Canadian Open returns to Glen Abbey
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 Canadian Open | Preview | 23 Jul 2008
The Canadian Open returns to Glen Abbey for the first time since 2004, which was its home for on 22 occasions prior to that.
The Jack Nicklaus designed course in Oakville, Ontario on the outskirts of Toronto was first played at Glen Abbey in 1977 when Lee Trevino won by four shots over Peter Oosterhuis although the event itself was first played back in 1904. Funnily enough, despite the fact that the event was so often played at Glen Abbey on a golf course that Nicklaus built, the great man never won at this venue, although he did finish runner up on several occasions.
Many of this year’s field will spend much of the first few days at the course looking to find a golf swing that was blown away in the demanding conditions that prevailed last week at Royal Birkdale, but Jim Furyk, who survived last week better than many, might just start favourite.
Furyk is the defending champion and is looking to become the first golfer to win the event on three consecutive occasions. Furyk defeated Vijay Singh by just one shot last year at the Angus Glen Golf Club and not only has a 5th place last week to his credit but a 3rd place at Congressional two weeks prior.
It might be time for a Canadian golfer to win the event for the first time in 54 years. Mike Weir went oh so close in 2004 when he lost a playoff to Vijay Singh and has shown signs in recent weeks that he is on the verge of making this a big week for Canadian golf. There is little doubt that the event is close to Weir’s heart as is the national title of all countries to their respective golfers.
Stephen Ames might not necessarily be the bona fide Canadian that is Mike Weir, having been born in Trinidad and Tobago before moving to Calgary, but if he was to win this week he would endear himself even further to Canadian fans. Ames is playing well at present with three top tens in his last five starts including when 7th last week in England. Ames does not have a good record in this event but that could well improve this week.
It might just be that now Ken Dukes has found form he might continue with that this week. He proved in a great 2006 season on the Nationwide Tour that once he has found form he can sustain it. His runner up place last week in Milwaukee and his 4th place at the Buick bode well for his chances this week.
Anthony Kim was impressive on debut at the Open last week just as he has been in nearly everything he has done this season. If he is able to recover from the battering he received when 7th last Sunday then he stands a great chance of making it three wins in 2008.
The Australasians in the field are Steve Elkington, Nick Flanagan, Nathan Green, John Senden, Gavin Coles, Jason Day, Brett Rumford, Adam Bland, Tim Wilkinson, David Lutterus, Steve Allan and Andrew Buckle.
