Scotsman Robert MacIntyre was tied for the lead with Rory McIlroy halfway through the Canadian Open before a disappointing performance on Friday.
McIntyre followed up his 64 on Thursday with a 66 for a 10-under total to take the lead at Hamilton Golf and Country Club before New Zealand’s Ryan Fox matched McIntyre’s total at 6-under in the second round.
Ryder Cup champion MacIntyre, who has not made a bogey so far and does not have a permanent caddie, flew in on Sunday to deliver his caddie for the week.
“We were getting to the end and he said, ‘I think I might need to start negotiating salary this week,’ ” McIntyre said in his post-fight interview.
“It’s been an experience for both of us. He’s doing well so far. It’s been good for both of us and made me completely forget about playing golf.
Robert MacIntyre had three top-15 finishes in five starts this week, including a tie for eighth at the PGA Championship.
“After the news (of Grayson Murray’s death) broke last week, it became something much bigger than the game of golf. We’re all human beings, I put my dad on the bag, and we’re just trying to enjoy it as much as we can because we don’t know how much longer we’re going to be able to keep going.
“With a lot of things going on this week, there weren’t any expectations. I came out here, put my dad on the bag and tried to play smart golf and missed on the right side, which I’ve done so far.
“Whatever I missed, I had a chance to play. I played solid enough and was happy with how I played the first two days. I just tried to get ready for the weekend.”
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The left-hander holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the first hole and added another birdie putt after reaching the par-5 fourth hole in two shots.
His sharp approach on the back nine gave him two more birdies, first hitting his approach to seven feet on the short par-4 12th and then getting even closer on the 422-yard 15th.
MacIntyre didn’t capitalize on the par-5 17th because he had to sprint out of a fairway bunker, but he fought back in the final moments to make par.
McIlroy had a disappointing second round, shooting a two-over 72 and has dropped to a tie for 30th place.
McIlroy finished 12th at the PGA Championship, with just one birdie on Friday, and is eight shots behind the lead.
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