For Conners, ignorance was bliss

Canadian unaware of what he needed at U.S. Open to snag Olympic spot

- JOHN CHIDLEY-HILL

Corey Conners knew going into the US, Open that he would need a good showing to qualify for Canada's Olympic golf team. But Conners didn't really know the details, and he didn't want to know, either.

Conners, from Listowel, Ont., and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., officially qualified for the Olympics on Monday when the men's world golf rankings were updated to reflect the U.S. Open results. Taylor's spot was almost guaranteed before the weekend but Conners needed to tie for Ilth or better at Pinehurst No. 2 to represent Canada at the upcoming Summer Games. He tied for ninth.

"I was very unaware of what I needed to do," Conners said during a video conference. "I knew I was going to need to play well, that's about it. I had no idea what place I needed to finish. My strategy was just to get the ball in the holes in the least amount of strokes as possible and take care of business at the U.S. Open."