After 3-putt sinks him in WGC-Dell Match Play semis, Corey Conners insists he’s making short-game strides

AUSTIN, Texas — When it was over, Corey Conners retreated to the driving range in an effort to lick his wounds a little. It’s probably where he’s most comfortable.

The Canadian has always carried a big stick on the PGA Tour—he’s currently eighth in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee this season, the same spot he finished the last campaign—but he’s focused plenty of his energy on honing his short game. During the semifinals at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play on Sunday, that short game failed him a bit at a crucial juncture of an even match.

Conners missed his tee shot a little right on the 130-yard 17th hole, but still sat in prime position to put pressure on his opponent Kevin Kisner, who also missed the green and had a delicate, longer shot from up on a bank.

From about 40 feet away, Kisner rolled a beauty from the fringe that snuggled within a foot of the cup.

Conners, also using a putter from the fringe, hammered one past the hole, then missed the nine-footer coming back to fall 1 down with one to play. He missed a 12-footer for birdie on 18 and lost the match, 2 up.

“That same sort of shot tricked me yesterday, where I hammered it way by,” Conners said of his effort on No. 17 before meeting Dustin Johnson in the consolation match. “It’s hard to not hit it too hard. It’s kind of riding up a little bit when it first gets on the green — or so it seems. But it really doesn’t go up much and just kind of never lost pace. That same thing happened yesterday.

“I definitely want to have that one back.”

Although he would have loved to take home the $2.1 million first-place prize at Austin Country Club, up nearly $300,000 from a year ago, Conners is also hoping to show he’s got what it takes in a high-stakes match-play format with the 2022 Presidents Cup coming over the horizon. The top eight international players are automatically selected by points, with the following four spots chosen by captain Trevor Immelman.

Coming into this week, Conners was at No. 12 on that list, meaning he’s got the resume to be included. He was snubbed last time around, in 2019, when the U.S. won for the eighth consecutive time, and he’s hoping to leave little doubt he should be included for this fall’s event at Quail Hollow.

“Obviously, it was very close, but I didn’t earn my spot on the team, and I’ll be definitely trying to do that this year. I was a little disappointed to not be there, but just kind of looked ahead, and I’m excited for the opportunity this year and the years to come,” Conners said earlier this week.

“It obviously looks good winning matches — that’s the format for the Presidents Cup. I’m not really thinking about that too much. … I’m just trying to play my game, take care of business, and hopefully keep looking good for the captain.”

A Canadian flag and a U.S. flag fly from a boat in Lake Austin during the 2022 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club. (Photo: Mikala Compton/American-Statesman)

Part of that looking good is improving his short game. Conners has made his strides — he was 181st in Strokes Gained: Putting for two straight seasons starting in 2018, but has climbed to a serviceable 104th this season. This week, prior to the consolation, he ranked 12th in that sta in the field of 64.

Better, if not spectacular.

Still, as he keeps getting in prime position like he did this week, winning four matches (one against Paul Casey was awarded through concession) and reaching the final four in an elite tournament, Conners thinks he’s finding the right formula.

“It feels that way. The game definitely feels good. I feel like a made a lot of strides with my short game. I’m still hitting it very well, and chipping and putting as good as I ever have now,” he said. “And I feel like I’ve done a good job this week. I left a few out there today, but this course is tricky. But I feel great about all parts of my game.”