RBC CANADIAN OPEN

June 4, 2025

Corey Conners

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course)

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Corey Conners into the interview room here at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.

Corey, you're the highest ranked Canadian in the World Golf Ranking this week in a large group of Canadians playing obviously in their National Championship. What are you looking forward to the most about appearing with defending champion Robert MacIntyre and Shane Lowry tomorrow?

COREY CONNERS: Any time you get a tee time at the RBC Canadian Open is special. Really thrilled to be here. New venue this year. I've been excited for the other players and the fans to see this golf course. I think it's an amazing course, amazing property in general. Two other good courses here as well that won't get showcased, but I'll give them a shout out.

Yeah, great pairing, playing with Robert MacIntyre, defending champ, seeing what he did last year at Hamilton was inspiring. Always fun to play with Shane. Pretty easy guy to be around. Really impressive game as well.

It will be fun and really looking forward to playing again in front of the Canadian fans. They always come out and support the event, but especially the Canadian players. So really excited.

Q. You haven't gotten over the line for a victory this season, but it's been a really solid season. You must be pretty happy with it, top 10 at the Masters and amongst five of them this season.

COREY CONNERS: My game's been consistent this season. I've had a number of good weeks. Kind of got off to a better start this year and built some confidence early in the season. I'm still looking for a win or getting in the winners circle again, like you said, but keep knocking at the door and I think it won't be too long.

It's not easy to win out here, but I keep getting myself in position. I've got trust in my game. Yeah, I'm liking where things are at.

Q. I've got two questions for you. The first is obviously you've played in a lot of Canadian Opens throughout your career, even when you were an amateur. Coming back here, does it ever give you cause to sort of reflect on how far you've come as a golfer?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, for sure. Growing up as a young kid in Listowel, Ontario, playing golf there every day, coming to watch the RBC Canadian Open, it was a childhood dream to play in this event one day and been able to do that many times. I think being here again definitely some reflection. I feel fortunate to be in the position that I'm in.

I certainly worked hard to get here, but a lot of things have gone right. I've had a lot of support from my team to be able to get here, and it's always exciting.

Q. Obviously you touched on this. You're in an excellent, very competitive group the first two rounds, but you're missing out on the all-Canadian group. Do you feel a little bit left out that you won't be with Taylor, Mack, and Nick?

COREY CONNERS: I spend enough time playing with those guys. I'll be okay. I got paired with Taylor last week at the Memorial, which was a lot of fun.

Yeah, I've got a great pairing. I know those three guys will have a lot of fun together. Regardless who I'm playing with, I'll be feeling the love from the Canadian fans, and it's going to be a fun week.

Q. New venue here. It's a very sprawling venue, so much opportunity to work with. There might be some concern with its proximity to downtown Toronto. What do you think players look for in venues and sites, and how does so far this facility meet up with what you think players look for when they travel to tournaments?

COREY CONNERS: This is a championship venue. The golf course has got all the attributes that you'd want in a good test. You've got to have every part of your game working. You've got to drive it well. You've got to iron it well. You've got to be efficient on the greens.

I think the facilities here -- great practice facility, great clubhouse, locker room -- those are all added bonuses, which I think make the week a little bit easier. Once you're here, you've got everything that you need.

You mentioned the proximity to the city, I think it's close enough. Yeah, just a special place that a lot of people are going to take notice of, I think this week. I know a lot of the players have already told me some positive feedback about it. I think everyone's going to like it. It's going to be a good weekend.

Q. Corey, there's at least 20 Canadians in the field, and a lot of them are part of the Golf Canada National Team. Where you are in your career and having won on the Tour, et cetera, et cetera, are they coming to you for advice?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, it's been nice to see some of the younger guys this week. I haven't been able to spend too, too much time with them, but I said hello to a bunch of the guys this morning. I'm always open to giving them advice and told a few guys, just play your game. You don't have to do anything different. Just trust in yourself and try it keep it simple.

Remembering my first couple Canadian Opens, it's a big stage to be playing on. There's definitely nerves. They've all got great games. They're all well prepared. Hopefully some of the Canadians can be up near the top of the leaderboard.

Q. On kind of the opposite end of the age spectrum, Mike Weir, 32nd RBC Canadian Open, tied for the most ever. Just wonder if you can speak to his legacy in this sport and in this country.

COREY CONNERS: Mike, he was an icon in Canada. He was an inspiration to me when I was growing up and an aspiring junior golfer. He's someone that I've always had my eye on. The success he was able to have really motivated and inspired me to work hard and try and get to the top level of professional golf someday.

He's been incredibly supportive over the last few years, and being able to have him as the captain of the Presidents Cup team in Montreal last fall was really amazing. Can't believe, 32's quite a lot. I've definitely got a long way to go. Like you said, he's been an icon. He's had a few chances to win this event.

It's always fun seeing him. I spent some time with him yesterday. He's done so much to inspire me and so much for golf in Canada that it's awesome to have him here again.

Q. We make a lot of fun experiences, guys like us in the room here going whether it's to Cabot or out to West Coast or whatever. When you guys talk about a fun experience on Tour, I understand this is your job, but when you come to a place like this and it's kind of pretty dynamic, it's new, it's fresh, and all that kind of thing, is it a fun experience? Is it kind of cool to be at a place like this that's kind of got that almost like abandoned dunes kind of a feel to it?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, it sure is. It's really fun to be here. I think me, growing up not too far away from here and spending some time in the summers in this area, having been here a number of times over the last four or five years and seeing the development, seeing the changes, now here at the RBC Canadian Open they've got a lot of the things well on their way or finished, it's an incredible property. It's definitely fun to kind of be able to soak it all in and get to enjoy the week.