Canadians look to end drought on home soil

OAKVILLE, Ont. — As golf ’s oldest open championship was still being decided across the Atlantic, the world’s third-oldest one was just shifting into first gear.

While Louis Oosthuizen, Zach Johnson and Marc Leishman were battling it out in a playoff at St. Andrews, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Brad Fritsch and others were making their way around Glen Abbey Monday during a Pro-Am event in support of the Golf Canada Foundation.

The sun shone brightly on those who teed it up at the Abbey, the Jack Nicklaus-designed course that has basically become the home of the Canadian Open, which this week will be hosting the national championship for the 27th time.

“It’s kind of our fifth major,” said Abbotsford’s Taylor as he started his preparation for the Canadian Open with other Canadian pros and amateurs. “It’s definitely one you kind of circle. There’s some big events, but I look forward to this one every year. This is a tournament I’ve always wanted to win and to be able to win it would be pretty special.”

PGA Tour rookie Roger Sloan echoed Taylor’s sentiments.

“It’s an extremely big week,” said Sloan, who grew up in Merritt.

“It’s always a highlight in your schedule. When I got my Tour card, you look forward to playing as a member in your national open.”

Taylor, the former world No. 1 amateur who became the first Canadian to win on the PGA Tour since 2007 when he captured the Sanderson Farms Championship in November, is among a group of 15 homegrown golfers who will be looking to end a drought that dates all the way back to 1954.

It has been more than 60 years now since a Canadian, Pat Fletcher, took home the trophy.

There is hope that the drought will end sooner rather than later.

Graham DeLaet, the top-ranked Canadian at No. 80 in the world, is still looking for his breakthrough PGA Tour win.

Then there’s No. 128 David Hearn, fresh off the British Open and a nearvictory at the Greenbrier Classic, and former Web.com leading money winner Hadwin, also of Abbotsford, who twice in the past five years has captured the Rivermead Cup as the low Canadian.