Singh, Duval under spotlight in Canada
IN: News | US PGA | Bell Canadian Open (2004) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 08 Sep 2004
The Bell Canadian Open returns to its almost spiritual home this week when the field for the 2004 version of this time honoured event tees it up at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ontario just outside of Toronto.
In twenty two of the last twenty six stagings of the event, the Jack Nicklaus designed layout has provided some great moments perhaps none more so than when Tiger Woods hit arguably his most memorable shot from the right hand fairway trap at the 72nd hole across water to a back right flag to edge out New Zealander Grant Waite by one shot in 2000. This will be the first time the event has been back here since then but it is not enough to entice Tiger.
The event itself has a history going back to 1928 but at this venue it was first staged in 1977 when Lee Trevino won by four over the player turned commentator, Peter Oosterhuis. The only break from Glen Abbey in the next twenty two years of the event after 1977 was when it was taken three times to Royal Montreal Golf Club. On one of those occasions, in 1998, the tournament received notoriety for the fact that it was the venue for Tiger Wood's only missed cut to date on the USPGA Tour. The last two years have seen the tournament move to Angus Glen and the Hamilton Golf Club both Ontario and both fine courses, more especially Hamilton.
The Canadian Open was long known or referred to as the "fifth major" but it is hardly that now, especially given the emergence of the World Golf Championship events and events such as the Players Championship and the Memorial, but it still holds a special place in golfing history.
Glen Abbey may not be the best golf course in the region, (the Stanley Thompson designed St George's in nearby Toronto is generally given that mantle) but it holds a special place in Canadian golfing history. The course opened in 1976 and Lee Trevino would win the second of his three Canadian Opens at the venue's debut in 1977.
The defending champion will be Bob Tway who beat Brad Faxon in a playoff. With several good finishes of late, including a 6th place at the NEC, a successful defence is not out of the question for Tway who has had the occasional solid finish here at Glen Abbey.
Vijay Singh comes under the scrutiny of being the number one player in the world for the very first time this week and with three wins in his last four starts he is playing like he is the number one. It will be interesting to see if the new status he carries in the game has any impact on his form. Singh was 6th last year and in 2002 but not at this venue. He could win anywhere right now but there is a lot more riding on him this week and greater scrutiny than he has ever faced before.
Phil Mickelson is back after a disappointing NEC but it was very good prior. Mickelson last played this event in 1994 and is perhaps only here because its timing in relation to the Ryder Cup next week. Thirteen top tens in 17 starts this season suggest that he will be around somewhere on Sunday despite little involvement here.
He makes his switch to Callaway woods and balls this week so that may be a positive or negative factor. We shall see.
Stewart Cink has been in such brilliant from of late, he is impossible to ignore. His win at the NEC just a few days after his inclusion in the Ryder Cup team was brilliant. This will be just his second visit to Glen Abbey having finished 13th here in 1997.
Davis Love III like those above is also in great from his last start 4th bearing testimony to that. He has escaped much of the hooplah that has surrounded Woods, Singh and Mickelson of late but he has been sneaking along just fine thank you. Love is another who has not played the event much in recent years, 42nd in 2000 his last appearance the only time he has been here in the last nine years.
Sergio Garcia was third in 2000, albeit seven shots behind Woods but following his third last week in Switzerland behind Donald he may do well in his lead up to the Ryder Cup.
Chris DiMarco has hardly put a foot wrong of late and with the golf course slightly more demanding this year in terms of accuracy he may do well.
Kenny Perry has become a somewhat forgotten man of late but he finished strongly at the NEC and there have been several other good finishes this year. The last time he played here in 1993 he was 10th and that was when he was just a fraction of the player he is now. He might sneak up on them here.
Stephen Ames is another in form player looking to play well here in his adopted home of Canada.
Of much interest this week will be how Duval continues the form that he showed last week. His almost unbridled enthusiasm following his last round 67 was heartening for all to see and now this week will be a litmus test to see the credibility of that performance.
Of the Australasians Aaron Baddeley and Mark Hensby are perhaps the most likely to do well with Baddeley making his last two cuts, which by his standards this year is an achievement. Hensby has been solid if unspectacular since his win a few weeks back. Greg Chalmers, Steve Elkington and Scott Hend are here with Hend needing just one halfway decent cheque for safety for 2005. Chalmers was 4th the last time it was here but he is struggling at present. Craig Perks, Grant Waite, runner-up to Woods in 2001, and Andre Stolz round out the "down under" brigade.
