AUGUSTA, Ga. — The excitement is palpable as the 89th Masters Tournament unfolds at Augusta National Golf Club, with a promising start for the Canadian contingent. As the second round kicks off on April 11, 2025, all four Canadians are on course, vying for glory in one of golf’s most prestigious events.
Leading the Canadian charge is Corey Conners, who began his tournament with a bang, shooting a remarkable 4-under 68 in the first round. Conners, hailing from Listowel, Ontario, showcased his skill with an impressive performance that included a dramatic par save from a bunker on the seventh hole. “It was big,” Conners remarked after the round, reflecting on the importance of that shot. “To see that go in, that was great. That was a nice bonus and definitely a momentum builder.”
Conners' round featured 14 greens hit in regulation and just one missed fairway, positioning him tied for second place alongside defending champion Scottie Scheffler and rising star Ludvig Aberg, all chasing leader Justin Rose, who fired a stunning 7-under 65. “I feel like it's a great match for my game,” Conners said, expressing confidence in his ability to navigate Augusta’s challenging layout. “I’ve struck the ball well around here many times.”
As the second round begins, Conners tees off at 8:02 AM, looking to capitalize on his momentum. He started the day with a birdie at the par-5 second hole, bringing his tournament total to five-under, now just four shots off the lead. Conners has a history of strong performances at Augusta, with three top-10 finishes in his career, and he aims to add to that tally this weekend.
Meanwhile, Nick Taylor from Abbotsford, B.C., started the day tied for 38th but has enjoyed a solid round, playing bogey-free through 15 holes and moving just outside the top 20. Taylor, who has struggled in recent majors, managed to rally after being three over through 13 holes, making back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to salvage his day. “Hung in there well, which I was proud of,” Taylor said, acknowledging the challenge of the course.
In contrast, Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, and Taylor Pendrith from Richmond Hill, Ontario, face a steeper hill to climb. Weir began the day at three-over, while Pendrith, who is making his Masters debut, started at five-over after a tough first round. Pendrith managed to birdie the iconic par-3 12th hole but ultimately finished with a 5-over 77. “A 77 would feel horrible at most places, but it's pretty cool to be here,” Pendrith reflected, hopeful for a better performance in the second round.
As the tournament progresses, the Canadian fans rally behind their players, hoping to witness a historic victory at Augusta National. With the Masters running from April 10-13, 2025, the competition is fierce, and the stakes are high. The weekend promises to be filled with thrilling moments as the golfers navigate the challenging course.
The tee times for the second round on April 11 are as follows:
- 7:40 AM: Cameron Davis (Australia), Rafael Campos (Puerto Rico), Austin Eckroat
- 7:51 AM: Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Laurie Canter (England), Adam Schenk
- 8:02 AM: Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain), Thriston Lawrence (S. Africa), Brian Campbell
- 8:13 AM: Bubba Watson, Matthieu Pavon (France), Evan Beck
- 8:24 AM: Tom Hoge, Matt McCarty, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (S. Africa)
- 8:35 AM: Charl Schwartzel (S. Africa), Denny McCarthy, Hiroshi Tai (Singapore)
- 8:52 AM: Max Homa, Justin Rose (England), J. J. Spaun
- 9:03 AM: Dustin Johnson, Nick Taylor, Justin Hastings (Cayman Islands)
- 9:14 AM: Sergio Garcia (Spain), Lucas Glover, Daniel Berger
- 9:25 AM: Patrick Cantlay, Rasmus Hojgaard (Denmark), Matt Fitzpatrick (England)
- 9:36 AM: Brooks Koepka, Russell Henley, Sungjae Im (Korea)
- 9:47 AM: Adam Scott (Australia), Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland (Norway)
- 9:58 AM: Rory McIlroy (N. Ireland), Ludvig Aberg (Sweden), Akshay Bhatia
- 10:15 AM: Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Bryson DeChambeau, Shane Lowry (Ireland)
- 10:26 AM: Jon Rahm (Spain), Wyndham Clark, Tommy Fleetwood (England)
- 10:37 AM: Sahith Theegala, Sepp Straka (Austria), Sam Burns
- 10:48 AM: Davis Riley, Patton Kizzire
- 10:59 AM: Kevin Yu (Chinese Taipei), Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela), Nicolai Hojgaard (Denmark)
- 11:10 AM: Mike Weir (Canada), Michael Kim, Cameron Young
- 11:21 AM: Zach Johnson, Joe Highsmith, Chris Kirk
- 11:38 AM: Danny Willett (England), Nicolas Echavarria (Colombia), Davis Thompson
- 11:49 AM: Bernhard Langer (Germany), Will Zalatoris, Noah Kent
- 12:00 PM: Cameron Smith (Australia), J. T. Poston, Aaron Rai (England)
- 12:11 PM: Fred Couples, Harris English, Taylor Pendrith (Canada)
- 12:22 PM: Corey Conners (Canada), Brian Harman, Stephan Jaeger (Germany)
- 12:33 PM: Patrick Reed, Max Greyserman, Byeong Hun An (Korea)
- 12:50 PM: Robert MacIntyre (Scotland), Billy Horschel, Nick Dunlap
- 1:01 PM: Collin Morikawa, Joaquin Niemann (Chile), Min Woo Lee (Australia)
- 1:12 PM: Phil Mickelson, Jason Day (Australia), Keegan Bradley
- 1:23 PM: Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, *Jose Luis Ballester (Spain)
- 1:34 PM: Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim (Korea), Tyrrell Hatton (England)
- 1:45 PM: Tony Finau, Maverick McNealy, Thomas Detry (Belgium)
As the day unfolds, fans and players alike hold their breath, awaiting the next moment of brilliance on the hallowed grounds of Augusta. Will the Canadians rise to the challenge and secure a spot in the weekend rounds? Only time will tell as the drama of The Masters continues to unfold.
