[PHOTOS] A hole in a hockey “rink” at the PGA Canadian Golf Open

BETTING À DAY

The PGA Canadian Open gets underway on the course at Oakdale Golf & Oakville Country Club of Toronto, and as has been the case for the past few years, one of the holes has been configured to recall Canada's premier sport, hockey.

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On the teeing ground of the 14th hole, a par 3 of 166 yards, bands in the colors of the sponsor RBC have been installed. Behind are stands reminiscent of an arena, where spectators can sit to watch the golfers take off. 

📍 No. 14
⛳️ Par 3
📏 166 yards

Views from The Rink @RBCCanadianOpen 🏒🥅 pic.twitter.com/REwixdU6FX

&mdash ; PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 8, 2023

The idea for this hole called “The Rink”was born in 2017, to mark the 150th anniversary of Canada, where, of course, hockey remains the most popular sport.

Canadian Mackenzie Hughes also made a great start there during the first round on Thursday and then scored a birdie. 

The Rink loved this one 😎
@MacHughesGolf sticks it close in front of a fired up Canadian crowd @RBCCanadianOpen. pic.twitter.com/2IxY9suku2

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 8, 2023

The Canadian Open runs until Sunday. Another representative of the maple leaf, Corey Conners, was in the lead at the end of the initial round, after giving up a card of 67 (-5). He shared the top spot with three other golfers: Britain's Aaron Rai as well as Americans Chesson Hadley and Justin Lower.

If he ever retained his top spot, Conners would become the first Canadian since Pat Fletchere, in 1954, to win top honors at the event.