Calcavecchia sets record with nine birdies in row

Former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia birdied nine holes in a row today in the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey, Ontario to break the US PGA record of eight successive birdies first achieved in 1961 by Bob Goalby and later equalled by five other players down through the years.
In perfect morning scoring conditions at a rain-softened course, Calcavecchia opened the delayed second round with two pars, then reeled off the nine straight birdies. His nine birdie putts were from 15 feet or closer.
With 15-year-old son Eric working as his caddie, Calcavecchia shot a seven-under 65 to finish two rounds at eight under par, five strokes behind leader Jason Dufner.
"It's just as opposite as you can get of last week," said Calcavecchia, coming off a tie for 27th Sunday in the Open at Turnberry.
"It's just fly it right to the stick. You give the guys out here no wind and greens that are plugging, you're going to see a lot of low scores."
Calcavecchia won the (British) Open championship in 1989 and 2005 Canadian Open winner at Shaughnessey in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Because of the wet conditions, players were allowed to use preferred lies in the fairways,
"Records are made to be broken," Calcavecchia said. "Could somebody make 10 in a row? Sure. . It wouldn't surprise me if some guy whips out 10 birdies in a row sometime this weekend. Really wouldn't. These guys are good."