RBC Canadian Open Preview

The PGA Tour is in Quebec this week for the RBC Canadian Open at Royal Montreal Golf Club. Brandt Snedeker of the USA is the defending champion and a strong field has assembled.

Lowdown: The PGA Tour is in Quebec this week for the RBC Canadian Open at Royal Montreal Golf Club. Brandt Snedeker of the USA is the defending champion and a strong field has assembled.

Less than a week after the final putt was struck at Hoylake, a number of those who contested the year’s third Major have made the journey back across the Atlantic to compete in this event. In fact, a plane was specially chartered to transport those who’d teed it up at Royal Liverpool. Brandt Snedeker, Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk are among those on the start sheet.

This is an historic tournament that began life back in 1904. Since that time, there have been many famous winners of the event. The roll call of champions reads like a who’s who of golfing legends: Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Bobby Locke, Arnold Palmer, Bob Charles, Lee Trevino, Tom Weiskopf, Greg Norman, Curtis Strange, Nick Price, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk have all been winners.

Last season at Glen Abbey Golf Course, Brandt Snedeker ran out as the winner seeing off Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, William McGirt and Jason Bohn.

This will be the fifth time Royal Montreal Golf Club’s Blue Course has hosted this event, the last time was in 2001 when Scott Verplank was champion. The 2007 President’s Cup also took place over this layout.

It’s looking like being a warm week in Quebec with temperatures around 80 Fahrenheit. Watch out for rain on Sunday though.

Venue: Royal Montreal GC (Blue Course,) Ile Bizard, Quebec, Canada Date: Jul 24-27 Course stats: par 70, 7,153 yards Purse: $5,700,000 Winner: $1,008,000 Defending Champion: Brandt Snedeker (-16)

TV Coverage: Thursday 24 – Sky Sports 4 from 9pm Friday 25 – Sky Sports 4 from 9pm Saturday 26 – Sky Sports 4 from 7pm Sunday 27 – Sky Sports 4 from 7pm

Player Watch: There are some obvious favourites this week in the shape of Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Graeme McDowell. Who might surprise the star names?

Graham Delaet – The Canadian will be keen to put on a good performance in front of his home crowd. He leads the PGA Tour in ball striking and, although he hasn’t been on top form of late, he’ll surely raise his game for this one.

Charley Hoffman – He’s made 12 straight cuts on the PGA Tour and was tied third at Congressional. This is a course that should suit his style of play.

David Hearn – Another Canadian who should be lifted by the home support. He’s made eight of his last nine cuts and he played well at Hoylake last week to finish in a tie for 32nd.

Key hole: 17th. This par-3 may only measure 160 yards but the green is protected by water and anything straying off line or not purely struck, could end up wet. This is a difficult tee shot when the pressure is on.