By Mike Cormack
Sportsnet.ca
OAKVILLE, ON -- Last Sunday on the 18th green at Turnberry, Matthew Goggin thought he was about to witness golf history from the best seat in the house. The 35-year-old Australian was paired with Tom Watson for the final round, and although he faded down the stretch with a closing three-over 73, he feels lucky to have been along for the ride.
“It was an awesome day," Goggin told sportsnet.ca Tuesday at Glen Abbey. “When I couldn’t win and I was standing on the 72nd hole, I was hoping Tom would get it done. “It’s disappointing he didn’t get it done, but it was still great to be part of that experience. It was a cool event.”
Goggin’s tie for fifth at Turnberry was his best finish since he tied for fourth at the Transistions Championship back in March. He will tee off on Thursday at 8:10 a.m. with Eric Axley and 1996 PGA Champion Mark Brooks.
New date for Open?
With several PGA Tour events facing the loss of title sponsors due to the recession, the RBC Canadian Open could have a new date, and possibly sooner than later.
Tournament director Bill Paul told sportsnet.ca Tuesday the economic uncertainty down south could lead to a re-vamped 2010 PGA Tour schedule.
“In a perfect world, I’m sure (PGA Tour commissioner) Mr. (Tim) Finchem would find sponsors for those that haven’t got them,” said Paul. “Will we see a change? Possibly. I think it’s going to be later than 2010 though.”
So far this year, major PGA Tour sponsors General Motors and Chrysler have gone bankrupt, while Ginn Resorts pulled several sponsorships and U.S. Bank has decided against renewing as title sponsor in Milwaukee. But perhaps most intriguingly for Canadian golf fans, in March the Tour dropped its affiliation with the title sponsor of the Memphis St. Jude Classic, Stanford Financial, after the U.S. securities and exchange commission charged its owner with fraud. The move left the event without a title sponsor for 2009 and it has yet to find a replacement for 2010 and beyond, leaving its future very much in doubt. The Memphis event is traditionally held in June the week before the U.S. Open and it attracts a strong field of international players looking to tune for the year's second major. It’s no secret that the Canadian Open would love to move away from its current position on the calendar, the week after the British Open, to an earlier summer date.
“We remain in touch (with the Tour) and having RBC as a sponsor, and a strong sponsor at that, puts us in a good position,” said Paul. “The reality is that if I’m the commissioner of the PGA Tour I got to wait to see where all the dominoes are going to fall.” And what are the chances that the Canadian Open could have a new date as early as 2010? “There’s always that possibility,” said Paul, “But right now we’re concentrating on July 19-25 (2010).”
Couples' participation in doubt
Former Masters champion Fred Couples’ participation in this week’s RBC Canadian Open is in question after he suffered a back injury during Monday’s Mike Weir charity classic. Couples, who will captain Team U.S.A. at this fall’s President’s Cup matches, has a history of back trouble and was not on the course Tuesday at Glen Abbey before heavy afternoon rain. As of Tuesday afternoon tournament director Bill Paul said rumours of Couples’ withdrawal were premature.
Couples, who was the runner-up at Glen Abbey to David Frost in 1993, is scheduled to tee off Thursday at 12:55 p.m. ET with Anthony Kim and Bo Van Pelt.
Rain washes out hopes
Hopes for a firm and fast Glen Abbey this week are now unlikely following Tuesday’s heavy afternoon rain, and a wet forecast for later this week. Glen Abbey course superintendent Scott Bowman said Tuesday the course was playing fast and drying out during Monday’s Mike Weir Charity Classic, but players are likely to see a much different course for the championship. "The fairways were beginning to show that little tinge of purplish brown, which gets them very firm and fast," said Bowman. "It’s obviously not going to be as firm as it was." As for the rough, Bowman said a PGA Tour official showed up last Tuesday and the rough was cut later that day, and again last Friday. "It’s a thick three-and-a-half (inches) and we will let it go, weather pending, for the rest of the week."
Immelman on the mend
It’s been a tough summer for 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman, but he’s happy to be back on tour this week at Glen Abbey after missing several weeks with a wrist injury. The South African hurt himself during the Memorial tournament in early June and was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Open and British Open because of the injury.
Click: Trevor Immelman on the injury
