Hamilton Golf & Country Club returns to host the RBC Canadian Open for the first time since 2006, when Jim Furyk won with a 14-under-par total. Last year, at Shaugnessy Golf and Country Club, Sean O’Hair defeated Kris Blanks on the first playoff hole to win.
Be sure to join the Golf Channel Fantasy Challenge to test yourself against our panel of experts, including defending champion Win McMurry.
Here are 10 players to watch:
1. Matt Kuchar: Played nicely at Royal Lytham, finishing T-9, and is top 20 on Tour in ballstriking.
2. Hunter Mahan: A two-time winner this year, and one of the Tour’s preeminent ballstrikers – he’s third in greens hit – he should thrive at Hamilton, which will play shorter than 7,000 yards.
3. Jim Furyk: Much like in 2006, this plodder should excel on the type of A-to-B golf that Hamilton demands.
4. Bo Van Pelt: Missed cut at the Open, but six top 10s in 17 starts is strong stuff. He was T-6 in this event last year too, albeit at a different course.
5. Scott Piercy: A T-12 and third in his past two starts, respectively, and maybe he’s comfortable north of the border – he was T-6 at this event a year ago.
6. Charlie Wi: Hamilton should set up perfectly for his controlled game, and he was T-3 in his last start (Greenbrier).
7. Brandt Snedeker: Let’s see if he can keep that hot flat stick going. Just needs to be able to keep it in play better off the tee – barely top 100 on Tour in driving accuracy.
8. Bud Cauley: After a lean stretch during the past two months, perhaps a fourth-place finish at True South was all the kid needed to get back on track.
9. Ernie Els: Sure, the likelihood of a letdown is high, after the emotions of last week. But the Big Easy may very well keep right on rolling.
10. Ken Duke: Has six top 10s this season – tied for second-most on Tour – and isn’t fighting jetlag like many other players, having played in Mississippi last week.
