When the Tour meteorologist showed me the colour printout of this morning's weather map, it had so many dark forebodeing patches on it that I said: "If I was your doctor and that was your X-ray, I'd give you about 10 minutes to live."
Nice analysis, JG. Shoulda been a doctor.
Ten minutes later, it started to pour. So, from 10 a.m. until a time as yet undetermined because of recurrent thunderstorms, play has been suspended Sunday at the RBC Canadian Open. Nothing to do in the media centre but read all the papers, listen to the same bad jokes, and commiserate with my colleagues, and officials from the PGA Tour and RCGA. And decide which is tastier: The sandwiches they're serving or the paper plate they're served on. (Job-saving note: ClubLink does not cater the media centre food.)
Perhaps the heaviest rain of the week has fallen today, and that's saying a lot. As a result, the already saturated course is submerged again. Once again, the grounds crew, bolstered by people and equipment from other ClubLink courses in the area, will try to get Glen Abbey back in shape in the hopes of completing the third round. The Tour has scheduled the first Monday finish since 1988, when Ken Green edged Bill Glasson and Scott Verplank by a shot. Dave Barr finished T4, another stroke back.
Despite all the clouds, there have been some remarkable silver linings this week: all the aces (including Mike Weir's first-ever on Tour), Calcavecchia's nine straight birdies, a couple of guys threatening the18-hole record of 10-under 62 at Glen Abbey set by Greg Norman in 1986... I'm glad I had the opportunity to be here for the 100th playing of our national open, the 25th at this remarkable golf course since 1977. My admiration goes out to those indomitable fans who kept showing up despite those cancerous forecasts, all with the hope that Mike Weir can justify their endurance with a win tomorrow.
And, for the record, that would make him the first native-born Canadian to win our open since Karl Keffer of Tottenham, Ont., did it in 1914. Pat Fletcher, the 1954 champ, was born in England but moved to Canada as a young child.
Can he do it? You have to stay tuned until Monday.