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Here's everything you need to know ahead of the 2018 RBC Canadian Open. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Next year, the RBC Canadian Open moves from the week following The Open Championship to take residence as the U.S. Open’s new lead-in — essentially trading slots with the Memphis stop, which will become the summer World Golf Championships venue.
FIELD NOTES
FedExCup leader Dustin Johnson, an RBC ambassador, headlines a lineup that features eight of the top 30 on the points list.
Canada’s Adam Hadwin joins fellow PGA TOUR winners Mac Hughes and Nick Taylor among 16 native sons seeking to win their national open. Pat Fletcher was the last to accomplish that — back in 1954.
Former Masters champion Mike Weir, who nearly ended Canada’s dry spell when he lost a playoff to Vijay Singh in 2004, is back for his 27th Canadian Open.
Norman Xiong, winner of the Haskins Award for college excellence, will make his third start since turning professional.
The lineup includes 33 players returning from The Open Championship.
FEDEXCUP
Winner receives 500 points.
STORYLINES
Vegas is the third man this season taking aim at three straight wins in the same event, hoping to succeed where Justin Thomas (CIMB Classic) and Daniel Berger (FedEx St. Jude Classic) did not. Steve Stricker is the last to pull it off, winning the John Deere Classic from 2009-2011.
Koepka, who entered the weekend five shots off The Open Championship lead, could arrive with two-thirds of the “Triple Crown” if he leaves Carnoustie with the Claret Jug. Only Lee Trevino (1971) and Tiger Woods (2000) have completed a U.S./U.K./Canadian sweep of Opens.
Johnson seeks a bounceback after an early exit from Carnoustie. He’s twice been a runner-up at Glen Abbey, including two years ago when he finished a shot behind Vegas.
Seven of The Open’s past eight winners have come from off the 54-hole pace. Brandt Snedeker defied the trend in 2013.
Four weeks remain in the FedExCup regular season, as the heat turns up for one of 125 FedExCup Playoff berths.
COURSE
Glen Abbey Golf Course, 7,253 yards, par 72.
Golf Canada’s home grounds plays host for the 30th time and fifth in six years, reversing a trend in which the Open had rotated venues for a dozen years. Jack Nicklaus’ first solo design opened in 1977 to serve as headquarters of Canadian golf, playing host to 22-of-24 Opens before the event began to move around in 2001.
Glen Abbey’s back nine features the “Valley Holes,” starting with a tee shot at No. 11 to a fairway some 60 feet below, then following Sixteen Mile Creek for three holes before eventually climbing out at No. 16. The 18th is where Tiger Woods struck one of his most memorable shots, a daring 6-iron from a fairway bunker over a lake to 12 feet for a clinching birdie in 2000.
72-HOLE RECORD
263, Johnny Palmer (1952 at St. Charles CC), Scott Piercy (2012 at Hamilton G&CC), Tim Clark (2014 at Royal Montreal GC).
Glen Abbey record: 266, Tiger Woods (2000).
18-HOLE RECORD
60, Carl Pettersson (3rd round, 2010 at St. George’s G&CC). Glen Abbey record: 62, Leonard Thompson (2nd round, 1981), Andy Bean (4th round, 1983), Greg Norman (3rd round, 1986), John Merrick (2nd round, 2013), Robert Garrigus (3rd round, 2017).
LAST YEAR
Vegas became just the second man in 66 years to successfully defend a Canadian Open crown, catching Charley Hoffman with a 7-under-par 65 and winning on the first playoff hole.
The Venezuela native actually clipped the grass atop the lip of a fairway bunker during the playoff, but not enough to keep his ball from rolling through the green some 190 yards away. A fairly simple chip set up a kick-in birdie, while Hoffman found himself in a greenside bunker and unable to hole out to extend the playoff. It was redemption for Vegas, who took a one-shot lead to the 72nd hole but drove in the rough and had to settle for par. Hoffman barely missed an eagle attempt to win in regulation, sending the Open to extra holes.
Vegas joined Jim Furyk (2006-07) as the only men since 1951 to capture back-to-back Canadian titles.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1-2:45 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)
PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (featured groups), 3-6 p.m. (featured holes)
RADIO: Thursday-Friday, 12-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com)
The PGSF heads up to Canada for the RBC Centura
Congratulations again to last weeks winner @ktnole
Our overall leader @NoleLizards just keeps moving towards a regular season championship
Good Luck to everyone this week
