Tour News
RBC Canadian Open preview: Expect a tough test
By Stan Kosinski
GolfWRX Contributor
The PGA Tour heads north of the border this week to Ancaster, Ontario, Canada for the 108th RBC Canadian Open held this year at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
The field of 156 players representing a total of 18 countries, which include 2011 Champion Sean O’Hair, 2012 Open Champion Ernie Els, 2012 U.S. Open Champion Webb Simpson, 2012 Players Champion Matt Kuchar, and two-time RBC Canadian Open Champion Jim Furyk. Joining these notables will be a total of 23 Canadian players.
Three Canadian amatuers, Rob Couture, Mackenzie Hughes and Albin Choi, will be joined by homegrown professionals Stephen Ames, Graham DaLeat, Greg Dougherty, Brad Fritsch, Michael Gligic, Adam Hadwin, David Hearn, Matt Hill, Brian McCann, Matt McQuillan, Andrew Parr, Cory Renfrew, Christopher Ross, Nick Taylor, Mike Weir, and Eugene Wong.
Four Canadians earned Monday Qualifier spots to join their countrymen. David Markle carded a 5-under 66 to become the low qualifier, and Jon Mills, Victor Ciesielski, and Ben Ferguson bested a 52-player field in the final qualifier at Heron Point Golf Links to be eligible to play for their national title. But the Canadians don’e have history on their side if they hope to win their country’s championship this year. A Canadian hasn’t won the event since Pat Fletcher hoisted his country’s trophy in 1954.
Hamilton Golf and Country Club is a par 70 that measures 6966 yards from the Championship tees. It carries a course rating of 74.1 and a slope of 136. The original West/South Course will host the championship, and was originally designed by H.S. (Harry) Colt and was established in 1894. The course has held four previous Canadian Opens in 1919,1930,2003 and 2006.
In 2003, the course received rave reviews from both players and fans as it returned to the course after a 70 year absence. Bob Tway recorded his eighth win in a three-hole playoff over fellow American Brad Faxon. The tournament again returned to Hamilton Golf and Country Club just three years later and saw Jim Furyk post a final round of 5-under to win by one stroke over Bart Bryant. Furyk began that day two strokes behind third round leader Justin Rose, but climbed into the lead on the back nine with the help of a hot putter.
Players this year should also have high praise for this course, which features rolling, tree-lined fairways and slight elevation changes to well guarded greens. Only three of the 12 par 4s measure under 400 yards. The 5th hole is a true risk/reward hole, measuring 317 yards. It is an uphill dogleg right with a plateaued green that is one of the course’s most difficult to putt. The other two short par 4s include the 392-yard 10th and 388-yard 12th, both of which feature elevation changes and tight fairways to well guarded greens. There are only two par fives on the course, the 542-yard 4th and the 550-yard 17th and should offer plenty of birdie, if not eagle, opportunities. There are four par 3 holes on the course, the shortest measuring 188 yards (No. 16) and the longest at 236 yards (No. 13).
The real challenge of the course will be to navigate the long par fours, the longest of which is No. 11 at 481 yards. It is a dogleg left hole from an elevated tee to a fairway 60 feet below, and will prevent all but the longest of hitters from taking the shortcut over trees. From there an uphill fairway shot awaits to a green that falls from back to front. A tough hole for sure, but it is only one out of many that await the players vying for the 2012 RBC Canadian Open.
Click here for more discussion about the RBC Canadian Open in the “Tour Talk” forum.
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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