TORONTO (Reuters) – The Canadian Open showcased the standard the breakaway LIV Golf Invitational Series couldn’t match on Saturday, with defending champion Rory McIlroy sitting atop a glittering leaderboard that includes three of the world’s prime 10.
After per week of verbal sparring and threats between the PGA Tour and the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Series, the spotlight was on golf on Saturday with the Canadian Open underscoring the standard hole between the 2 Tours.
South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel held off compatriot Hennie Du Plessis to win the opening occasion of the LIV Series on the Centurion Club exterior London to gather the largest pay cheque in golf historical past of $4 million.
Schwartzel’s victory ended a tumultuous launch week for the breakaway circuit which is backed to the tune of $250 million by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Organisers will level to decent-sized crowds, loads of glitz and the presence of huge names, together with six-time main champion Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia.
The PGA Tour, in the meantime, can level to a rollicking third spherical at St George’s Golf and Country Club which ended with four-time main winner McIlroy and world quantity 18 Tony Finau tied atop the leaderboard at 11-under.
Lurking two back going into Sunday’s last spherical are world quantity six and PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and quantity 9 Sam Burns.
The subject additionally consists of world primary Scottie Scheffler, who sits eight back going into Sunday, and quantity 4 Australian Cam Smith, who’s effectively back at 10 off the tempo.
“You have a look at it on the market right now, I imply it is definitely the perfect ambiance of any golf match happening this week,” stated McIlroy, who has been vocal in assist and loyalty to the PGA Tour. “I’m fairly certain what is going on to occur over the ultimate 18 holes right here goes to be extra entertaining than what different golf was performed this week wherever else.”
While the Canadian Open seems headed in direction of a brilliant end, the match has spent a lot of the week beneath an ominous cloud.
The LIV Series has been an undesirable distraction, asserting a brand new signing virtually day-after-day, beginning with six-time main winner Phil Mickelson on Monday, adopted by Bryson DeChambeau on Friday and Patrick Reed on Saturday.
Then as opening spherical play was simply getting underway on Thursday, the PGA Tour stated it had suspended gamers collaborating in the LIV sequence – a transfer LIV organisers described as vindictive and which might result in a authorized battle.
Thomas took a second on Saturday to reward the Canadian Open for example of what these becoming a member of the LIV Series had been lacking.
“Obviously with every thing happening this week was going to be very particular regardless,” stated Thomas. “But I believe it simply, with out sounding tacky, it makes me fairly blissful inside seeing this.
“And it appears prefer it has a possible tomorrow to supply a bit bit extra of that and create some extra historical past.”
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by William Mallard)
