Who Says The Canadian Open Isn't Interesting?

From the sounds of Doug Ferguson's lively game story, it sounds like Scott Piercy's "boring golf" win in Canada came at the end of an entertaining week and a fast play final round that ended early!?

It also sounds like Piercy was not a victim of another anti-driver setup, this time at Hamiton?

"That was taken a little out of context," he said. "I like to hit driver a lot, and this golf course I felt took the driver out of my hands. I did say, however, that at the end of the week if the score is good, it is exciting. So I'm pretty excited."

It was anything but boring at the start of his round, when he quickly erased a two-shot deficit by running off four straight birdies. He used iron off the tee for the first two birdies, then turned to his power.

First, he blasted a 5-iron from 236 yards in the rough onto the green on the par-5 fourth hole for a two-putt birdie. Then, he hit driver onto the green at the 296-yard fifth hole for another two-putt birdie.

He never imagined playing the rest of the way at 1-over par and winning the tournament. His 263 tied the record set by Johnny Palmer in 1952 at St. Charles in Winnipeg, Manitoba. That leaves The Barclays (Bob Gilder in 1982) as the tournament that has gone the longest without its scoring record being matched or beaten.

The video:

Comments

[No Longer Used to be Former Stack & Tilt Convert]

Last group played in 3:40, so it is possible isn't it.

[Dsl]

I bet the sponsors are super happy they paid all that money to attract What's His Face and Who? to play up here. Nothing like cutting the big cheque to a That Guy. Now he'll be forced to return and defend!

I tuned in for 5 minutes on Thusday and they were showing Vijay Singh! How long has it been since anyone showed him on tv on purpose?

I say they need to build in a Tiger clause for these events. If he doesn't show up, they should be able to slash purses and/ or cancel the whole thing. People couldn't give tickets away to that thing. I know because I was offered tickets to Sat and Sun by two different people. That never happens and I was like the 3rd or 4th person they'd asked. We're about 45 minutes away. If Tiger were there? Hell, you wouldn't be able to buy a ticket.

[G]

Normally, I would say why trouble the American media about the Canadian Open -- they have 50-plus years of experience assuming that everything about Canada is boring, why ruin a good thing? But yes, this was a dull leaderboard and the weather diminished what should be one of the better courses the tournament is played on. Oh, for a better date.

[John H]

The PGA has too many tournaments and it's stars are spread too thin. I'm a classic golf nut, but now that we have four rounds on TV every week, plus non-Tour events, the Euro tour, the LPGA, the feeder tours and... it's all just too much. I live down the road from Hamilton, but once I found out how thin the field was, I couldn't work up the enthusiasm to watch more than the last half hour (another last-man-standing grind-fest), let alone attend in person. It's the first local Open I've missed since my teen years, and I'm happy with the choice. It's true that the PGA is composed of the some of the very best players on the planet, but that alone doesn't make them worth watching. A B-list PGA guy beating a bunch of other B-listers just isn't competitive entertainment in the Toronto market.That niche of expensive second rate sport is already filled by the Leafs.

[fwiw]

Funny, the Maple Leafs still sell out though. Yeah, Toronto is really a discerning sports entertainment city.

Funny to denigrate guys approaching tournament records on a great course

[Buffett]

A true golf fan would not disparage the Canadian Open. Anyone who thinks the so-called B list players are not great plsyers has not watched them. All the players on the Tour are great players. As between them, of course, there are differences, but so what? They all play at a level different than the weekend golfer who can be highly entertained by watching. them play. Go to any tournament and follow some players through their practice rounds. Their skills will amaze you.