On Friday, June 6th, 2025, the RBC Canadian Open's first round at TPC Toronto saw Thorbjørn Olesen and Cristobal Del Solar shoot 61s, leading a low-scoring day on a soft course, while Luke Clanton made his memorable pro debut.
RBC CANADIAN OPEN - ROUND 1: SCORING BONANZA
- Thorbjørn Olesen and Cristobal Del Solar blazed TPC Toronto with nine-under 61s, capitalizing on soft, "very gettable" conditions due to recent rain, setting a blistering pace for the tournament's opening round.
- Olesen cited a "good feel of the greens," while Del Solar emphasized "relaxing more and consistently focusing on executing each shot."
- Cameron Champ (62) noted only the 18th played firm, calling the rest "pretty darn soft" and predicting it would "firm up significantly."
LUKE CLANTON'S "UNPRECEDENTED" PRO DEBUT
- Luke Clanton shot an even-par 70 in his highly anticipated professional debut, describing his life as "totally changed" and the "amazing" experience of playing alongside his idol, Rory McIlroy.
- "I couldn't feel it [the club]" on his first tee shot due to nerves, calling it a "new experience" being "thrown in the fire right away."
- His pre-round fuel was a "normal coffee and bagel from Tim Horton's," and he unwinds by meditating in the shower.
MCILROY'S MIXED BAG & MEDIA MUSINGS
- Rory McIlroy carded a one-over 71, acknowledging a need for improvement while working with a new driver, and staunchly defended players' rights to skip media obligations if they choose.
- On media: "It's not...mandatory...that's well within our rights." He skipped PGA Championship media as he "was a little, let's say, annoyed" about a leaked driver test.
- Clanton, who played with McIlroy, called the star "the Tiger Woods of my life," highlighting the impact of their pairing.
CANADIAN CONTINGENT SHINES
- The home crowd had plenty to cheer for as Taylor Pendrith led the Canadian charge with a five-under 65, followed closely by Nick Taylor (66) and Adam Hadwin (67).
- Mackenzie Hughes provided a highlight with an eagle hole-out from 194 yards on the 5th, where commentators noted he had "really no visual."
- Nick Taylor, the 2023 champion, noted issues with "excessive spin" on the soft greens.
DEBUTS & COURSE CONDITIONS
- Pro debutants David Ford (70) and Gordon Sargent (71) began their careers, Ford calling TPC Toronto his new "office," while Sargent, who birdied 18 blind, dubbed it his "first real job."
- Course conditions dominated talk: "pretty darn soft" (Champ) but expected to "firm up significantly," with players like Sam Burns noting it played longer.
- Sargent's debut challenges included sleep disrupted by a neighbor's 3 AM party.
Quick Hits
Smart Trace Technology praised as "Very cool" • Round 2: Will course firm up? Can leaders repeat? • McIlroy's climb & Canadian hopes • Other debutants Clanton, Ford, Sargent aim for weekend
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