Bud Cauley has lauded the reception he received on the Rink Hole at TPC Toronto after securing his first ever PGA Tour victory at the RBC Canadian Open this past week.
Another fantastic trip to Canada is in the books for the PGA Tour. Cauley ended up producing a stunning performance on the back nine on Sunday to take charge of the tournament.
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However, a number of big names were also in the mix during the final round. Matt Fitzpatrick finished second at TPC Toronto, while the likes of Viktor Hovland, Sam Burns, and Tommy Fleetwood all had opportunities to win.
Bud Cauley issues his verdict on the Rink Hole after winning the Canadian Open
TPC Toronto was an excellent test. Good shots were rewarded, while there were plenty of penalties for missing the fairway or the green.
But of course, the most notable spot on the course was the par three 14th. Nicknamed the Rink Hole, it was the spot for some of the rowdiest fans in attendance to position themselves.
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
The gimmick will not have been for everyone. But speaking after his victory was confirmed, Cauley insisted that he loved the atmosphere on the 14th.
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“Yeah, it was awesome. Almost made birdie there today. Hit a really good one in there yesterday. I thought it might take a peek and go in there for a minute. But it’s a lot of fun. Obviously it’s kind of similar to like 16 in Phoenix, you know, very loud and they’re banging on the boards. In that environment, you really just want to hit a good shot, so they can continue to get loud,” he said.
Bud Cauley reacts to the support he has received during his PGA Tour career
It is difficult to imagine that there could have been a more popular winner among PGA Tour players. It is well-documented what Cauley has gone through over the last decade.
He recovered from a life-threatening car crash in 2018 to eventually return to the professional game. And he has now secured his first ever PGA Tour victory.
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Justin Thomas was quick to laud Cauley on social media after his win. And the 36-year-old explained just how special it is to have so many of his peers in his corner.
“It means a lot. I’ve played the game my whole life and I mean, basically everyone I know is through the game of golf,” he said.
“So not just guys out here, but even my friends at home that don’t play professional golf. But to have your peers, you know, like you, I guess, and think you’re a pretty good guy is, you know, means a lot. Like I said, I’m lucky to play this game and to get to be around all these guys every week too.”
Getting across that hurdle and becoming a PGA Tour winner has been a game-changer for a number of players over the years.
Cauley clearly has the talent to make his Canadian Open victory the first of many. And there will be plenty of people who hope that proves to be the case.
