Nathan Green to defend Canadian title
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 Canadian Open | Preview | 20 Jul 2010
Nathan Green defends his RBC Canadian Open title this week when the event is played over the Stanley Thompson designed St George’s Golf and Country Club in Etobicoke, a suburb of Toronto.
Originally built in 1929, the course has played host to this championship on four previous occasions, the last of which was in 1968 when New Zealander Bob Charles defeated Jack Nicklaus by two shots. The first time it played host was in 1933 but under a different name, the Royal York Golf Club. It became the St Georges Golf and Country Club in 1946.
It has also played host to the Du Maurier Classic on the LPGA Tour, a major championship in women’s golf at the time.
According to the defending champion Nathan Green, who played the golf course in a media day a few weeks ago, he liked what he saw.
“I thought it was an excellent golf course when I played it earlier this year,” said Green. “It has poa-annua greens but will be an excellent test.”
Many of those who battled the vagaries of St Andrews last week have raced across the Atlantic and will tee it up, several considered amongst the favourites to excel this week.
Retief Goosen lost a playoff to Nathan Green last year in this event at Glen Abbey on the other side of Toronto but has shown enough in recent weeks to suggest that he could well make amends this week. Provided he has recovered from the buffeting he received when finishing alone in 6th position last week, then Goosen is a chance to continue what has been some good if not winning form in 2010.
Paul Casey could be considered unlucky last week but he might have taken third position if offered it early in the week. He has been very consistent in 2010 outside of the major championships if he can put the disappointment of Sunday behind him then he stands a chance.
Sean O’Hair, along with Nick Watney led the Americans last week at St Andrews and has been building towards a big tournament for the past few weeks. He has played very well on some high quality golf courses of late and it would be of little surprise if O’Hair wins his first event since Quail Hollow 15 months ago.
Another who performed with credit last week and who also appears on the verge of something special is Ricky Barnes. With six top tens in 2010 his turn must be close.
Trevor Immelman might be one for slightly longer odds. The 2008 Masters Champion is gradually rebuilding his game and confidence and he might not be too far from a return to the level of golf he displayed two years ago. Two solid tournaments in Scotland will have helped his cause in that regard.
The Australians are here in force.
Nathan Green of course gets his chance to defend although his recent form suggests that will be a big ask. Mind you leading into last year’s event he was not playing a lot better.
“I hit it awful last week,” he said today. “My putting has improved however and I am working on a couple of things at present. It has been either good or bad. Hopefully this week things will be good.”
Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Greg Chalmers, Steve Elkington, Matt Jones, David Lutterus, Jarrod Lyle, James Nitties, Cameron Percy and Aron Price make up the balance with Matt Jones seemingly getting better and better every week.
