THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO -- Graham DeLaet still needs the occasional reminder about how far he's come.

On Tuesday morning, it came from a group of 20 kids who participated in an hour-long clinic with him on chipping and putting. When they were done getting pointers, many of the kids stuck around to ask the 28-year-old golfer from Weyburn, Sask., for a picture or an autograph.

"It was a rewarding experience for me," said DeLaet. "I would never have thought last year at this time that I'd be a role model for kids."

Times have certainly changed.

Even though DeLaet will be playing in his third RBC Canadian Open this week, his experience at the national championship is bound to be different. He's arrived at St. George's Golf and Country Club in the midst of a promising rookie season on the PGA Tour and finds himself much more in demand than when he was playing on a sponsor's invite.

It would had been even crazier had he been able to put together a better final round at last week's Reno-Tahoe Open. DeLaet briefly found himself tied for the lead on Sunday before losing his focus and tumbling down the leaderboard with a 78.

"I was thinking about trying to make enough money to keep my card for next year and trying to get a win (for) a two-year exemption on tour instead of focusing on shot by shot," said DeLaet. "That's how you score in the game. You don't think about the outcome, you've got to think about the process.

"It's one of those things that I know that that's how you're supposed to approach the game but for whatever reason I kind of got caught up in the moment and I kind of forgot about that. So I think next time I'm in that position it will be a little bit easier."

Interestingly, DeLaet has the highest finish of any Canadian on the PGA Tour this season, having tied for third at the Shell Houston Open in April. A sixth-place finish is the best result achieved by Mike Weir (Bob Hope Classic) and Stephen Ames (Transitions Championship) so far in 2010.

Those three men are among 18 Canadians who will tee it up this week. Matt Hill of Bright's Grove, Ont., who turned pro last month at age 21, is also in the field along with Nationwide Tour regulars David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Jon Mills of Oshawa, Ont., Ted Brown of Peterborough, Ont., and Edmonton's Barrett Jarosch.

It's a strong group of young players brimming with talent.

"We're in good hands," said Weir.

DeLaet appears to be the furthest along at this point.

After making it through PGA Tour qualifying school last fall, he's put himself in great position to come back again in 2011. With US$564,040 in earnings, he currently sits 114th on the money list -- and the top 125 keep their tour cards.

It's been an awfully big step for a guy who spent the last three seasons on the Canadian Tour.

"I've improved a lot and I've learned a lot," said DeLaet. "This year, as far as my development for the rest of my professional career, will be a huge stepping stone. ...

"Your first year (on the PGA Tour) is your hardest year, for sure. Everyone says that. I just need one more good finish."

A constant companion has been wife Ruby, who has hit the road for most of the season. DeLaet estimates they spend between $3,000 and $5,000 on expenses each week -- "I try to keep it relatively cheap," he said.

There will be an even bigger crowd on hand this week as DeLaet has rented a house near the fourth green at St. George's. The couple will be joined by family from Saskatchewan.

"I've been looking forward to the Canadian Open all year," said DeLaet.

He has his own way of doing things. DeLaet doesn't employ a full-time swing coach or mental coach -- pretty rare on the PGA Tour these days -- and really only started focusing on golf about 10 years ago.

Until then, he had hoped to become a hockey player. However, a serious back injury resulting from a cross-check made him rethink that route and DeLaet ended up attending Boise State University on a golf scholarship.

"It was never my plan to play professional golf," he said earlier this year. "It just kind of happened this way."

Now that he's walking the fairways with PGA Tour players, his goals are no different than any of the others.

"I want to win," said DeLaet. "I want to win majors. I want to win multiple majors. I don't know if that's too far-fetched. I mean, for a kid from Saskatchewan to dream about playing on the PGA Tour is pretty far-fetched too.

"And I made it here."

Notes: Jeffery Puska of Ladysmith, B.C., became the 18th Canadian to be added to the Canadian Open field after he defeated Halifax's David Williamson for the final of four qualifier spots. Play was suspended due to darkness Monday evening and when it resumed Tuesday morning, Puska ousted Williamson with a par on the first playoff hole at the Club at Bond Head in Bond Head, Ont.