Hamilton Golf & Country Club returns to host the RBC Canadian Open for the first time since 2006, when Jim Furyk won with a 14-under-par total. Last year, at Shaugnessy Golf and Country Club, Sean O’Hair defeated Kris Blanks on the first playoff hole to win.
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Here are 10 players to watch:
1. Matt Kuchar: Played nicely at Royal Lytham, finishing T-9, and is top 20 on Tour in ballstriking.
2. Hunter Mahan: A two-time winner this year, and one of the Tour’s preeminent ballstrikers – he’s third in greens hit – he should thrive at Hamilton, which will play shorter than 7,000 yards.
3. Jim Furyk: Much like in 2006, this plodder should excel on the type of A-to-B golf that Hamilton demands.
4. Bo Van Pelt: Missed cut at the Open, but six top 10s in 17 starts is strong stuff. He was T-6 in this event last year too, albeit at a different course.
5. Scott Piercy: A T-12 and third in his past two starts, respectively, and maybe he’s comfortable north of the border – he was T-6 at this event a year ago.
6. Charlie Wi: Hamilton should set up perfectly for his controlled game, and he was T-3 in his last start (Greenbrier).
7. Brandt Snedeker: Let’s see if he can keep that hot flat stick going. Just needs to be able to keep it in play better off the tee – barely top 100 on Tour in driving accuracy.
8. Bud Cauley: After a lean stretch during the past two months, perhaps a fourth-place finish at True South was all the kid needed to get back on track.
9. Ernie Els: Sure, the likelihood of a letdown is high, after the emotions of last week. But the Big Easy may very well keep right on rolling.
10. Ken Duke: Has six top 10s this season – tied for second-most on Tour – and isn’t fighting jetlag like many other players, having played in Mississippi last week.