As we slip further into the Fantasy Island basement ' a place, by the way, this Baltimore Oriole fan is familiar with ' we offer last weeks happenings, less by way of an excuse but more an explanation for our poor showing. A 1,700-to-1 long shot two months shy of his 60th birthday came within a 10-foot par putt of winning the Claret Jug. As an old Scot observed last week, its why they call it gambling and not earning.
Now, on to Canada.
Pick a Foursome: Finding a common theme among recent winners North of the Border is nearly impossible (Chez Reavie, Jim Furyk, Mark Calcavecchia, et al). What does seem to count at Glen Abbey is par-5 scoring.
The layout provided some of the Tours easiest par 5s in scoring last year (4.59 field stroke average) and any champion must make hay, as they say, on the three-shot holes, like Goosen who is among the circuits best with a 4.63 average.
Picks: N/A, Sean OHair, Retief Goosen, N/A
Note: One player from four categories based on the World Golf Ranking (1-10, A; 11-20, B; 21-30, C; 31-40, D). Points awarded on money earned ($1 = 1 point).
Salary Cap: OK, Mike Weir is a sentimental favorite, at best. But hes come close at his national championship before (second in 2004) and was close last year (T-5).
Brian Davis also played well last year (T-14) and has never finished outside the top 30 in four starts at the Canadian Open. Mark Calcavecchia is a former winner (2005) who rebounded well from a poor third round last week in Scotland with a closing 71.
Picks: Mike Weir, Steve Marino, Brian Davis, Retief Goosen, Mark Calcavecchia (Total: $8.844 million)
Note: Five players with a $10 million cap based on 2008 earnings. Rookies without 2008 earnings will be priced at $250,000. Standings based on overall team earnings.
Pick One: Mike Weir. Because the lefty is putting together his most consistent season and sooner or later the golf gods will get this one right.
Note: Players must be picked before the start of the season and used only once. Standings based on total earnings.
In addition to my PGA Tour Pick One, the GolfChannel.com staff will be offering up their picks to win. A player can be picked a maximum of five times. We will be keeping a running tally of the monies earned each week. The participants include: Jay Coffin, Editorial Director; Mercer Baggs, Editorial Manager; Brian Koressel, Senior Producer; Dena Davis, Assistant Editor; Erik Peterson, Travel Editor; Jerry Foltz, special contributor.
| Name | Player Pick | Reason | Money | |
| Rex Hoggard | Steve Marino | Bo Van Pelts victory last week lifted Marino atop the best player without a Tour title division. Hes sixth on Tour in par-5 scoring, played well at Turnberry and has been steady on the greens ever since switching to a new putter in the spring. | $2,847,801 | |
| Jay Coffin | Mike Weir | He hasnt won his national open in 17 previous tries but tied for fifth last year. Sounds like hes due. | $4,976,839 | |
| Mercer Baggs | Mike Weir | Never won his national championship, but has a pair of top-5s the last two times Glen Abbey has played host. | $5,647,326 | |
| Erik Peterson | Kevin Na | In 2009 only Tiger (8) has more top 10s than Na (7). Tiger is 3/8 in those top 10s, Na is 0/7, still in search of his first win on tour. Hes due. | $4,688,641 | |
| Brian Koressel | Aaron Baddeley | I’m going with a well-rested player this week who doesn’t have to come back from across the pond and then travel north of the border. | $4,843,188 | |
| Dena Davis | Mike Weir | It’s the 10-year anniversary of Weirsy’s first PGA Tour victory which just so happened to have come at the 1999 Air Canada Championship. That’s sounds like a good omen this week. | $4,383,137 | |
| Jerry Foltz | Anthony Kim | Because he’s good. I think he’s hungry again, and he continues to mature on ' and off ' the course.. | $4,322,307 |
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