Formerly the Vancouver Open, this has been blighted by scheduling problems since its inaugural event in 1996. For its first three years it coincided with the NEC World Series of Golf and this year and last it has been played the week after the WGC-NEC Invitational; a time when most of the leading players are looking for a week off. The list of winners is hardly inspiring: Guy Boros, Mark Calcavecchia, Brandel Chamblee, but at least home favorite Mike Weir made the event a memorable one last year. He closed with weekend 64s to come from nowhere and be proclaimed the 'Canadian Tiger'. He should certainly go close again this year, but at a much lower price.
The course has undergone some significant changes since last year. One hundred yards have been added in length to bring it up to a par-72, though it is still very short by Tour standards. To compensate, the rough has been more than doubled in acreage and the formerly large, undulating Bentgrass greens have been reduced to be well below the Tour average. If that were not enough, the fairways have also been narrowed significantly. Last year it was putting ability that separated the contenders from the also-rans [see course compatibility table on website], now more emphasis will be on accuracy, especially with the irons.
The emphasis away from putting will be good news for Mark Calcavecchia who is 14th in the Tour greens in regulation stats, but 83rd in putting average [still his highest position in that stat for many a year!] and as a former champion who also finished 21st last year, he has the course form and the game to make it a repeat performance. He has also has an excellent record in the Canadian Open and tops the rankings. The best-price odds of 33/1 at DAS look good e/w value. Second-ranked is Greg Chalmers. He was 21st last year, is 23rd in the greens in regulation stats and his last three finishes read 11th, 16th and 4th. In a weak field, he certainly has the quality to push for at least a place finish. Again DAS is the place for the best odds and 40/1 makes the e/w play very worthwhile.
The outsider this week is Scott Dunlap who is available at 50/1, yet again with DAS. He was an impressive 9th in his last outing, the PGA, and is another ranked highly in the greens in regulation stats, currently 20th. He has not been too close on the course of late, but his overall record in Canada is respectable and could push hard in this weak field.
Will have matchup plays later.
The course has undergone some significant changes since last year. One hundred yards have been added in length to bring it up to a par-72, though it is still very short by Tour standards. To compensate, the rough has been more than doubled in acreage and the formerly large, undulating Bentgrass greens have been reduced to be well below the Tour average. If that were not enough, the fairways have also been narrowed significantly. Last year it was putting ability that separated the contenders from the also-rans [see course compatibility table on website], now more emphasis will be on accuracy, especially with the irons.
The emphasis away from putting will be good news for Mark Calcavecchia who is 14th in the Tour greens in regulation stats, but 83rd in putting average [still his highest position in that stat for many a year!] and as a former champion who also finished 21st last year, he has the course form and the game to make it a repeat performance. He has also has an excellent record in the Canadian Open and tops the rankings. The best-price odds of 33/1 at DAS look good e/w value. Second-ranked is Greg Chalmers. He was 21st last year, is 23rd in the greens in regulation stats and his last three finishes read 11th, 16th and 4th. In a weak field, he certainly has the quality to push for at least a place finish. Again DAS is the place for the best odds and 40/1 makes the e/w play very worthwhile.
The outsider this week is Scott Dunlap who is available at 50/1, yet again with DAS. He was an impressive 9th in his last outing, the PGA, and is another ranked highly in the greens in regulation stats, currently 20th. He has not been too close on the course of late, but his overall record in Canada is respectable and could push hard in this weak field.
Will have matchup plays later.
