In his first occasion since the Presidents Cup, the place he earned a pair of factors for the Internationals, Taylor Pendrith went nuclear on Thursday on the Shriners Youngsters’s Open.
The Canadian carded a 10-under 61, a spherical that featured 10 birdies and nil bogies, because it matched the bottom rating of his profession. His different 61 got here in the course of the second spherical of the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
“I didn’t actually anticipate a 10-under, I might say,” Pendrith admitted.
“I assumed I might be a bit of bit extra rusty than that. You recognize, clearly thrilled, and yeah, I simply received to maintain getting again into the rhythm of issues over the subsequent few days. However I really feel good.”
Having began on the again 9, Pendrith birdied 5 of his first seven holes. A pair of pars on the seventeenth and 18th holes adopted. Then, he rattled off three extra par-breakers on the first, third, and 4th. His birdie on the 4th gap got here inches away from dropping in for an eagle-two.
All of a sudden, when Pendrith arrived on the fifth tee, standing at 8-under with 5 holes to play, a sub-60 spherical appeared doable. After two-putting the par-3 fifth, he added two extra birdies on the sixth and seventh holes and walked to the difficult eighth gap at 10-under for the day. A 2-under end over the ultimate two holes, a protracted par-3 and a gettable par-5, would put him in rarefied air.
The Canadian two-putted from 55 toes away on the eighth and turned his consideration in direction of the ninth, which measured 558 yards on Thursday. After piping his drive 356 yards down the center of the green, Pendrith solely had 203 remaining. However his second shot got here up only a bit brief.
“Tried to be aggressive and hit an excellent shot however simply didn’t catch all of it. I got here up brief proper within the bunker,” Pendrith stated.
“My caddie and I didn’t actually speak about [the idea of shooting 59], however we each knew I used to be going to try to gap the bunker shot. Clearly, it was an excellent strong spherical. Yeah, I really feel good.”
Certainly, Pendrith ought to really feel glorious about the place his recreation stands, regardless of the three-week layoff because the Presidents Cup. He hit all however one inexperienced on Thursday and led the sector in strokes gained placing. No surprise why he threatened a 59.
However his robust opening spherical ought to shock no person. Pendrith has had a profession yr, successful the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and ending among the many prime 50 within the FedEx Cup standings for the primary time. He additionally posted six top-10s and even tied for sixteenth on the U.S. Open.
“The arrogance stage is up for positive, I believe. I used to be capable of win final yr and this yr and have some actually strong finishes at some huge occasions, which supplies you numerous confidence,” Pendrith stated when requested what’s completely different this yr.
“I might say my placing has improved probably the most. It’s the largest enchancment in my recreation from the final couple of seasons. I’ve been capable of roll in some good putts. Simply seeing them go in offers you extra confidence.”
The putter remained scorching in Las Vegas on Thursday, and Pendrith now owns a three-shot lead over six gamers with 54 holes remaining.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
