RBC Canadian Open Preview

The PGA Tour travels north this week to Ontario for the 99th running of the Canadian Open. Chez Reavie defends the title but he'll face stiff competition from a strong field.

Chez Reavie defends
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: Since it was first played in 1904, the Canadian Open can boast an impressive list of winners. Bobby Jones, Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods have all claimed this historic title. Many of the field have had less than a week to recuperate following the 138th Open Championship over the links at Turnberry and, for some, it could be a battle to re-align their games to PGA Tour golf after a week of hard-running fairways and knocked-down shots over the Ayrshire track. The Canadian Open returns to Glen Abbey Golf Club in Ontario this year. In 2008 Chez Reavie ran out as an impressive winner, finishing on a four round total of -17, beating Billy Mayfair into second place by three strokes. This will be the 99th running of the Canadian Open and a record 24th time that Glen Abbey Golf Club has hosted the event.

Venue: Glen Abbey Golf Club, Ontario, Canada Course stats: par 71, 7,222 yards Purse: $5,000,000 , Winner: $900,000 Defending Champion: Chez Reavie (-17)

TV coverage: Thursday 23 – Live on British Eurosport 2 from 8pm Friday 24 – Live on British Eurosport from 8pm Saturday 25 – Live on British Eurosport from 8pm Sunday 26 – Live on British Eurosport from 8pm

Player Watch: Steve Marino – He was tied third here last year and was joint leader of the Open Championship through 36-holes last week. He’s shot -12 or better three times on tour this year so look for him to go low this week. Mike Weir – He’s played the course many times before and he knows how to play the course’s tricky par-3s. The left-hander is looking to become the first home winner of the Canadian Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954. Retief Goosen – He’s coming back to something approaching his best form and he came close at Turnberry last week. If he has a good week with the putter, he could race away from the pack here.

Key hole: 18th. A 524 yard par five, it’s reachable in two for anybody in the field who gets a decent tee shot away. There’s definitely a possibility of someone recording an eagle three to win the tournament.

Skills required: Transition – The players who competed last week at Turnberry will have to quickly change their style of play from the knocked-down to the high floated shot. The PGA Tour regulars will have to adapt to playing in a different country.

Where next?

- SAS Masters preview

- Golf Monthly competitions 

 

 

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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