggressive approach shots. There would be no disappointments throughout the field.
All three in the final group were wildly popular with the jam-packed crowds on Saturday. Finau brought the house down on Saturday afternoon with a crafty run to the top, capped with a fine birdie at 18. Thomas is the epitome of the quiet, classy grinder. Rory just thrives on getting his fans emotional.
McIlroy rolls in a 26-footer for birdie on the first hole. Finau birdies the second. Thomas birdies the third. Justin Rose holes his approach at one for the first of three eagles on the day. This, my friends, is what the final round of a proper golf tournament looks like. The place was going apeschit.
After a mandatory diversion to cover the red-hot Rose - caught up with him chasing 59 at the super rowdy par three 16th, where he bunkered his tee shot and bogeyed - it was a long, very brisk hike - lugging 20 lbs. of camera gear - out to 13 to catch the leading trio and followed them home to 18. What a run in. What a finale with Rory posting birdies on the final two holes to win by two. Clutch City.
One of the best sports events I've ever covered. Can't wait for next year.