For Canadian, event ‘feels like a major’
Du Toit made name for himself last year; now he needs a win, Dave Hilson writes.
OAKVILLE, ONT. It may have lost some of its lustre over the years, what with a jam-packed PGA Tour schedule, the FedExCup Playoffs and all the money to be made at other events, but to Jared du Toit, playing in the RBC Canadian Open is a big deal.
“This definitely feels like a major. There’s a lot of buzz, a lot of people around — everything is just a step up. It’s pretty cool,” du Toit said Tuesday at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville.
Du Toit, who currently plies his trade on the Mackenzie Tour, the Canadian feeder circuit to the Web.com Tour, caused a stir as an amateur last year at Glen Abbey when he played his way into the final group on Sunday. He finished ninth, but coming through as the top Canadian gave him a boost of confidence.
“Last year’s result definitely accelerated my self-belief a little bit. I definitely got a lot of recognition, so that was huge,” he said.
The Calgary native said he plans to enjoy his week on the storied course.
“I don’t really have any numerical goals or anything. If it’s there, it’s there. If it’s not, it’s not,” he said.
The 22-year-old golfer will have his brother Russell on the bag this week, just as he has all season on the Mackenzie Tour.
Russell, who might play for the University of Victoria next season, looks as if he could be Jared’s twin, but is actually a year younger.
“We get along pretty good, so it’s no big deal,” Jared said. “Brothers fight a little bit, but we usually keep it off the golf course.”
Du Toit, whose best finish this season has been a tie for seventh, sits 22nd on the Mackenzie Tour money list. A top-20 finish would allow him to skip the first step of qualifying for the Web.com Tour, while a finish in the top five
would allow him to go straight to the circuit.
“I feel like I’ve gotten better every week. I’m just feeling more comfortable as a pro overall,” he said. “A win (on the Mackenzie Tour) would be great this year. I’ve been knocking on the door almost every week, so I’m feeling pretty good where things are at.”
VEGAS, BABY!
Defending champion Jhonattan Vegas is trying to hit the reset button during this year’s RBC Canadian Open. The native of Venezuela has been on a really poor run of late. He has now missed five cuts in a row and eight of 10 — not exactly the kind of golf you want to be playing with so few tournaments remaining before the FedExCup Playoffs.
“Yeah, I’ve had a horrible summer,” said Vegas, 87th in the standings. “But yeah, just coming here and refreshing the memory about the win last year, about a place that I feel really comfortable. I really like this golf course.”
Vegas, who shot a 64 in the final round last year and then watched as others failed to match him, said it’s disappointing that Glen Abbey may be turned into a housing development.
“When I walked in yesterday and I saw my picture in the locker-room, I guess my name will always be attached to this golf course by winning the Canadian Open here,” he said. “It’s always been sad news since I heard of it last year, but I mean, there’s just not a ton that I can do, but I just wish that they could keep it open.”
Jack Nicklaus on Jordan Spieth and his spectacular victory at the British Open last week: “He has maturity at a very young age. That’s something that’s pretty special, that’s hard to teach. Matt Kuchar just ran into a buzzsaw on the last few holes. Spieth was so good coming down the stretch that he was not to be denied.” … The addition of Drew Nesbitt and Riley Wheeldon into the field after Monday qualifying at Heron Point Golf Links means there are a total of 17 Canadians in the tournament. Six of them will be teeing off with another Canadian when the tournament starts Thursday: Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin, Graham DeLaet and David Hearn, and Ryan Williams and amateur Garrett Rank.