Week 29 Power Rankings: RBC Canadian Open

text size

Update: Couples, ranked No. 10, withdrew from the tournament on Wednesday

Glen Abbey Golf Club is stretch of greenery just off Lake Ontario, and although the name suggests a track that dates back to the turn of the century, this modern Jack Nicklaus design opened in the 1970s and quickly became a favorite stop on TOUR.

Glen Abbey was one of the easier courses on TOUR in 2008 -- Chez Reavie shot 17 under to win there -- but the scores were affected by rain-softened greens and the lift, clean and place rules that were in place for all four rounds. In 2004, when the TOUR last contested the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey, Vijay Singh's winning score was 9 under.

The course does not give a huge advantage to the longer hitter. Reavie and Billy Mayfair, two of the shortest hitters on the PGA TOUR, ended up 1-2 in 2008, and the top 10 also included Glen Day (188th in Driving Distance in 2009) and Scott McCarron (123rd).

The list of winners here include noted grinders like Mark O'Meara (1995), Curtis Strange (1987) and Lee Trevino (1979). Reavie is a good example of that. He averaged 282 yards off the tee here last year -- giving up an average of 23 yards per tee shot to Anthony Kim, who trailed Reavie by one shot after 54 holes.

Coincidentally, Reavie didn't make the rankings for his title defense because the victory remains his last top-10 on TOUR. His best finish since then is a tie for 12th at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship, which had only 33 players in the field.

Power Rankings: RBC Canadian Open

Rank Player   Comment Retief GOOSEN Goosen's best finish in three Glen Abbey starts is a tie for 13th, but he finished only two shots out of a playoff last week at Turnberry. Goosen, who has only one missed one cut all year, is ninth in scoring average before the cut. Anthony KIM Kim tore up Glen Abbey last year in his first start in Canada, but his poor putting sent him to a final-round 75 and a tie for eighth. Kim has bounced back from a miserable spring and is second on TOUR in birdies this year. Camilo VILLEGAS This is the time of the year where Villegas usually stops finishing tied for 13th and starts contending for victories. His record at Glen Abbey isnt good - a missed cut and a tie for 53rd - but his firepower makes him hard to ignore. Luke DONALD Because he missed most of 2008 with a wrist injury, this will be Donald's first Glen Abbey start. Donald is first in putting and seventh in scoring, and when he hits the ball well, he's a lock to go low. Donald has five top-10s in only 14 starts this year. Mike WEIR Weir has played this course a billion times, but importantly, he knows how to score on Glen Abbey's par 3s. Because Glen Abbey only has three par 5s, Glen Abbey's short par 3s are critical, and Weir was 3 under on them last year. Steve MARINO Marino piled up 23 birdies here last year -- no one had more -- and he finished tied for third. Marino has shot 12 under or better three times this year, and he should have a lot of confidence after his strong run last week at Turnberry. Scott VERPLANK Verplank hasn't played Glen Abbey since 2000, when he tied for sixth. Verplank has two consecutive top-10s, and his lack of length won't hurt him here. Verplank already has 27 rounds in the 60s this year, with 11 rounds coming in at 67 or better. Sean O'HAIR O'Hair is a true wild card this week because has not played well since his victory at Quail Hollow, but he tied for third here last year. O'Hair is undoubtedly one of the top 10 ballstrikers on TOUR, and this allows him to dominate Glen Abbey's short par 5s. Aaron BADDELEY Baddeley does well on medium-length courses that feature small, undulating greens. He should be well-rested after having last week off. He tied for ninth at the John Deere Classic and has elevated his game since changing swing coaches earlier this year. Fred COUPLES It might surprise you to learn that Couples broke par in every round at Glen Abbey last year. Freddie doesn't tee it up much these days, but when he does, he's been sharp. He's notched three top-10s and a tie for 11th in 11 tournaments in '09.