Brennans Blog - RBC Canadian Open

After a long a grueling week at the British Open it's great to be back home for the Canadian Open.  It's tough to explain just how tough those conditions were last week but it was the worst I have seen in all my time caddying.  Not only was the wind blowing 30-40 mph everyday it was cold and then mix in some rain and its a recipe for high scores.  I think Royal Birkdale proved to be one of the best courses in the rotation of courses they use and would love to go back and play it again in conditions that are a little nicer.

Sunday night after the tournament finished there was a chartered flight from Manchester to Toronto that was set up by the RCGA for everyone coming back to the tournament.  It was great to be able to get back to Canada on Sunday night and travel in luxury as opposed to having to travel all day Monday to get home. There were about 75 people on the flight and it went as smooth as can be.  We actually landed in Hamilton around midnight.  This type of thing is exactly what the players really appreciate and will help the Canadian Open draw some better players.  With the event positioned between the British Open and the World Series it's a difficult week to attract the best in the World but I think this year they've (RCGA & RBC) done a very good job at attracting a strong field.  The RCGA and Royal Bank deserve a lot of credit for really trying to improve the event and build a reputation as being a top tier PGA event, which it is.

On Monday this week I played in the Steve Duplantis Memorial tournament at North Halton.  Steve was the caddy who was tragically killed this year in San Diego and grew up here in Brampton.  It was a great day with all the proceeds going to help out his daughter Sierra.  Jim Furyk and a few of the other golfers showed up as well as a host of others from the area.  Steve's father and everyone who ran the event did a great job and it all went towards a great cause.  I know Mike would have loved to have been there but unfortunately had prior committments.

On Tuesday Mike, myself, and a couple other guys went up and played The National Golf Club and had a great day.  I forgot just how good that golf course is.  I know that I don't have a vote for the best course in Canada but if there is a better course I sure haven't played it.  They've made some great changes and it was as difficult as any course we play major championships on.  If there was ever a chance to play a Canadian Open there it would be great to see.

The Canadian Open this year is back to Glen Abbey which has hosted the event numerous times.  It is a great course to host a PGA Tour event as the course was designed with that in mind.  A Jack Nicklaus design, it is what they call a stadium course with great viewing areas around all the greens. There are some great spots to watch the golf and no better spot than 18 greens which has seen its share of dramatic finishes.

The course this year is going to play a lot different from the way it normally plays.  The area has been swamped by 7 or 8 inches of rain and the course is as saturated as it can get.  The afternnon pro-am was washed out and it wouldn't surprise me if there was a delay in play tomorrow as they prepare the course.  The superintendent is going to have his hands full this week trying to get the course playable and hopefully the rain will stay away!

There really hasn't been any changes since the last open here.  The 11th green has been changed a bit but overall the course is the same.  I think the best change they have made is leaving 18 as a par 5, short par 5 by todays standards.  Second shot over water it is a great finishing hole that can see guys make eagle or make bogey. It is the hole where Tiger made the great shot from the fairway trap to beat Grant Waite.  I expect to see a great finish again this year.

Thanks for readying and stay tuned for more!