Kodak Challenge Update: RBC Canadian Open

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Jul. 25, 2010

MORE: Interactive Kodak Challenge scorecards

The Kodak Challenge is a first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players, who must play at least 18 of the 30 Kodak Challenge holes to be eligible to win. A player's lowest score relative to par on his best 18 Kodak Challenge holes will be counted. The player with the lowest cumulative score relative to par wins $1 million and the Kodak Challenge trophy.

Kodak Challenge Action Heats Up: With current Kodak Challenge leader Rickie Fowler idle this week, a group of Kodak Challenge contenders led by Charlie Wi are looking to improve their position in the season-long $1 million competition. Of the top-20 Kodak Challenge competitors 13 are in the field this week at the RBC Canadian Open. Wi, who currently sits just one stroke, behind Fowler at 10-under-par, has birdied seven straight Kodak Challenge holes coming into this week.

Lee Janzen, Troy Merritt, Brandon de Jonge and Mark Wilson are right on Wi's heels at 9-under-par. Janzen has recorded four consecutive Kodak Challenge birdies to move into contention. Wilson sunk a dramatic final-day Kodak Challenge eagle at the John Deere Classic to join the group just two-shots off Fowler's lead pace

THIS WEEK'S HOLE: The 446-yard Par 4 14th at St. George's Golf and Country Club
DESCRIPTION: The picturesque 466-yard par-4, #14 is one of the hilliest and most challenging holes at St. George's Golf and Country Club. Tour players are required to hit a precise downhill tee shot in order to land cleanly in the fairway. Approach shots need to be wary of bunkers which encircle the green, including a series of elevated sand traps on the right. (Click here for tour).

Fourth-round recap

For the second consecutive day, Carl Pettersson birdied Kodak Challenge hole No. 14 on the way to winning the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday at historic St. Georges Golf and Country Club. Pettersson holed his third shot from just off the green on the tricky par-4 466-yard hole, and sits at 10-under-par on the 2010 Kodak Challenge leaderboard. He remains just one shot behind leader Rickie Fowler, who was idle this week.

Brendon de Jonge also birdied No. 14 on Sunday. De Jonge sank his 16-foot birdie putt, moving to 10-under-par on the leaderboard. Also carding a birdie on the hole was Jimmy Walker, who moves to 9-under-par on the season.

Throughout the RBC Canadian Open, there were many memorable moments on hole No. 14. But on Sunday, the Kodak Challenge Moment of the Day belonged to Charley Hoffman, who sank a 33-foot birdie putt.

Kodak Challenge hole #14 was the 9th hardest hole at St. Georges Golf and Country Club Sunday, yielding 11 birdies, 47 pars, 14 bogeys and 1 double bogey. The RBC Canadian Open was the 21st of 30 tournaments to participate in the 2010 $1 million Kodak Challenge competition. The next Kodak Challenge hole is the par-3 #16 at Atunyote GC at the Turning Stone Resort Championship on August 5-8.

Third-round recap

During Saturdays third round of the RBC Canadian Open, Carl Pettersson carded birdie on Kodak Challenge hole No. 14. Pettersson sank his 12-foot birdie putt, moving him to 9-under-par on the leaderboard. Pettersson sits two strokes behind Kodak Challenge leader, Rickie Fowler, who is idle this week.

J.P. Hayes also took advantage of his birdie opportunity on the tricky par 4. Hayes put his second shot within six feet of the cup and went on to sink his birdie putt. Hayes birdie puts him at 7-under-par on the 2010 leaderboard.

The Kodak Challenge Moment of the Day belonged to Ricky Barnes, who sank a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 14.

Kodak Challenge hole #14 was the 4th most difficult hole at St. Georges Golf and Country Club Saturday, yielding 11 birdies, 50 pars, 13 bogeys and three double bogeys. The RBC Canadian Open is the 21st of 30 tournaments to participate in 2010's $1 million Kodak Challenge competition.

Second-round recap

Ted Purdy and Steve Lowery each carded birdies on No. 14 at the RBC Canadian Open on Friday to move into contention in the $1 million Kodak Challenge competition. Their birdies on the par-4 466-yard hole at historic St. George's Golf and Country Club leave them at 9 under, just two shots behind leader Rickie Fowler.

Matt Bettencourt made the best of his chance on the Kodak Challenge hole Friday, sinking an 11-footer for a Kodak Challenge birdie to join the group at 8 under.

The "Kodak Challenge Moment of the Day" belonged to Robert Gamez, who sank his 40-footer from just off the front of the green for birdie on No. 14.

No. 14 was the seventh most difficult hole at St. George's Golf and Country Club Friday, yielding 20 birdies, 101 pars, 26 bogeys and 2 double bogeys. The RBC Canadian Open is the 21st of 30 tournaments to participate in the 2010 $1 million Kodak Challenge competition.

First-round recap

During Thursday's opening round of the RBC Canadian Open in Etobicoke, Ontario, Lee Janzen and Troy Merritt inched closer to the 2010 Kodak Challenge lead with birdies on No. 14. The duo sank birdie putts on the par-4, 466-yard hole at historic St. George's Golf and Country Club, moving to 10 under on the Kodak Challenge leaderboard. They're currently one shot behind Kodak Challenge leader, Rickie Fowler, who is idle this week.

Kevin Na also took advantage of his birdie opportunity on No. 14. Na sank his 13-foot putt to move to 9 under on the Kodak Challenge leaderboard.

The "Kodak Challenge Moment of the Day" belonged to Rob Grube, who carded the day's only eagle on No. 14 by holing his 128-yard second shot on the tricky par-4.

No. 14 was tied for being the 5th most difficult hole at St. George's Golf and Country Club Thursday, yielding 1 eagle, 28 birdies, 88 pars, 30 bogeys and 6 double bogeys. The RBC Canadian Open is the 21st of 30 tournaments to participate in the 2010 $1 million Kodak Challenge competition.

Current Kodak Challenge Leaderboard

Rank	Player	Holes Played	Score
1	Rickie Fowler	15	-11
T2	Lee Janzen	16	-10
T2	Troy Merritt	16	-10
T2	Brendon de Jonge	16	-10
T2	Charlie Wi	14	-10
T5	Carl Pettersson	16	-9
T5	Ted Purdy	16	-9
T5	Jimmy Walker	15	-9