2018 RBC Canadian Open Preview

Where: Glen Abbey Golf Club
Par/Yards: 72/7,253
2017 champion: Jhonattan Vegas
Purse: $6,200,000/$1,116,000
FedExCup: 500 points to the winner
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Field: 156
Twitter: @RBCCanadianOpen

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Six Things To Know

1. The 2019 RBC Canadian Open will have a new date, June 3-9, the week prior to the U.S. Open. Next year’s revamped schedule of 46 events features an improved flow, with a cadence of significant championships for five consecutive months starting with THE PLAYERS Championship in March and ending with The Open Championship in July, just prior to the start of the FedExCup Playoffs. The three events in the FedExCup Playoffs will be contested in August, with the TOUR Championship being played August 22-25, prior to the start of college/NFL
2. Jhonattan Vegas is looking to win his third consecutive title at the event; last player to win same event three consecutive years was Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic (2009-2011).
3. Several perennial FedExCup Playoffs participants are on the Top 125 bubble and in the field with four weeks remaining to qualify (see below for details).
4. Two of the top four in the FedExCup standings are in the field: Dustin Johnson (1) and Bubba Watson (4)
5. Natives in the field looking to end victory drought at Canada’s national championship that dates back to 1954 (Pat Fletcher) include RBC ambassador Adam Hadwin, who sits No. 61 in the FedExCup standings. Hadwin won the 2017 Valspar Championship and represented Canada at the 2017 Presidents Cup playing for the International
6. The top three players on the 2018 Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit earn exemptions into the RBC Canadian Open. Three former Mackenzie Tour Players of the Year are in this year’s field: Mackenzie Hughes (2013), Joel Dahmen (2014) and J.J. Spaun (2015).

 

Field by the numbers

• This is the 109th playing of the tournament (est. 1904)
• Six of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings, led by Dustin Johnson (1), Bubba Watson (4) and Tony Finau (10)
• 12 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, led by Dustin Johnson (1), Brooks Koepka (4) and Tommy Fleetwood (11)
• Nine winners during the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season: Bubba Watson (3), Dustin Johnson (2), Ryan Armour, Austin Cook, Brooks Koepka, Ian Poulter, Gary Woodland, Troy Merritt, Billy Horschel
• Five past champions: Jhonattan Vegas (2016, 2017), Brandt Snedeker (2013) Sean O’Hair (2011), Chez Reavie (2008), Jim Furyk (2006, 2007)
• Three former Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Players of the Year: J. Spaun (2015), Joel Dahmen (2014) and Mackenzie Hughes (2013)

 

Race for the FedExCup

• 40th of 44 events in the PGA TOUR regular season
• In six of 11 years, the winner of the RBC Canadian Open has qualified for the TOUR Championship, the final event of the FedExCup Playoffs that crowns the FedExCup champion: Jhonattan Vegas (2016, 2017), Jason Day (2015), Brandt Snedeker (2013), Scott Piercy (2012) and Jim Furyk (2007)
• Four former FedExCup champions are in the field: Billy Horschel (2014), Brandt Snedeker (2012), Bill Haas (2011) and Jim Furyk (2010)

 

Push for the FedExCup Playoffs

The top 125 players in the FedExCup standings following the Wyndham Championship are qualified for THE NORTHERN TRUST, the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs. With the Playoffs just four weeks away, a look at players trying to secure a berth:

• Jhonattan Vegas (FedExCup standing: 122): Two-time defending RBC Canadian Open champion has qualified for the TOUR Championship in each of the past two seasons (final standings: 23/2017, 29/2016)
• Harris English (130): Has qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs in each of his six seasons on TOUR (2012 through 2016-17)
• Sergio Garcia (132): One of 13 players to have qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs in each season
• Steve Stricker (141): Has missed the Playoffs just once in his career (2015; played only nine events) and has finished in the top five of the final standings three times (2nd/2007, 3rd/2009, 3rd/2013)
• Bill Haas (144): Is one of 13 players to have qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs in each season

 

Jhonattan Vegas at the RBC Canadian Open

• Defeated Charley Hoffman in a playoff in 2017 with a birdie on the first extra hole
• Became the sixth repeat winner of the RBC Canadian Open and first since Jim Furyk in 2006-07
• Could become the first player in tournament history to win the event three times in a row
• Last player to win the same event three consecutive years: Steve Stricker, 2009-11 John Deere Classic

 

Top Contenders Dustin Johnson Entering the week

#1         FedExCup
#1         OWGR
5          Starts at RBC Canadian Open
2          Runner-up finishes at RBC Canadian Open
18         PGA TOUR wins
13         PGA TOUR starts in 2017-18 2       Wins in 2017-18
8          Top-10s in 2017-18
18 wins; at least one in each season on TOUR (2008-active)
Best 2017-18 results: Won/FedEx St. Jude Classic, Won/Sentry Tournament of Champions, T2/AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, T2/WGC-HSBC Champions

• Three top-10s in five starts at the event, including two runner-up finishes (T8/2017, T2/2016, T2/2013)
• Missed the cut at The Open Championship last week, his first result outside the top 20 at a stroke-play event in 2017- 18 and first missed cut since the 2017 U.S. Open
• Streak of 20 starts without a missed cut before The Open was the longest active streak on TOUR
• Leads the TOUR in scoring average (68.751)

Bubba Watson Entering the week

#4         FedExCup
#13       OWGR
7          Starts at RBC Canadian Open
1          Runner-up finish at RBC Canadian Open
12         PGA TOUR wins
17         PGA TOUR starts in 2017-18 3       Wins in 2017-18
12 wins; leads the PGA TOUR with three in 2017-18
Wins in 2017-18: Genesis Open, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, Travelers Championship

• Finished second at the event in 2015, one shot behind Jason Day (T42 in 2017)
• Missed the cut at The Open Championship in his most recent start
• Currently FedExCup No. 4; has qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs in each season and the TOUR Championship seven of 11 years

 

Brooks Koepka Entering the week

 

#13       FedExCup
#4         OWGR
1          Start at RBC Canadian Open
0          Top-10s at RBC Canadian Open
3          PGA TOUR wins
10         PGA TOUR starts in 2017-18
3          Top-fives in 2017-18
Wins (3): 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open, 2017 U.S. Open, 2018 U.S. Open
Best 2017-18 results: Won/U.S. Open, 2nd/Fort Worth Invitational, T2/WGC-HSBC Champions

• In his only previous start at the event, was T4 after 54 holes before a final-round 74 resulted in a T18
• Won his second consecutive U.S. Open title in June
• Has qualified for the TOUR Championship in two of three seasons on TOUR (2015, 2017)

 

Notable Canadian players in the field Adam Hadwin

• Native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and resident of Abbotsford, British Columbia
• Eight previous starts at the event with two top-10s (T7/2015, T4/2011)
• 61 in FedExCup standings
• PGA TOUR wins (1): 2017 Valspar Championship

 

Corey Conners

• Native and resident of Listowel, Ontario
• One made cut in four starts at RBC Canadian Open (80th/2016)
• 126 in FedExCup standings (rookie on TOUR)
• Lone 2017-18 top-10 came at the Fort Worth Invitational (T8)

 

Mackenzie Hughes

• Native of Hamilton, Ontario
• 2013 Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year
• One made cut in three starts at RBC Canadian Open (T32/2017)
• 174 in FedExCup standings
• PGA TOUR wins (1): 2016 The RSM Classic

 

Nick Taylor

• Native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and resident of Abbotsford, British Columbia
• Two made cuts in eight starts at RBC Canadian Open (T56/2015, T53/2008)
• 127 in FedExCup standings
• PGA TOUR wins (1): 2014 Sanderson Farms Championship

 

David Hearn

• Native of Brampton, Ontario, and resident of Brantford, Ontario
• Finished 3rd at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open (best result in 15 starts)
• 148 in FedExCup standings
• Has two professional wins in Canada: 2004 Alberta Classic (Web.com Tour) and 2004 Times Colonist Open (Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada)
• Best result in 2017-18 came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (T10)

 

Three players earn RBC Canadian Open exemptions through Mackenzie Tour

The top three players in the current Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit earn exemptions into this week’s RBC Canadian Open:

• Zach Wright: No. 1 in the Order of Merit with five top-10 finishes in seven starts, including three runner-up finishes; 24-year-old played collegiately at
• Sam Fidone: 25-year-old moved from No. 4 to No. 2 last week with a T8 at the Osprey Valley Open; Captured the Bayview Place Open in June; Texas native attended
• George Cunningham: No. 3 in the Order of Merit, Cunningham won the GolfBC Championship in June and has three top-10s in seven starts; 22-year-old native of Colorado played collegiately at the University of Arizon

 

Tournament scoring records

VIA
• 18 holes: 60, Carl Pettersson (R3/2010)
• 72 holes: 263, Scott Piercy (2012) and Tim Clark (2014)
• Largest margin of victory: 11, Johnny Palmer (1952)

via PGA TOUR