Conners rides late birdie binge at Royal Birkdale to gain weekend momentum

Published Jul 17, 2026  •  2 minute read

Canada's Corey Conners reacts after playing from a green-side bunker on the 18th hole on day two of the 154th Open Golf championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN /AFP via Getty Images

SOUTHPORT, England — After a day and a half of being stuck in neutral at the season’s final major, Corey Conners turned up the heat at a baked-out Royal Birkdale on Friday, and will head to the weekend with some momentum.

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After bogeying the par-4 11th hole to drop to two-over par in his second round, the Canadian caught fire and birdied five of his next six holes to leap onto the Open Championship leaderboard.

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Despite dropping a shot at the final hole, Conners finished the day with a three-under par 67 and heads to the weekend at two-under.

“I hit some really quality shots and had some good numbers,” Conners told the Toronto Sun after his round. “We had kind of some free shots on the back nine where I was able to make a bunch of birdies in a row.”

What the Canadian ball-striking wizard meant by “free shots” were approach shots that didn’t require much thought about club choice or much risk of running into the unusual circumstances that links golf is known for.

Red-hot on the back nine

“I just had good numbers, I feel like,” he said of the stretch of five birdies in six holes beginning at the 12th.

Conners’ nine-iron tee shot on the par-3 12th finished inside a foot from the hole.

“I could aim at the pin,” he said. “My stock shot was going to hang in there and not curve too much. I hit it right on the number, and it was an easy birdie.”

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The birdie binge ended at the par-5 17th with a wedge from 119 yards that finished less than two feet from the pin.

“I was able to swing with freedom,” he added.

With two 62s on Friday and the leaders deep into red numbers, Conners was staying positive about his chances of getting in the mix over the weekend.

“There’s lots of golf left. It would be nice to be a couple shots lower, but I feel like I’m moving in the right direction,” he said. “It’s going to be bunched up ahead of me. I’ve just got to keep playing well and hopefully have a special round and get up near the top.”

Nick Taylor shot a one-over 71 and heads to the weekend at one-under par.

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