Taylor

Pendrith

The Canadian gained at least three-fourths of a shot in all four sub-categories of strokes gained today. It was a balanced attack but his irons and putting led the charge (+2.1 strokes gained approach and +1.7 strokes putting). “Everything was kind of clicking. I rolled some putts in early, made a couple longer ones, which is nice to see. Yeah, just very solid, nothing incredible, but hit a lot of really nice shots and didn’t really put myself in many difficult positions.” Pendrith arrived with just two top 40s in his last 14 stroke-play events but he was dialed in today and now finds himself on page one in Mexico with 54 holes remaining.

The Canadian had hit fewer fairways than the field in six straight events but flipped that script today. He piped all 14 fairways at TPC Sawgrass to help set up four birdies and an eagle, erasing a lone blemish. “I love it. It suits my eye really well, and there’s a lot of drivers, and when I’m driving it great, it’s fun.” Pendrith opened 68-71 at last year’s PLAYERS to find himself T5 at the midpoint before a Saturday 74 set him back, settling for a T13 finish at week’s end.

This score won’t hold up as he’s currently T5 and there is plenty of scoring available on a soft Pebble Beach layout when play resumes on Monday morning. Still, it was a good way to end the week and find some much-needed momentum for the Canadian who arrived with a missed cut and T60 to start the new year. Pendrith pelted 29 GIR over the last 36 holes played while gaining 5.4 strokes putting. He’s looking to keep this momentum rolling next week at the WM Phoenix Open.

The PGA TOUR rookie lost a big chunk of his season due to a rib injury. He still managed nine top 25s in 21 events played. It was a very strong start to his TOUR career. His week at the BMW Championship ended with 16 birdies and two eagles to erase 11 bogeys. He ranked 12th in strokes gained off-the-tee and 6th on approach. Pendrith currently sits in a share of eighth place on the live leaderboard with play winding down on Sunday afternoon. He should remain a weekly target for fantasy gamers next season, as he starts to see more courses for a second time around.

The PGA TOUR rookie, who was a R1 co-leader and R2 leader by one, drops to 0-for-2 as a 54-hole leader/co-leader after overnight co-leader and playing competitor Tony Finau (67) claimed victory for a second straight week. On eight (of 14) fairways and 15 greens in regulation, he posted 0.305 SG: Off-the-Tee, -0.188 SG: Approach, -1.141 SG: Around, and -1.816 SG: Putting with 33 total putts. The Canadian, who arrived off three consecutive top-15 finishes, bags his second career top 10 in 27 events, brushing aside a prior-best T5 at the Bermuda 14 starts ago (in October), where he was the 54-hole leader by three. For the week, he signed for rounds of 64-65-66-72, tallied 28 birdies, No. 1 in that stat, against seven bogeys, three versus three on Sunday, and ranked 8th SG: Tee-to-Green (8.989) and 10th SG: Putting (4.615). See link below to post-round comments.

The PGA TOUR rookie, who was also a R1 co-leader with Finau, will do battle again with him on Sunday out of the final pairing (2:00 pm ET), each of them beginning four clear of 3rd-place holder and rookie Cameron Young (65). This is his second 54-hole leader/co-lead in 27 events, first since the Bermuda Championship back in October, where he led by three before fading to a career-best T5 (70-61-65-76), his lone top-10 finish to date. On 11 (of 14) fairways and 16 greens in regulation, the Canadian gained 2.574 strokes tee-to-green and 1.133 on-the-green, offsetting two squares at holes 9 (3-putt from 60'8") and 13 (errrant tee ball & forced layup), with eight birdies at 1, 4, 6, 8, 14 (fringe-shot from 15'1"), 15, 16 and 18, four conventionally from between nine and 19 feet. See link below to post-round comments.

The Canadian and PGA TOUR rookie, who is making his tourney debut, will be in the final pairing on Saturday with R1 co-leader Finau, scheduled for 2:00 pm ET. This is his second 36-hole lead/co-lead in 27 events, first since the Bermuda Championship back in October, where he led by one and was the 54-hole leader by three before finishing a still-career-best T5 (70-61-65-76), his lone top-10 finish to date. On 13 (of 14) fairways and 14 greens in regulation, the Kent State alum camouflaged one bogey-5 at 16 (missed par-saver from 7'3") with eight birdies at 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 17, two from between 11 and 12 feet, posting 3.919 SG: Tee-to-Green and 2.140 SG: Putting. At the halfway pole, he ranks 4th TTG (7.439), 2nd SGP (5.297), 1st in total birdies (17), and 1st in putts per GIR (1.444). See link below to post-round comments.

The Canadian split 8-of-14 fairways and then gained 3.3 strokes on approach en route to landing 13 GIR. What makes that number even more impressive is the fact that he found water with his approach shot at the par-5 14th, which tells you how locked in his irons were for the remaining 17 holes. The putter contributed with a pair of birdie bombs from outside of 19 feet while four of his circles were tapped home from inside of five feet. “It’s just really nice to be back playing healthy. It’s been a long time off and I’m just happy to be playing golf again pain free. Obviously the 8 under is a great start, but there’s so much golf left and, like I said, I’m just happy to be back playing and everything’s a bonus.” Pendrith missed a big chunk of the season due to a broken rib but has not skipped a beat in his return with two top 15s and a fast start this week in Detroit. If this co-lead holds then it’ll be his first time posting a first-round lead or co-lead on the PGA TOUR. He did lead after 36 and 54 holes at the Bermuda Championship last fall.

The Canadian has been sidelined since a top 15 at THE PLAYERS in March but was “very excited” to return this week. Despite his excitement, fans will have to wait a bit longer to see him return to the course. Pendrith started the week at 107th in the FedExCup standings and is still on pace to make the Playoffs, but he will need to return to action sooner rather than later to avoid getting passed down the summer stretch.