Johnson on top in Canada

Dustin Johnson battled windy conditions and shot an eventful six-under-par 66 to take a share of the lead on Thursday at the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

‘It was a good day. I felt like I played really solid all day. I drove it really nicely and holed a few putts.I like this golf course. I think it sets up well for me. I like it off the tee. The conditions are really tough right now’ he said.

The 32-year-old got his round going with a run of three birdies in a row from the third hole before dropping a shot at the ninth to make the turn at two-under-par.

The US Open champion’s homeward stretch started with three birdies in the first four holes before his charge was stopped in its tracks at the 14th, where he carded a double-bogey six.

‘I made one bad swing, just didn’t quite commit to the shot I was hitting. I got a little unlucky for it to go in the water there’ he said.

The world number two recovered with a birdie at the 16th before he made the green in two at the par-five 18th and duly sunk the eagle putt to come home in four-under-par.

Johnson is joined at the top by Luke List, who carded a flawless 66. The 31-year-old opened his round on the 10th and went out in 32 strokes (five-under-par) before adding a solitary birdie on the back nine to complete his day.

The top Canadian in the field is amateur Jared du Toit, who fired a five-under-par 67 in the morning session to sit in a share of third place. Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge was tied-seventh after an opening 68.

Ernie Els was the top South African in 21st place after firing a two-under-par 70. Other South Africans that completed their first rounds were Tyrone van Aswegen (72), George Coetzee (73), Dawie van der Walt (73), Thomas Aiken (75), and Rory Sabbatini (77).