Mackenzie Hughes putts on the tenth green during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open.Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
For a second straight year, Mackenzie Hughes has played his way into contention ahead of Sunday’s final round at the RBC Canadian Open.
The native of nearby Dundas, Ont. carded a 6-under 64 on Saturday and improved to 12-under for the tournament, just two shots back of the leaders at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.
Matteo Manassero of Italy and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox share the lead at 14-under.
Every day, a different Canadian golfer has thrust himself into the mix toward the top of the leaderboard in Caledon, Ont. this week. On Saturday Hughes did the surging, a 34-year-old with two PGA Tour titles already to his name.
Canadian pair right in the running as McIlroy crashes out of Canadian Open
However, Hughes learned at last year’s Canadian Open not to get ahead of himself. He was in second place entering Sunday at the 2024 tournament held in Hamilton. He even held a share of the lead briefly early in that final round, but it slipped away and he finished tied for seventh.
“I think the hardest thing is to not want it too much, which is hard to turn off. It’s hard to turn off something that you’ve thought about for years,” said Hughes. “I think last year I got off to that great start. It was easy to kind of look forward and imagine what it would be like to win [a] tournament ten minutes from my house and win the Canadian Open. It was difficult not to have that in your mind. I think it affected me.”
While Hughes is the low Canadian, a few of his countrymen aren’t far behind him.
Nick Taylor leads trio of Canadians playing together at RBC Open
Nick Taylor plays his shot from the 11th tee during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open.Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Nick Taylor, the 2023 champ had a rough round on Saturday, but is 10-under par after carding a 1-under 69. Taylor didn’t find any birdies in his third round, but he did rebound with an eagle on the 18th hole to inch himself back in it. The 2023 Canadian Open champ scooped up both of his kids into his arms after the round.
Taylor is four shots back and tied with some other Canadians. Pendrith is also 10-under after carding a 67 on Saturday. Adam Hadwin is also 10-under after shooting a 65 in Round 3. Hadwin was left regretting his last two holes.
“That finish was a bit of a slap in the face. I had an opportunity to kind of post a number and have a chance tomorrow and kind of faltered there on the last two,” said Hadwin. “I don’t want to say I shot myself out of it on those two holes, but we’ll see how far [the leaders] get ahead. Certainly low 60s is not out of the question around this place. We’ve seen it this week.”