Canadian Open: Matt Fitzpatrick one off early leader Wyndham Clark; Rory McIlroy starts strongly | Golf News

Wyndham Clark holds a one-shot lead over Matt Fitzpatrick, with Harold Varner III two back in tied-third with Doug Ghim; Rory McIlroy three behind – watch live throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, with early coverage also live on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel

Matt Fitzpatrick is a shot off the early lead at the RBC Canadian Open

Matt Fitzpatrick sits a shot off the lead after the opening round of the RBC Canadian Open, as defending champion Rory McIlroy also made a strong start.

Fitzpatrick, chasing a maiden PGA Tour title, mixed seven birdies with a lone bogey to post a six-under 64 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club, keeping the Englishman in touch with early leader Wyndham Clark.

Beginning on the back nine, Fitzpatrick followed a birdie-birdie start by holing from 45 feet at the 13th and picking up another shot from 10 feet at the 17th to reach the turn in 32.

Fitzpatrick is playing alongside Shane Lowry, who carded a three-under 67

Fitzpatrick saw a birdie at the par-three third cancelled out when he missed from four feet to save par at the next, only to drain a 35-footer at the eighth and two-putt from 10 feet to add a closing bogey on the par-five ninth.

“Really, really happy with the way I played today, just solid all around,” Fitzpatrick said. “Had a couple of opportunities to chip it a little bit closer, but other than that, I’m being really picky. Everything in my game was going well. So, yeah, I’m happy with the start.”

Clark set the pace after birdieing five of his opening eight holes on his way to a bogey-free 63, while McIlroy is three off the pace after beginning his title defence with a four-under 66.

“A really solid start, 66 around here is a good score,” McIlroy said. “Overall, very happy with the start of the week, especially coming off a disappointing weekend at the Memorial last weekend. It was nice to bounce back with a good score.”

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Rory McIlroy says he doesn’t begrudge or envy the players that have joined the LIV Tour and conceded he’ll keep an eye on London.

Shane Lowry posted a three-under 67, as world No 1 Scottie Scheffler joined Justin Thomas in carding an opening-round 69 despite bogeying his first two and last two holes in an eventful round.

Tyrrell Hatton bogeyed his final three holes to sign for a four-over 74, while world No 4 Cameron Smith is in danger of missing the cut after failing to register a birdie and bogeying four of the last five holes in an opening-round 76.

Watch the RBC Canadian Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Friday from 11.45am via the red button on Sky Sports Golf and for free on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel.