Marquee field eyes Canada
OAKVILLE, ONT. •Bynow it’s no secret that this week’s RBC Canadian Open could be the last one held at Glen Abbey, the iconic course designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus and opened for business in 1977.
Here’s a look at some players to keep an eye on at this week’s tournament.
SERGIO GARCIA
Birth Place: Borriol, Spain Age: 38
It’s the first time the 2017 Masters Champion has played the Canadian Open since 2001 when it was held at Royal Montreal. It’s also the first time the man known as El Nino has played Glen Abbey. Though the world No. 20 hasn’t been having a particularly strong season, missing the cuts at both the Masters and last week’s British Open, he’s always dangerous and it will be fun to watch him in a rare Canadian appearance that may only be taking place to fulfil a PGA Tour rule that requires players who play less than 25 events a year to add a stop they haven’t played in the past four years to their schedules.
KEVIN KISNER
Birth Place: Aiken, S.C.
Age: 34
Kisner did himself proud last week when he finished tied for second at the British Open, although the world No. 25 might not see it that way after heading into the final round with a share of first place. Still, he is playing strong golf and should be pumped from his finish. Now let’s see how easily he can make the transition from links golf to a traditional North American course.
DUSTIN JOHNSON
Birth Place: Columbia, S.C. Age: 34
The world No. 1 and FedEx Cup-points leader should be well-rested coming into this tournament as he failed to make the cut at Carnoustie last week. Johnson, who has children with Paulina Gretzky, daughter of the Great One, seems to feel right at home in this neck of the woods and has had strong showings at Glen Abbey, including runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2013. If we get some rain and Glen Abbey softens up, Johnson, who has two wins on the PGA Tour this season, should be able to dismantle the course with his length.
BUBBA WATSON
Birth Place: Bagdad, Fla. Age: 39
The world No. 14, whose wife hails from the GTA, should also feel rested up after failing to make the British Open cut. Watson, who finished runner-up at the RBC Canadian Open in 2015, comes into Glen Abbey as the only three-time winner on the PGA Tour this season. Like his compatriot Johnson, Watson’s length should allow him to get the better of the course if conditions are benign.
BROOKS KOEPKA
Birth Place: West Palm
Beach, Fla.
Age: 28
The world No. 4 won the U.S. Open in 2017 and then he backed up the victory by doing it again in 2018. Although he never threatened to win the British Open, he had a decent showing in Scotland last week, finishing tied for 39th.
ADAM HADWIN
Birth Place: Moose Jaw, Sask. (hails from Abbotsford, B.C.) Age: 30
Hadwin, the only Canadian in the top 100 of the world rankings at No. 55, is still looking for the elusive second PGA Tour title. Maybe he can do it at Glenn Abbey and help to end a Canadian Open drought that dates all the way back to Pat Fletcher winning it in 1954. Hadwin’s best finish this season has been a tie for third and he wound up a respectable tied for 35th at the British Open.
JHONATTAN VEGAS
Birth Place: Maturin, Venezuela
Age: 33
Two-time defending champion Vegas returns to Glen Abbey looking to become the first player ever to win the RBC Canadian Open on three consecutive occasions.
Hopefully Vegas has recovered from a tumultuous time in Scotland where he missed the cut after having his arrival delayed by visa issues and then had to play the opening round with a cobbled-together set of clubs as his didn’t arrive on his flight.
Other notables include: Rising star and world No. 10 Tommy Fleetwood; world no. 27 Matt Kuchar; big-hitting world no. 31 Tony Finau.