Wrap Up: Brilliant Brandt Composed in Canada
By: Nick Bonfield | Mon 29 Jul 2013
Brandt Snedeker shot a final-round 70 to record a 16-under-par 72-hole total and win the RBC Canadian Open by three shots from a four-strong group at the Glen Abbey Golf Club.
The world number seven pocketed $1,008,000 for his troubles, while Jason Bohn, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and William McGirt each earned $369,600 for coming second.
Snedeker started with rounds of 70 and 69, but his five-under-par halfway total was eight off Hunter Mahan’s 36-hole lead.
On Saturday, though, Mahan’s wife went into labor as he was warming up, and the American promptly withdrew from the tournament.
By that point, Snedeker was already flying on the golf course, turning in six-under-par 29 to move well inside the top 10.
He added three more birdies coming home to complete 54 holes in 14-under-par and claim the lead with one round remaining.
On Sunday, Snedeker – who had won two of his last three tournaments with the third-round lead – turned in one under, and a birdie at 16 took him to 16 under.
Johnson had reached that mark with a birdie of his own at 16, but a triple-bogey seven at his penultimate hole paved the way for Snedeker, who parred his last two to claim victory.
Talking points:
Snedeker – major winner?
In this day and age, it’s hard to label someone a definitive ‘major winner in the making’, but I have complete faith in Snedeker. He’s contended in three of the last five major championships and his all-round game, headlined by an exceptional ability on the greens, is superb. Oak Hill, host venue for the PGA Championship, is a course that should suit his eye, and I think he’s got a great chance of success in the year’s final major.
Strength of field:
It was great to see such a strong field competing in the Canadian Open the week following the Open. It’s a long journey from East Lothian to Ontario, but so many of the world’s top players took it upon themselves to make the trip. Granted, a few were contractually obligated to play, and private jets simplify the logistics, but it’s good to see top players with an insatiable desire to compete. There are fantastic fields most weeks on the PGA Tour, partly because of the strength of the global game, but also because these guys just love to play competitive golf as often as possible.
Next week, the world’s best players head to famed Firestone Country Club in Ohio for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, where Keegan Bradley defends.
Image Credit: RBC Canadian Open Facebook
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