This article is part of our PGA Tour Stats Review series.
Here we go now to the RBC Canadian Open, the sandwich event between the Open Championship and the PGA Championship. Normally in this slot but not with a major following, the field is led by defending champion Jason Day, helped by the charter to take players from overseas and the always strong RBC contingent. With the course playing firm and fast, being accurate and precise will be important this week; and with that in mind, here's this week's stats thread:
RBC For Life
We don't usually mention sponsors here but the RBC is stable and is as big and prominent as any on Tour, and it must be mentioned as they get a high amount of commitments from all their players. RBC-sponsored players playing at Glen Abbey this week include: defending champion Jason Day, Jim Furyk, Canadian Olympian Graham DeLaet, Ernie Els, Adam Hadwin, Canadian Olympian David Hearn, United States Olympian Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Ryan Palmer, Brandt Snedeker, Nick Taylor and Mike Weir.
None of these guys did anything of note at The Open – Day finished T22 and never ended up quite on the right side of the draw to make any kind of run, and some, like Matt Kuchar, had poor weekends.
I will point out, however, two players who teed it up at the Barbasol Championship. DeLaet finished four shots out of a playoff and for the week ranked fourth in strokes gained – approach to the green, T20 in strokes gained – off the tee and T14 in greens in regulation. He was also T3 in driving accuracy. It may be asking a lot for DeLaet to win his home country's Open, make a nation proud, and get his first PGA Tour win at the same time, but I think he might do it this week.
Hearn had a nice week with four rounds in the 60s and a T20 finish, and he ranked T20 in strokes gained – putting and T29 in greens in regulation. He nearly won this event last year and could content again here.
Barbasol Hot
I want to note a couple guys who had good Sundays at the Barbasol Championship and are playing this week that you should keep an eye on. Si Woo Kim lost in the playoff, but he rode a hot finish into the extra holes to cap a 65-63 weekend. He ranked 19th in strokes gained – off the tee, ninth in strokes gained – around the green and fifth in strokes gained – putting. Play like that again this week and we may see Kim get his first PGA Tour win.
The other guy I want to point out is Sam Saunders, who has had an inconsistent season but finally had a good weekend and finish that he can be proud of. In Alabama he went 68-69-65-68, and his T8 finish was his strongest since a T9 finish…in his previous start at the Barracuda Championship. Things are trending in the right direction. For the week Saunders ranked eighth in strokes gained – approach to the green and 25th in strokes gained – putting, showing that his ball striking and putter are coming around. That's big this week and it's why I like him at Glen Abbey.
The Field
The field also includes Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Emiliano Grillo, Charley Hoffman, Billy Hurley III, William McGirt, Patrick Rodgers, and Vijay Singh.
Our two recommendations are Finau and Fitzpatrick. Finau had a great run at The Open last week, and while he fell back a bit on the weekend and ultimately tied for 18th, it was his first big spot in a major and he should be proud of his play. The winner at the Puerto Rico Open earlier this year, Finau ranks third in driving distance, 30th in strokes gained – off the tee, and 30th in total birdies this season on the PGA Tour. (It should be noted that his Puerto Rico win didn't contain ShotLink).
Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, is a rising star across the pond, who missed the cut at The Open but won the Nordea Masters not too long ago. He is up to 45th in the world ranking and with two top-10s on the season is one solid finish away from clinching a PGA Tour card for next season, so he has plenty of incentive to play well. Stats-wise he hasn't played enough PGA Tour rounds to get a ranking but has above average driving accuracy and greens in regulation percentages (he's nine percentage points higher in driving accuracy). I like him this week.
The Weather
Except for a thunderstorm chance and a little bit of wind on Friday and Sunday, the weather looks nice for this event with sunny skies and temperatures in the 80s.
