As Rory McIlroy stopped the day 10 behind the pace, Cristobal Del Solar barely missed shooting a 59 in the first round of the Canadian Open.
Chile’s Del Solar birdied 10 of his first 16 holes; a bogey on the 17th checked his progress and he missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the last to grab the outright lead.
Del Solar, the first player to score a 57 in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event on the Korn Ferry Tour in February 2024, concluded on nine under par in Ontario alongside Thorbjorn Olesen.
The Danish had an eagle on the eighteenth to add to eight birdies.
McIlroy fired a one-over 71, hitting three birdies but four bogeys, notably on his last two holes.
“I actually felt like I played OK,” the two-time champion of this event remarked.
“I thought my first outing with a new driver went really nicely.
“I missed a few greens and didn’t get them up and down, particularly those last couple holes. I hit some excellent iron shots.
“I’m generally rather pleased with my performance. To have a chance, I have to go somewhat lower [on Friday] and during the weekend.
While defending Scottish defender Robert MacIntyre, English trio Danny Willett and Paul Waring sit at five under, Irishman Shane Lowry carded a promising 64 to end the first round on six under.
