Strong Field Getting Set for Canadian Open
MONTREAL – PGA TOUR – The RBC Canadian Open marks the 37th of 41 official event of the PGA TOUR’s new wraparound 2013-14 season schedule, with four FedExCup Playoff events to follow to close out the season. In the fall of 2013, four tournaments that formerly made up the Fall Series along with two events being played as official events for the first time were contested, beginning with the Frys.com Open in October and concluding with the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in November. For the first time, these six events awarded full FedExCup points.
How Brandt Snedeker won the 2013 RBC Canadian Open
Brandt Snedeker began the final round with a one-stroke lead over David Lingmerth at 14-under-par. After making three birdies and two bogeys through the first 15 holes of the final round, he would go on to make birdie at the par-5 16th to reach 16-under par, a score that Dustin Johnson had previously reached before making a triple bogey at the par-4 17th to fall out of contention.
Snedeker safely made par at the final two holes for his sixth career PGA TOUR victory and his second of the 2013 season (AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am). His win moved him to third in the FedExCup standings, where he would finish the Regular Season before going on to finish 12th.
More on Brandt Snedeker: The 2013 RBC Canadian Open was the sixth time Snedeker has held at least a share of the lead heading into the final round, and the third time he converted the lead into victory.
In 19 starts so far this season, Snedeker has made 16 cuts and has 16 top-25s and two top-10s.
The 2014 RBC Canadian Open will be Snedeker’s third consecutive start at Canada’s national open and his first at Royal Montreal. Prior to his 2013 win, he finished T-34 in 2012. Snedeker also missed the cut in 2010 and posted a pair of top 10s in 2009 (T-5) and 2007 (T-7).
Notes on the field
Three players that finished inside the top 10 at last week’s Open Championship: Jim Furyk (4th), Charl Schwartzel (T7) and Graeme McDowell (T9)
Six of the top 30 in the current FedExCup standings led by No. 3 Dustin Johnson and No. 4 Matt Kuchar and, who both finished tied for second at the RBC Canadian Open in 2013 along with William McGirt and Jason Bohn
Matt Kuchar will be looking to make it an RBC sweep after claiming the RBC Heritage in April. Kuchar has eight other top-10 finishes in 2014 ncluding a tie for fifth at The Masters and a playoff loss at the Shell Houston Open
Five of the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking and 10 of the top 50: Matt Kuchar (7), Jim Furyk (10), Dustin Johnson (15), Graeme McDowell (16), Luke Donald (24), Charl Schwartzel (22), Brandt Snedeker (35), Kevin Na (37), Graham DeLaet (38), and Hunter Mahan (44)
Ten past RBC Canadian Open champions; Brandt Snedeker (2013), Scott Piercy (2012), Sean O’Hair (2011), Carl Pettersson (2010), Nathan Green (2009), Jim Furyk (2006 & 2007), Mark Calcavecchia (2005), Vijay Singh (2004), John Rollins (2002), Dudley Hart (1996)
Team RBC members in the field: Brandt Snedeker, Graeme McDowell, Graham DeLaet, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Graham DeLaet, Luke Donald, Mike Weir, Stephen Ames, Hunter Mahan and David Hearn
Hunter Mahan returns to the RBC Canadian Open one year after taking the 36-hole lead, then withdrawing before the third round with his wife Kandi going into labor. The Mahans welcomed a baby girl, Zoe, before Sunday’s final round. In nine starts at the RBC Canadian Open, Mahan has never missed the cut and has two top-five finishes (T4, 2004 and T5, 2007)
RBC Canadian Open and the FedExCup
With just four weeks remaining before the start of the FedExCup Playoffs, the RBC Canadian Open will once again play a pivotal role in the shaping of the Playoff fields:
2013 winner Brandt Snedeker solidified his spot in the FedExCup standings, moving from No. 3 to No. 4 and qualified for all four Playoff events including the season-ending TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.
2012 winner Scott Piercy jumped from No. 36 to 13 in the standings and qualified for all four Playoff events.
2011 winner Sean O’Hair jumped from No. 147 to No. 43 and qualified for the first three Playoff events.
2007 Presidents Cup team members in the field
11 participants from the 2007 Presidents Cup, which took place here at Royal Montreal Golf Club, are in the field this week. Below are the members of the United States and International teams from 2007.
Player Team
Ernie Els International (South Africa)
Vijay Singh International (Fiji)
Geoff Ogilvy International (Australia)
Retief Goosen International (South Africa)
Trevor Immelman International (South Africa)
Stuart Appleby International (Australia)
Mike Weir International (Canada)
Jim Furyk United States
Stewart Cink United States
Lucas Glover United States
Hunter Mahan United States
Tournament notes
Prior to the 2013 RBC Canadian Open, the tournament had been decided either by one stroke or in a playoff for four consecutive seasons and 10 of the last 11. Snedeker’s three-stroke margin of victory was the largest since Scott Verplank won in 2001 by three over Bob Estes and Joey Sindelar.
Since 1997, just two players have made the RBC Canadian Open their maiden victory on the PGA TOUR: Nathan Green (2009), Chez Reavie (2008) and John Rollins (2002).
2014 marks 60 years since a Canadian won the RBC Canadian Open (Pat Fletcher, 1954).
Since Sam Snead in 1940 and 1941, Jim Furyk is the only player to successfully defend his title at the RBC Canadian Open, doing so in 2006 and 2007. Here are how defending champions have fared since 2000:
