Canada s Conners plays his way into Masters conversation

AUGUSTA, Georgia - Corey Conners was not garnering much attention in the lead-up to the years first major but the Canadian announced his presence on Thursday with his best-ever start to a Masters that left him firmly in contention.

The build-up to the Masters focused mainly on defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, the worlds two best golfers, but Conners muscled his way into the conversation for at least one day with an opening four-under-par 68.

That left Conners, who finished inside the top 10 at Augusta National in three consecutive years from 2000-22, in a share of second place, four shots back of first-round leader Justin Rose and level with Scheffler and 2024 runner-up Ludvig Aberg.

Its a golf course that I love coming to. I dont know how you couldnt love coming here. Its a spectacular event, a spectacular golf course, Conners said.

Yeah, I feel like the course does suit my eye really well and plays into some of my strengths.

Conners arrived at the major in solid form after top-10 finishes in four of his nine PGA Tour events this season and looked very comfortable as he made his way around Augusta National.

Conners was even par when he reached the par-four seventh where he looked headed for a sure bogey after he failed to get out of a greenside bunker with his third shot.

But Conners, hoping to follow in 2003 winner Mike Weirs footsteps and become the second Canadian to slip into a Green Jacket, jump-started his round with his next shot when he managed to chip in for par.

To see that go in, that was great. I was trying hard to get it up-and-down the second time, and it went in, said Conners. That was a nice bonus and definitely a