Corey Conners entered the final round of the 2025 Masters Tournament on Sunday, April 13, 2025, just four strokes off the lead, but his hopes took a sharp turn when he missed a shocking 1-foot putt on the first hole. As the drama unfolded at Augusta National Golf Club, all eyes were on the leaders, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, but Conners was also in the mix, aiming for a historic finish.
Conners, a 33-year-old Kent State graduate, had been performing well throughout the tournament, sitting third after shooting a 70 on Saturday. Entering the day, he was tied for second with reigning champion Scottie Scheffler and last year's runner-up Ludvig Åberg, trailing only McIlroy, who led at 12 under.
As Conners approached the first hole, the excitement was palpable. He found the fairway off the tee and hit a wedge shot that left him with a 25-foot birdie opportunity. However, after lagging his putt to within a foot of the hole, he missed the tap-in, a shocking error that left fans and commentators stunned. According to PGA Tour statistics, pros have a 99.55% success rate on putts from three feet and closer this season, making Conners' miss all the more surprising.
Despite this setback, Conners remained determined. "I’ve got a lot of faith in my game," he said after his round. "What the other guys do is kind of out of my control, but I’m going to have to go and play a really good round of golf today." His resolve was evident as he continued to battle through the course.
Meanwhile, the tournament's narrative was dominated by McIlroy's dramatic performance. After allowing a four-shot lead to evaporate on the back nine, McIlroy found himself in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose. The tension was thick as McIlroy briefly regained the lead only to bogey the final hole, sending the tournament into a playoff for the first time since 2017. Ultimately, McIlroy held his nerve to birdie the playoff hole, completing a career Grand Slam and earning his first Masters title.
Conners, who had shot a solid 68 in the opening round and followed up with two 70s, was looking to make history of his own. He was the top-ranked Canadian on the PGA Tour heading into the Masters, sitting sixth in the FedEx Cup standings. As he teed off in the final round, he was not only competing for the coveted green jacket but also aiming to become the second Canadian to win the Masters, following Mike Weir's historic victory in 2003.
Throughout the tournament, Conners had shown remarkable consistency, particularly on the par-5 holes, where he was 7 under for the tournament. However, the pressure of the final round proved challenging. By the time he reached the par-three fourth hole, he had already dropped another shot, leaving him five strokes behind the leaders. "It just takes something special to get yourself to the top of the leaderboard," Conners reflected, acknowledging the difficulty of maintaining momentum under pressure.
Fans back in his hometown of Listowel, Ontario, were cheering him on. Local patrons at Crabby Joe's were glued to the screen, expressing pride in their hometown hero. "It's always good to see someone from a small town doing well, doing what they love to do," one fan remarked. Conners' journey from a small-town golfer to a contender at the Masters has been an inspiring story for many.
As the round progressed, the excitement continued to build. Conners struggled with his putting, leaving him with difficult second putts that he couldn't convert. His frustration was palpable, but his determination remained unwavering. "I just need to keep doing my thing and see how it plays out," he said, emphasizing his focus on his game plan.
In the grand scheme of the tournament, Conners' performance was a testament to his growth as a player. He had made a name for himself on the PGA Tour with two victories at the Valero Texas Open in 2019 and 2023, and he was now poised to make a significant impact in one of golf's most prestigious events. Conners had entered the Masters seeking his best finish yet, and despite the challenges, he was determined to leave everything on the course.
As the final round unfolded, the atmosphere at Augusta was electric. With McIlroy and DeChambeau battling for the lead, Conners' story was a reminder of the unpredictable nature of golf. Each stroke could change the course of the tournament, and every player on the course was aware of the stakes.
In the end, Conners finished the round with a score that reflected the challenges he faced throughout the day. While he fell short of the green jacket, his performance solidified his status as a rising star in the sport. As he walked off the 18th green, he reflected on the experience, knowing that each tournament was a stepping stone towards his ultimate goal.
With the Masters behind him, Conners looks ahead to future tournaments, eager to build on his success and continue to inspire fans both in Canada and around the world. His journey is far from over, and with each swing, he inches closer to his dreams of major championship glory.
