Tour News
8 Things We Learned from the RBC Canadian Open
Having all recovered from last week’s dramatic showdown between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson, the PGA Tour moved back across the pond for Canada’s flagship tournament, the RBC Canadian Open. The field was surprisingly strong given its unenviable position stuck between The Open and the PGA Championship with two of the top-4 players in the Official World Golf Rankings playing.
Here’s what we learned this week.
Surprisingly Strong Field
Want to make sure you have a strong field? Sponsor the right players. RBC guaranteed itself a decent field just based on the players they sponsor: Jason Day, Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell and Brandt Snedeker to name a few, and all made the trek from Troon. Snedeker had a chance to win, but he couldn’t eagle the 72nd hole and finished two back at 10-under.
And Still…
Titleist had an incredible 106 players using their ball at the RBC Canadian Open. Its closest competitor had 16. In a time where manufacturers keep advertising the latest technology in clubs and balls, Titleist has remained the undisputed No. 1 ball among pros. And from the numbers, it doesn’t look like it will be changing any time soon.
Hard and Fast
When you think of Canada, hot, windy, and baked out aren’t necessarily the first words that come to mind. But that is exactly how Glen Abbey played.
Downhill holes were playing ridiculously short, and the pros weren’t prepared for it. On Friday, Ernie Els and Jason Day both drove their balls in the water on the 18th with Day’s drive traveling 404 yards on the par-5. Day still make birdie, however, hitting his next shot on the green and pouring in the putt.
Trackman making its way to a PGA Tour range near you
A lot has been made of Dustin Johnson’s improved wedge play this year. It’s been cite as a main reason why he was able to win the U.S. Open and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. DJ has started using Trackman on the range prior to rounds to dial in his wedge distances each day. He doesn’t use it for angles, lofts, or any of the other measurements Trackman offers, only distance.
Well, other players are taking notice. While in the CBS booth on Saturday, Brandt Snedeker, Ian Baker Finch and Jim Nantz discussed Johnson’s improved wedge play. Snedeker talked about how he splurged for a Trackman after watching Johnson start to hit his wedges inside his own during practice rounds. With the way Johnson is playing this year, you can expect to see more and more Trackmans proliferating the range. If you have an extra $20,000 laying around, it will probably help your game, too.
Big One?
With Rory McIlroy making more news for his comments than his golf game, Jason Day giving away leads in final rounds and Jordan Spieth struggling with lofty expectations, the Big Three has failed to live up to the hype this year. Having been left out of all the talk, Dustin Johnson has steamrolled his opponents and looks like a good bet to contend at the PGA Championship next week. While he didn’t win this week, he put himself in contention with a chance to chip in on the final hole to tie for the lead.
Despite coming up just short, DJ heads into next week as a prohibitive favorite with some momentum. Maybe the greatest athlete in the history of golf, Johnson now has the golf game to match. And with his confidence and game at an all time high, he may leave the Big Three behind.
Amateur Hour
Jared du Toit and Garrett Rank captured the hearts of Canadian fans as the two home-country amateurs made the cut — and du Toit had a real chance to win. Both come from quite different backgrounds and have quite different futures ahead, though we should see both as professionals.
Rank will be in NHL arenas next year as a referee after being promoted from the minors. Du Toit, a rising senior at Arizona State University and former teammate of Jon Rahm, will likely be headed to one of the pro tours or qualifying school after graduating. He went into Sunday’s round playing in the final group after making a bomb for eagle on the 18th hole Saturday. du Toit had low expectations starting the week, even failing to show up without a caddy. No matter, he handled himself nicely on Sunday finishing tied for ninth with a final-round 71.
The Drought Continues
No Canadian has won the RBC Canadian Open since 1954 when Pat Fletcher pulled out the title. Canadians were hopeful last year was the year after David Hearn went into the final round with a two-shot lead. But Jason Day killed those dreams with a closing 68 to beat Hearn by two. This week started with Canadians putting their hopes in Hearn or Graham DeLaet to come through, but neither could live up to their countrymen’s’ expectations. Both missed the cut and the chipping issues for DeLaet continue.
On Thursday, DeLaet almost hit a playing partner’s caddy with what should have been a relatively easy chip on the 9th hole. Then on No. 16, he skulled a ball from a bunker into another bunker before taking another two shots to get it out. Pretty ugly stuff. Let’s hope he can get it fixed before the Olympics next month.
Viva Vegas
After starting the year without full exempt status on the PGA Tour, Jhonattan Vegas followed up his 4th-place finish at the Barbasol Championship with a final-round 64 to win by one over Jon Rahm, Martin Laird and Dustin Johnson.
Following his round, Vegas choked back tears to Peter Kostis saying, “From where I started this year, not having full status on Tour and knowing it was going to be a really tough year … I think it was a great thing for me, because it made me realize how much I love being here and how much hard I had to work to get back here. And then I come out with this great win.”
Vegas has earned a place at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol, and gets to look forward to the Masters next year.
Related: See the clubs Vegas used to win
- LIKE54
- LEGIT1
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK2
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
- LIKE6
- LEGIT3
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
- LIKE10
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE16
- LEGIT3
- WOW6
- LOL2
- IDHT1
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole5 days ago
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole5 days ago
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
Ben Peters
Jul 25, 2016 at 1:08 pm
It was only a matter of time for Vegas. Congrats to a quality player and even better person.