Shane Lowry’s putting frustrations returned in the second round of the RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto but he’s safely through to the weekend while Séamus Power and Pádraig Harrington missed the cut.
An opening five-under 65 saw Lowry enter round two just one shot off the lead but he got little going on day two, parring each of the first seven holes after starting on the 10th and then carding back-to-back bogeys to close out his opening nine.
Genuine birdie chances were few and far between on the way out, but he missed from inside six feet for a first red number on the card on 15, then three-putted from 35 feet for bogey on 17 and missed a 12-footer for par on 18.
His fortunes turned around on the first when he chipped in for an eagle-three, but though he had birdie looks from 20 feet and inside on seven of the last eight holes, he could only convert on the eighth but it got him into red figures on the day and he goes into the final 36 holes tied for 19th and four off midpoint leader Ben James.
It was a disappointing week for both Power and Harrington. The former began the day at one-over and though he managed to improve by three strokes, missed the cut by one having failed to birdie the par-5 18th. The latter traded two birdies with two bogeys in a level-par 70 that left him on +3.
James, however, was the story of the day.
The 23-year-old just completed his senior season at Virginia, qualified for his third U.S. Open on Monday and came to the RBC Canadian Open to make his professional debut after earning status via his standing as the top-ranked player in the PGA TOUR University Ranking.
He came to TPC Toronto not thinking about much of anything. He simply wanted to take this for what it is, his first start in what he hopes is a long, prosperous professional career.
So much for that.
James shot a spectacular seven-under 63 on Friday to rush to the top of the leaderboard, topping the likes of Sam Burns, defending champion Ryan Fox and Brooks Koepka who all trail closely behind. James is 10-under total after an opening 67.
“I wasn’t really thinking about really results at all this week,” Jame said. “Just worried about getting comfortable, making new friends and having fun, and just seeing where everything kind of falls. Just seeing where my game stacks up.
“Obviously, I have some stuff to work on, just trying to see where everything goes. Because this is just the baseline, it’s my first professional debut. Obviously had a great two days, but just trying to get better.”
It’s going to be difficult getting much better than he was during the second round.
The four-time NCAA Division I First-Team All-American opened with an eagle on the par-5 first when he drained a putt from 22 feet. He also eagled that hole on Thursday, playing it as his 10th of the day. “I think that hole just likes me,” he said.
Five more birdies followed the eagle on Friday, the last coming on the par-5 18th hole via a two-putt. Birdies on Nos. 8 and 12 both came after laser approach shots hit to 4 feet.
“It was a great day,” he said. “It all kind of came together today, it was just one of those days, the putter was good, hitting fairways, had good numbers, and was able to capitalize on a pretty tricky scoring day.”
This is James’ 10th start on the PGA TOUR, but the last came 11 months ago when he missed the cut at the John Deere Classic. He’s made two of nine cuts previously and his best finish is a tie for 33rd place at last year’s Valero Texas Open. He’s played in the U.S. Open twice and will play in his third next week at Shinnecock Hills. Following that he’s earned a sponsor exemption into the Travelers Championship.
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