@ Royal Montreal Golf Club (7,153 yards, Par 70); Architect: Rees Jones
Defending champion: Brandt Snedeker (-8)
TV:
Thursday-Friday–Golf Channel: 4-7 PM ET/3-6 PM CT;
Saturday: Golf Channel: 1-2:30 PM ET/12-1:30 PM CT; CBS: 3-6 PM ET/2-5 PM CT;
Sunday: Golf: 1-2:30 PM ET/12-1:30 PM CT: 12-1:30 PM CT; CBS: 3-6 PM ET/2-5 PM CT.
Weather:
Thursday, Partly Cloudy, 76 high, 10% rain, wind NW 7 MPH;
Friday: Sunny, 81 high, o%, wind: WSW@ 13 MPH;
Saturday: Sunny, 80, 0%, Wind: WSW 11 MPH;
Sunday: scattered T-storms, 60%, 76 high, wind SE 9 MPH.
Key tee times:
8 AM ET/7 AM CT: Dustin Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, Hunter Mahan
7:50 AM ET/6:50 AM CT: Ernie Els, Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard
1:05 PM ET/12:05 CT: Kuuuch, Jim Furyk, Graham DeLaet
1:15 Pm ET/12:15 PM CT: Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Mike Weir.
Three key holes:
No.4, 501 yards, Par 4
The most difficult hole on the front nine usually plays into the prevailing wind from the southwest. Four is a dogleg left playing uphill that has a narrow landing area with two bunkers on the left that can affect your drive and a bunker on the right. There are trees on the left hand side that could hinder your second shot to the green if you drive it too far left. The green is protected by bunkers on the left and right front sides. Trees line both sides of the fairway. Challenging hole.
No. 16, 456 yards, Par 4
Toughest hole on the course. Driver off the tee might not be the best option as there is a large pond that runs along the left side. The approach shot is played over water to an elevated green that is protected by a huge bunker. Par on this one and four are good scores; birdies are a bonus.
No.18, 466 yards, Par 4
The 18th has the most challenging green on the course. Water is in play on the left side off the tee and there is a bunker on the right that comes in the play if you go right. The hole is a dogleg left and moves slightly uphill to a plateaued green. Mike Weir won his Sunday match over Tiger Woods in the 2007 Presidents Cup. Should be some drama here on Sunday.
This is the third oldest event on the PGA Tour, behind only the Open Championship and the U.S. Open.
Contenders:
Graeme McDowell:
Leads the tour in strokes gained putting, which is a huge stat. The strokes gained putting is measured by how you put against the field. For instance is a golfer sinks a 30 footer and the field averages two putts from 30′, that golfer gains one stroke on the field. If you do that four times and are even with the field in other putts, you gain four strokes on the field in putting for the round. McDowell’s strokes gained averaged is 1.0006. He’s a solid ball striker who is accurate off the tee. He’s 17th on the tour in driving accuracy. This isn’t an extremely long course, so his accuracy is at a premium.
Justin Leonard:
Like the way Justin is playing. Fourth in scrambling and this is a course where you need to scramble well. Brandt Snedeker only won at -8, so the players don’t go incredibly low here, so getting up and down is critical. Justin has been playing well this year with some top 10’s. He’s getting it back together. See him with a shot.
Graham DeLaet:
Graham has been in the hunt all year. Hits it a ton and is second on the tour in greens in regulation. If his putter is working, which can be a problem for him at times, he can capture his home trophy. Graham is from Canada.
Dustin Johnson:
Played very well at the Open finishing t-12 at -9. A bomber for sure and a very good putter. He’s 18th on the tour in greens in regulation, so if he’s accurate off the tee, and the putter is clicking, Dustin could get this done.
Hunter Mahan:
Had the lead here last year after the second round, but had to leave before teeing off for round three because his wife was in labor. He’s due to win this year. Got the length and when he’s putting well, he’s tough to beat.
Winner:
Graeme McDowell:
Like the soon to be 35 year old (July 30th) to capture the title because of his excellent putting and accurate tee shots. Outstanding player. These Canadian courses play more like the European courses with their bent fairways and, of course, greens. McDowell probably feels real comfortable here. He had a very good British finishing T-9 as he shot 67 on Sunday. He won the Alstom Open de France earlier this month in Paris. The Northern Ireland native and former UAB golfer, who captured the 201o U.S Open and the 2013 RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, is stellar and has a shot at another major or two in the coming years.
