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JAYALGER’S WEEKLY BEAR TRAP
“Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.” -Arnold Palmer
PREVIEW AND PICKS FOR THE RBC CANADIAN 2019
The Course - Hamilton Golf & Country ClubThe PGA Tour moves north of the border for the RBC Canadian Open. Hamilton Golf and Country Club is located in Ancaster, Ontario. It has hosted the Canadian Open in the past, most recently, in 2003, 2006 and 2012. The course is a beautiful par-70 measuring 6966 yards with four par 3s and two par 5s.
Hole breakdown is as follows:
| Par 3 | 4 |
| Par 4 <400 | 3 |
| Par 4 400-450 | 8 |
| Par 4 450-500 | 1 |
| Par 4 >500 | 0 |
| Par 5 | 2 |
| Total | 18 |
Course Data (2018)
Course Data by Par (2018)
Course Stats
- Par 70
- 6,966 yards
- Architect(s) - Harry Colt (1914)
- Fairways
- Tightly tree-lined, parkland style course
- 50% are doglegs
- Average width - 30 yards
- Greens - 5000 sq. ft. (Small), Bent/poa (Stimpmeter - 10.5, slow)
- Strongly bunkered and very undulating
- Difficulty
- -0.407 RTP, Ranked 32th of 49 courses played in 2012, average
- +0.267 RTP, Ranked 28th of 55 courses played in 2006, average
Observed Stat Trends
- In 2012, the course played -0.407 strokes RTP, average
- The two par 5s were the two easiest holes on the course. Together they combined for -0.824 strokes RTP and an average Birdie rate of 42.86%. 27 of the 37 eagles scored last year were obtained on the par 5s.
- There are three par 4s under 400 yards. It played a combined -0.337 RTP.
- There are six par 4s between 400-450 yards playing a combined -0.221 RTP.
- All of the par 3s played over par combining for +0.487 RTP.
- The front nine played easier than the back nine, -0.458 and +0.053 RTP, respectively.
Brief Tournament Information
- Full field event with 150+ golfers
- Field Strength - below average
- Notables (Top 20 OWGR) - Koepka (1), Johnson (2), Thomas (6), Kuchar (13), Watson (19), Simpson (20)
- Most of the field either have never played at Hamilton or comparable courses (TPC River Highlands, TPC Four Seasons)
- Standard cut of 70 plus ties (2012-2018, Avg +1)
- 2018 - (-3)
- 2017 - (-3)
- 2016 - (+3)
- 2015 - (-1)
- 2014 - (+1)
- 2013 - (E)
- 2012 - (E)
- 2006 - (+1)
- Winners (2012-2018, Avg -14.2)
- 2018 (Glen Abbey) - Dustin Johnson (-23)
- 2017 (Glen Abbey) - Jhonattan Vegas (-21)
- 2016 (Glen Abbey) - Jhonattan Vegas (-12)
- 2015 (Glen Abbey) - Jason Day (-17)
- 2014 (Royal Montreal - Blue) - Tim Clark (-17)
- 2013 (Glen Abbey) - Brandt Snedeker (-16)
- 2012 (Hamilton) - Scott Piercy (-17)
- 2006 (Hamilton) - Jim Furyk (-16)
Quotes from Golfers about the Course
- Scott Piercy, 2012 - “It’s a lot of position off the tee, and it’s a lot of position into the green. You want to be just to that first part of the green in the middle of the green, and putting into the corners.”
- Camilo Villegas, 2012 - “Totally. It gives you options though. It’s not the most long golf course, but the greens are severe. You want to keep it below the hole, and it’s such a big difference putting uphill or putting downhill.”
- Brandt Snedeker, 2012 - “There’s a lot of slope on these greens and they’re not real big targets to hit into. So this golf course you’re going to have to control your golf ball, keep the ball below the hole at all times, because if you get the pin high or past pin high here, you’re not going to be able to make a lot of putts.”
- Hunter Mahan, 2012 - “You really gotta keep the ball in play and play from the fairways and play from the middle of the green. If you get it in the middle of the green all day long, you’re going to be in pretty good shape. So you gotta be smart out there. But it’s a ball striker’s place, and I trust my ball striking.”
The Stats to Consider (Powered by fantasynational.com)
- With minimal course history for a few golfers, current form will be more important this week.
- Look for golfers who gain strokes on Bent.
- However, I think this week will be a total crapshoot, so temper expectations with this field. Even my picks make me a little squeamish.
THE CHARTS
Last Tournament (Memorial)
2018-19 Season
This Week
Anyway, I hope that this helps you in your own process to select your golfers for this week. Please leave me any questions, comments, suggestions or any rants and touts you would like to discuss either here on Vicehood.com, in our Slack, on twitter @algertorr, or on DK/FD/FDR jayalger. Good luck this week!