CBS golf reporter Amanda Balionis stepped onto The Rink, the tee box of the 14th hole at the RBC Canadian Open, wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey with Auston Matthews' name stitched on the back, and was greeted with cheers from the spectators.
She ran around the start of the Par 3 hole, high-fiving fans as they leaned over the hockey boards, highlighting the uniqueness of the Canadian Open. Her colleague, former professional golfer, Colt Knost, stepped out to the tee box shortly after, but was greeted with a large string of boos.
The reason for the booing? The 39-year-old wore a Florida Panthers jersey with Brad Marchand's name on the back.
"It is a timely sweater for you to wear, considering last night's (Friday's) game, but I got to tell you, I've only ever experienced Canada nice, Colt. You seem to bring out a different side," Balionis told Knost shortly after the two walked out wearing different hockey jerseys.
"I was panicking last night. They said I needed a hockey sweater," Knost replied. "I went to the store and this was the first one I could find."
Knost's jersey-wearing antics came the day after Florida's 5-4 overtime win in Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers, tying the Stanley Cup Final at one game apiece. Marchand, who's been in the news lately — and not just for his point production — scored two goals, including the overtime-winner on Friday.
An unrestricted free agent after this season, Marchand told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, "anything's on the table," when asked about playing for a Canadian team next season.
"I'm going to listen to anything," the Halifax, Nova Scotia, native said. "We'll deal with it when the time comes, and we'll see what the right fit is."
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Marchand had eight points (three goals, five assists) in seven games against the Maple Leafs in the second round. The 37-year-old, following Florida's 6-1 win in Game 7 against Toronto, admitted he grew up a Maple Leafs fan, adding Toronto fans beat the pressure into their team.
It'll be fascinating to see where the veteran forward lands once free agency opens on July 1.
On Wednesday, at the Canadian Open's Pro-Am, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley gave former number-one golfer Rory McIlroy a Maple Leafs jersey with his name on the back. "If I can win the Masters," McIlroy said on Wednesday via TSN's Bob Weeks, "then the Leafs can win the Stanley Cup."
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McIlroy missed the first cut at the tournament after shooting 71-78 in the first and second rounds at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Alton, Ontario. The Canadian Open finishes up on Sunday before golfers head to Pennsylvania for the U.S. Open, which begins on June 12.
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