Cristobal Del Solar’s Near-Magic Moment at Canadian Open

CALEDON, Ontario - Cristobal Del Solar, the golfer known as "Mr. 57" from his remarkable 13-under 57 at the Astara Golf Championship, nearly conjured another round for the ages at the RBC Canadian Open.

On a rain-softened TPC Toronto layout, Del Solar fired a sizzling 9-under 61, sharing the first-round lead with Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen. Though tantalizingly close to a sub-60 score, bogeys on the par-4 17th and a par on the par-5 18th left the Chilean PGA Tour rookie reflecting on missed opportunities.

“I was just trying to hit good shots and stay in the present,” Del Solar offered with his characteristic cool. At 31, the former Florida State standout made a phenomenal push, racking up seven birdies in just an eight-hole stretch. His round also featured a notable 6 1/2-foot birdie putt on 14 and an impressive 15 1/2-footer on 16.

Needing an eagle on the last for a 59, Del Solar's drive landed in the rough, halting his charge. Reflecting, he remained grounded: “You just want to go out and just hit the golf shots,” he mused.

Meanwhile, Olesen’s day was stellar in its own right, capped by an eagle on 18, his ninth hole of the day. Looking back on his putting prowess, Olesen remarked, “I definitely holed some long ones as well. It was nice to see everything go in.”

While afternoon starters like Rory McIlroy struggled, with McIlroy posting a 71 after late bogeys, others thrived. Cameron Champ shot a 62, while Jake Knapp, who recorded a 59 in March, carded a 63.

In a tournament teeming with talent, including defending champion Robert MacIntyre posting a solid 65, Del Solar and Olesen’s rounds stood out as they flirted with history, falling just shy of matching the tournament record of 60.