Air Canada Championship

28 Aug 2002 - 01 Sep 2002
Northview Golf & Country Club, Surrey, B.C.

Mike and I are back in Vancouver, British Columbia this week for the Air Canada Championship. It is great to be back on home soil. Our first PGA Tour win was at this course in 1999, so it is nice to be back. There is talk that this may be the last year for the Air Canada Championship, which is sad as it brings back a lot of memories for us both.

Designed by Arnold Palmer, The Northview Golf & Country Club is a 7072-yard, par 71 golf course that sets up very well for Mike. Mike likes the course and feels very comfortable playing here. He is playing really well right now, so this should be a very solid week of golf for him.

The course is in great shape. The rough is not nearly as long as it has been in the past years. There has been a drought in the last few months, and the rain shortage has resulted in fast playing conditions on the course. No rain is expected this weekend, so the course will get faster as the week goes on. I expect scores to be lower this week than normal. Without the rough and if the wind doesn’t blow I can foresee a course record happening.

One of the keys this week will be finishing holes numbers 16,17 and 18, all of which demand great shots. Sixteen is a 187-yard-par-3 surrounded by bunkers and a severely sloped green. Seventeen is a long par-4 448-yards that requires a good drive and a mid iron into a tough green. Northview’s signature hole is number 18, the 430-yard-par-4; you must drive the ball in the fairway as the second shot into the green must carry the lake that protects the green. Trying to hit out of the rough to this green would be very dangerous.

Mike winning here in 1999 brings back many good memories. Mike can draw on his experience and familiarity with this golf course as our targets off the tee are etched in his mind. Mike has always putted these greens well and truly enjoys the support from everyone in Canada.

I expect a great turnout this week to support Mike: there would be nothing better than to cap off the last Air Canada Championship with a win and to have this town going nuts!

My winning prediction for this week is 22-under.