Fantasy Golf: RBC Canadian Open

July 22, 2008 12:01pm CDT

The 2008 RBC Canadian Open
Glen Abbey Golf Club, Oakville, Ontario (Canada)
- Dates: Thursday, July 24 - Sunday, July 27
- FedEx Cup Points: 25,000
- 2008 Purse: $5,000,000 (Winning Share: $900,000)

TV Schedule
First Round - Thursday, July 24 - Golf Channel 3pm-6pm EST
Second Round - Friday, July 25 - Golf Channel 3pm-6pm EST
Third Round - Saturday, July 26 - CBS 3pm-6pm EST
Final Round - Sunday, July 27 - CBS 3pm-6pm EST


The Course
Glen Abbey Golf Club
Course Par Value: 71
Course Yardage: 7,222

A well-known gem to locals, the Glen Abbey Golf Club course was designed by none other than Jack Nicklaus (also built by his construction company). For the public, this course is 100 yards shorter in distance and is labeled as a 72-stroke track, but the PGA professionals should find low scores come a bit more easily than most. Built in 1976, the course is closely situated to Toronto and offers a growing number of Canadian golfers (owners of what may be the best youth programs in the sport) a premium track to play.

Featuring native oak and maple trees throughout, this course has hosted more Canadian Open tourneys than any other in the country (23 times). The lay of the land tends to favor accuracy over length (even with the additional yardage), presenting greens that are easily approached with longer irons by the Tour professionals.

Make good with the putter and you'll be in the hunt for a win.

Unfortunately, the course fails to operate a website offering a review of each of the holes on this course. Keeping in line, the PGA has failed to offer that review as well (though they do list the length and par score for each). Thus we will not be presenting our "Holes to Watch" reviews for this week.


2007 Review (Canadian Open @ Angus Glen Golf Club)
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Jim Furyk -7 (268)
2 Vijay Singh -6 (269)
T3 Ryan Palmer -5 (270)
T5 Bob Heintz -4 (271)
T5 Hunter Mahan -4 (271)
T7 Brandt Snedeker -3 (272)
T7 John Mallinger -3 (272)
T7 Steve Allan -3 (272)
T10 Alex Cejka -2 (273)
T10 Camilo Villegas -2 (273)
T10 Paul Gow -2 (273)
T10 Tom Pernice, Jr. -2 (273)
T10 Pat Perez -2 (273)


2006 Review (Bell Canadian Open @ Hamilton G & C Club)
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Jim Furyk -14 (266)
2 Bart Bryant -13 (267)
3 Sean O'Hair -12 (268)
4 Brett Quigley -11 (269)
T5 Jonathan Byrd -10 (270)
T5 Camilo Villegas -10 (270)
T5 Rory Sabbatini -10 (270)
T5 Steve Lowery -10 (270)
T5 Trevor Immelman -10 (270)
10 Steve Stricker -9 (271)


2004 Review (Bell Canadian Open @ Glen Abbey Golf Club)
PLACE PLAYER FINAL
1 Vijay Singh -9 (275)
2 Mike Weir -9 (275)
3 Joe Ogilvie -7 (277)
T4 Stewart Cink -6 (278)
T4 Tom Lehman -6 (278)
T4 Hunter Mahan -6 (278)
T4 Justin Rose -6 (278)
8 Robert Damron -5 (279)
T9 Mark Hensby -4 (280)
T9 Jesper Parnevik -4 (280)


The Field
Coming the week after the one major that requires travel abroad is a difficult obstacle for a tourney like this to overcome, but the Canadian Open is not without merit or golfers worth watching.

Jim Furyk, fresh off a strong run at the links of Royal Birkdale at the Open Championship, will be on hand to defend his two-year streak of trophy-winning efforts. He will be joined by several others worthy of rank among the best in the world, including Anthony Kim, Stephen Ames, Retief Goosen, and Camilo Villegas.

Other golfers best labeled as veterans but posting strong returns this season are on hand as well, including the great Freddie Couples, Steve Elkington, Jerry Kelly, Jeff Maggert, Scott Verplank, Cliff Kresge, Mark Calcavecchia, and hometown hero Mike Weir.

The field also touts some of the hot rising stars on the circuit, including the aforementioned Kim, Sean O'Hair, John Mallinger, Matt Jones, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Steve Marino, Ryuji Imada, and Jeff Quinney.

There are far fewer proven stars on the list than in seasons past, but this year's offerings are sure to be entertaining nonetheless.

Enjoy.

To view the entire field, head to this link:
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r032/field.html