Quick look at the RBC Canadian Open

OAKVILLE, Ont. – The last few years at Glen Abbey, it seems like Dustin Johnson has done everything but win.

And this year, the No. 1 player in the FedExCup is more driven than ever to get over the hump after a missed cut at The Open Championship last week.

“I miss cuts, but it bothered me because it’s a major and I wanted to play well, but it’s golf. It’s very frustrating and that’s one reason why I love it, but I also hate it sometimes too,” he said with a smile. “It definitely motivated me to play well this week for sure.”

Johnson, who has won twice already this year, has finished runner-up at Glen Abbey in 2013 and 2016. He finished tied for eighth a year ago and his scoring average is 68.75. He feasts on the par fives at Glen Abbey and hasn’t ever finished outside the top-6 in par-5 scoring.

“I can reach the par-5s which is definitely a help, but I enjoy playing here. It’s a fun golf course and it’s always in good shape,” said Johnson, who is playing the Canadian Open as an RBC ambassador for the first time.

Johnson is one of the fan favorites this week given the family connection to Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player of all time, who was born and raised just minutes from Glen Abbey.

But Johnson says as his own family grows, what’s happening at home is further inspiring to him.

“It definitely puts things into perspective. Kids… that’s everything now,” said Johnson, who is building a new house in Florida that will have his own gym. It will save him time from driving back and forth from his current gym, which means more time with his kids.

“Time is precious. Before golf was most important. Now it’s family and whatever they need is what happens. I go to the back burner now, which is fine. I love it. It’s incredible to have kids. Everything changes but in a good way.”

Johnson said he’s continuing to work on his game from 100 yards and in (although he is currently first on TOUR in both Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and Strokes Gained: Total, he’s 10th in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green), but said the reason for him to get where he is – world No. 1 – is all thanks to the shortest clubs in his bag.

“My wedges have gotten a lot better,” said Johnson. “It’s one area of the game you can get really, really good because it’s a short club and it’s easier to control. If I could be really good with those, then I’m going to play well most of the time.”  

THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER

Brooks Koepka: On a golf course that’s kind to long-bombers, the back-to-back U.S. Open winner should be considered a threat. He finished T18 here the last time he played, in 2015. 

Adam Hadwin: Canadian’s highest-ranked golfer in the FedExCup, Hadwin lived out a childhood dream Tuesday night, throwing out the first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays game. Can those good vibes continue into the tournament itself?

Bubba Watson: He’s looking for win No. 4 this year on a golf course that is seemingly tailor-made for him. He finished second in 2015 and has a Canadian connection: his wife Angie is from just north of Toronto

THE FLYOVER

Glen Abbey’s 18th hole was the site of one of the most memorable shots in Tiger Woods’ historic career. Woods hit a 218-yard 6-iron out of a fairway bunker to win the 2000 Canadian Open as part of the first Triple Crown season since Lee Trevino won the U.S. Open, Open Championship and Canadian Open in 1971. Jhonattan Vegas birdied the hole to win last year’s playoff with Charley Hoffman.

THE LANDING ZONE

With an aggressive drop of 150 feet – the highest on the PGA TOUR – golfers at Glen Abbey dip into the valley holes (No’s 11-15) for the toughest, and most beautiful, stretch at the course.

Click here for more on Glen Abbey’s signature tee shot on this 452-yard, par-4.

WEATHER CHECK

A weak cold front is forecast to arrive Thursday afternoon and will produce scattered thunderstorms across the area after 2 p.m. There will be a chance for rain showers on Friday and Saturday as the unsettled weather pattern continues. Dry conditions are forecast to return on Sunday as high pressure builds across southern Ontario.

For the latest weather news from Oakville, Ontario, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub.

SOUND CHECK

SCATTERSHOTS

Finau Feeling It: Finau comes into the week off his third top-10 at a major in 2018, one of which came on a dislocated ankle. He’s notched seven top-10s this season and was tied for fifth at last year’s RBC Canadian Open, also at Glen Abbey. He acknowledged this week the course will play a little differently than years past but is ready to compete again and feels more comfortable with his game than ever. “I feel like I’m getting better each season and that’s all I can do. I feel like I’m knocking on the door a few times this year and to put myself in that position this year has been great,” he said. “I’d love to give myself a chance this week, and if not this week than next week, and if not next week than the following week.”

And as far as that ankle?

“It’s 100 percent for golf,” he said. “But not quite 100 percent for my basketball games.”   

Garcia thinking FedExCup: It was a last-minute decision, but Sergio Garcia is happy to be back at Glen Abbey. Garcia last played the course in 2000, finishing third behind Tiger Woods. After missing the cut at The Open Championship last week, he wanted to get in some more competition as a lead-in to the FedExCup Playoffs and said it was important to stay in the Top 125. “Obviously it’s been a tough year so I need to get some more tournament play on, and it was a good week to do that,” said Garcia. “I like the course itself. It’s in really good shape and it’s just a matter of trusting my swing, trusting what I’m doing and get some good things going on and put ourselves in a good position to have a chance at winning.”  

Canadian Bubble Boys: Both Corey Conners and Nick Taylor are looking at this week as an even more important one than usual as Canadians, because of where they’re at on the FedEx Cup standings. Conners (126) and Taylor (127) are just nine and 17 points back of No. 125, respectively. “Obviously I'd like to be able to be a little bit higher up, but have a lot of confidence and belief in my game,” said Conners, who played in the final group on Sunday two-straight weeks earlier in the year and grew up just 90 minutes from Glen Abbey. “I'm looking forward to having a good week here.”

WHERE TO PLAY

When you're in the Ontario area, two of the must-play courses are Flamborough Hills Golf Club (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) and Indian Wells Golf Club (Burlington, Ontario, Canada). Click here to book your round with www.teeoff.com.