2007 Canadian Open Preview
Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:31:05
Of course this is also one of the busiest weeks of the year for me and I have to make sure I stick to my schedule. For any of the Canadians in the field, there are always a few more requests from fans, sponsors and media than a usual week. I've been getting up a little earlier than normal to make sure I get in my practice time and so far, I feel good about everything that's been happening.
Coming in, I'd say my game is solid. I'm probably playing as well as I have in the last few years. All the hard work I've been doing on my swing is paying off and so is the extra time I've been devoting to my short game. Right now I'm feeling pumped about the way I'm playing. I'm hoping that can translate into some success here at Angus Glen.
The last few years, I've come to the Canadian Open not playing all that well and that can make it a difficult time. It's a much better feeling to come back home and know that I'm playing well and have some momentum going.
This course at Angus Glen is going to provide a good test for the field this week. I'm actually a little bit surprised at how wet it is out here and that will allow the golfers to stop the ball on the greens. The real defense could be the slopes on the greens. That could be a tough factor and it means you not only have to hit the green, but hit the right part of the green. If you get it on the wrong side, you can easily have a big breaker that can be hard to read. As well, all around the greens is some heavy rough and so you don't want to miss anything or it will make for a tough up and down.
Off the tee, the course is a little more generous although visually it can appear a little narrower than it really is. It's certainly not the tightest course we play all year but there are places we play where it's wider off the tee such as Muirfield. So there will probably be a lot of fairways hit this week but it will be going into the greens and on the greens that might make the difference.
My first two rounds will be with a good pairing, Vijay Singh and Tom Pernice. I was asked today if that will bring back memories of 2004 when Vijay and I were in the last group and the playoff, but that's not even on the radar any more. I play a lot of practice rounds with Vijay and really enjoy it. We're good friends out here and it's going to be enjoyable playing with him and with Tom. Both are great players. Right now, the only thing I'm thinking about is my first tee shot.
Another subject I've been asked about quite a bit is the Presidents Cup and making that team. That's really out of my control as far as a Captain's Pick. I guess the best answer would be to play wall the next three weeks and get into the top 10 and not have to worry about it. That's my plan. But really, I'm just focused on the Canadian Open right now.
One of the most encouraging things to see this week is the number of Canadians in the field. And not only are there 20 of us here this week but the talent level is outstanding. I went to the Canadian dinner the RCGA hosted last night and seeing all those guys together was exciting. I had a practice round with Derek Gillespie, Andrew Parr and Victor Ciesielski this week and all three can really play. I think for them and the others, the sky is really the limit.
Last week at the British, Andres Romero was playing in the group behind me and for a while it looked as if he was going to win and there would be back-to-back winners from Argentina. I was walking up 18 thinking that there's absolutely no reason why we can't have the same thing. I think there's going to be a real wave of top Canadians on the PGA Tour in the next couple of years and nothing would make me happier.
Hopefully, this week that 50-plus year drought of a Canadian winning this event will come to an end. I'd love to do it but hopefully someone will do it. It would be great for golf in this country.
I'm ready to go and I'm looking forward to one of the best weeks of the year.
As always, thanks for your support.
Mike
