John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press
Regardless of being among the best Canadian golfers on the PGA Tour, Taylor Pendrith didn’t actually develop up dreaming of taking part in within the Masters.
As an alternative, his objective was to play in Main League Baseball or the NHL.
Pendrith, who was the MVP of his highschool baseball group in Richmond Hill, Ont., and likewise performed junior A hockey, will make his Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership debut on Thursday.
“Truthfully, even the primary few years in faculty taking part in faculty golf, I didn’t actually know I used to be going to play professionally,” Pendrith informed reporters on Tuesday. “So clearly I watched the Masters event and adopted golf, however by no means actually thought I might be right here till in all probability the final 12 months of faculty.
“As soon as I obtained my PGA Tour card it turned extra of a actuality that, ‘hey, if I do play effectively I might get right here.’”
Pendrith performed at Kent State College earlier than turning professional in 2014, working his method up from the PGA Tour Canada to the Korn Ferry Tour and eventually the PGA Tour. The 33-year-old certified for the Masters, the primary main of the lads’s golf season, when he gained the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Could 5.
“I had been a pair instances as a spectator and it is going to be a extremely particular week,” stated Pendrith. “It’s already been such a cool week, and to have all my household and buddies right here, it’s superior.”
Pendrith might be joined at Augusta by Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont.
Conners and Pendrith performed collectively at Kent State and have been one of the best males at one another’s weddings. They’ve gone on to play collectively on Golf Canada’s nationwide group and have been twice members of the Worldwide Crew on the Presidents Cup.
“(Pendrith) appeared nice on the market,” stated Conners after the 4 Canadians practised collectively. “It was superior to share that have with him.
“Tried to inform him just a few of the issues that I realized over time. However I believe this golf course is nice for him.”
Conners is the best ranked Canadian on the FedEx Cup standings, sitting sixth heading into the Masters. He’s performed within the event seven instances, ending within the high 10 in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
“I believe there’s an added consolation degree realizing you had some good rounds out right here, realizing what it takes to play effectively,” stated Conners, who can also be 33. “I believe that’s positively large right here in comparison with a few of the weeks.
“Clearly, it’s the most important golf event on this planet. Simply enjoyable to be right here any time, however positively having had some first rate outcomes, there’s a lot of positives I can draw from.”
Taylor is sixteenth on the FedEx Cup rankings and Pendrith is thirty ninth.
The 54-year-old Weir primarily performs on the Champions Tour and is due to this fact unranked on the PGA Tour, however robotically qualifies for the Masters because the 2003 champion. Weir remains to be the one Canadian man to win a significant.
Taylor, 36, has gained on the PGA Tour 5 instances, together with three playoffs. He thinks a significant win could possibly be shut for him.
“I do know I’m not far off, it’s simply getting via that barrier of in all probability the idea standpoint after which I’ve performed effectively sufficient at a overwhelming majority of golf programs that there’s no purpose I can’t compete out right here,” stated Taylor, who might be competing on the Masters for a 3rd time. “So getting that perception is certainly in all probability the subsequent step after which from there I can shoot some good scores.”
