McCormick achieves a rare double with Ryu, Spieth

Tiger Woods memorabilia continues to be a hot seller this year. The latest example came Sunday, after a Scotty Cameron signed by Woods sold at auction for more than $300,000. The signed Scotty Cameron ‘Red Dot’ Newport 2 is the same model Woods used to win 14 of his 15 majors. This putter is said to have been made as a backup for Woods’ gamer before being signed by him at a 2005 fundraiser for the Tiger Woods Learning Center and auctioned off. Woods usually tested the backups to ensure they were to his liking but confirming that he used them is difficult because he did so in private. The signature ensures that Woods handled this putter, however. Before being auctioned this year, it was owned for the past 17 years by the same person who bought it at that 2005 fundraiser. The putter sold for $328,577, just a few months after the set of irons purported to be used by Woods in the famous Tiger Slam of 2000-01 went for more than $5 million. Four backup putters belonging to Woods have been sold at auction before this one, and this signed Cameron fell just short of the highest bid for any of those clubs. Another Woods backup sold in August 2021 for $393,000. The first one sold in 2015 for $29,000, according to Golf Digest, and another sold three years later for $44,000. In 2020, another Woods backup fetched $154,928. “The golf collecting industry has traditionally lagged behind other sports. But that’s been changing in a big way as collectors race to acquire the best Tiger Woods items,” said Ryan Carey, owner of Golden Ague Auctions, which hosted the bidding. “Over the past year, Tiger Woods has become his own collecting category. Collectors are starting to treat him and collect him like other GOATs – Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and Mickey Mantle.” This auction, which closed Sunday, also included another Scotty Cameron putter made for Woods ($86,525) and a wedge used by Woods ($39,816). Arnold Palmer’s “Old Faithful” putter was the auction’s second-costliest item, going for $126,680, followed by the Woods putter and Dwight Eisenhower’s clubs, which went for $59,731. Items from the auction can be viewed here.

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THE OVERVIEW OAKVILLE, Ontario — Although Glen Abbey Golf Club is hosting this week’s RBC Canadian Open for the 29th time — and for the fourth time in five years – PGA TOUR pros think the venerable Jack Nicklaus design will offer a different challenge this time. “It’s a completely different golf course this year,â€� Canada native Graham DeLaet said. “The rough is thick, it’s not super long, but around the greens there’s kind of dodgy lies here and there.â€� The Greater Toronto Area experienced a drought a year ago, causing Glen Abbey to burn out in some places. That forced the players to adjust for how far their balls were running out on the fairways. This year, the Oakville area has experienced near-record rainfall totals in 2017, forcing the players to make a 180-degree adjustment. A year ago, DeLaet had a 346-yard drive on the par-4 10th in the second round, leaving him less than 100 yards to the pin. He doesn’t anticipate getting that close this week. During practice on Tuesday, he hit driver and then a full wedge with his second shot. Although the course is playing differently this year, fellow Canadian Nick Taylor says it’s in the best shape he’s ever seen it. Jhonattan Vegas, who won here in 2016 on the heels of an 8-under 64 on Sunday, acknowledged that the course is a lot softer than last year but is excited to get going again. He said Glen Abbey is a course where he feels comfortable. He also said golfers will have to adapt to the course conditions this week. “You’re going to have to fly things right next to the hole,â€� Vegas said. “Especially some of these holes around here, where some of those pin positions are so protected from bunkers and water … you’re going to have to hit your irons really well to score. But obviously that opens up a lot of opportunities, as well. So I think you’re going to see low scores again.â€�  THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER THE FLYOVER Last week, Royal Birkdale had two par 5s in its last four holes. This week, Glen Abbey offers two par 5s among its last three holes, including the finishing hole. The 524-yard 18th played to a stroke average of 4.585, just a shade tougher than the 516-yard 16th. Here’s a closer look at the 18th. THE LANDING ZONE The 457-yard par-4 14th was the most difficult hole on the course last year, playing to a stroke average of 4.422. That made it the ninth toughest par 4 on the PGA TOUR last season. Players have to navigate Sixteen Mile Creek that runs alongside the dogleg-right fairway, as well as try to avoid the bunkers on the far side, making it an especially tight landing zone. Check out where all tee shots landed last year. WEATHER CHECK It’s been a very wet year in the Oakville area, part of the Greater Toronto Area. No surprise that rain is in the forecast for at least one day this week. TEMPS: In the high 60s/low 70s, so expect pleasant temperatures this week. Humidity will be highest in the opening round RAIN: Expected to rain on Thursday, but the other three days might be relatively dry. WINDS: Shouldn’t be much of a factor, with the middle two rounds creeping over 10 mph speeds. For the latest weather news from Oakville, Ontario, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK If I’m ever going to win one of these, it better be soon, because obviously the times that I’m going to play are running out. But there’s obviously a lot of other great Canadians coming up. ODDS AND ENDS 1. CANADIAN HOPEFULS. There are 17 Canadians in the field this week – Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Graham DeLaet, Mackenzie Hughes, Mike Weir, David Hearn, Daniel Kim, Jared du Toit, Brad Fritsch, Riley Wheeldon, Matt Hill, Bryn Parry, Ryan Williams, Drew Nesbitt, and amateurs Garrett Rank, Hugo Bernard and Austin James. These are the guys who hope to become the first Canadian winner of their national Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954. Hadwin and Hughes have already won on TOUR this season. 2. MACKENZIE TOUR EXEMPTIONS. The top-three players in the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit earned exemptions into this week’s event – Americans Robby Shelton ($55,473), Johnny Ruiz ($54,413) and Kramer Hickock ($47,719). Each has won on the Mackenzie Tour this season. Incidentally, Hickok is a roommate of Open Championship winner Jordan Spieth in Dallas. With Spieth not in the field, Hickok will represent the house. 3. 20-SOMETHINGS ON A ROLL. With Spieth and Grayson Murray (Barbasol Championship) winning last week, that means the last eight tournaments have been won by players in their 20s. That’s the longest streak by the 20-somethings ever on the PGA TOUR. 4. FURYK LOVES CANADA. Jim Furyk has played 31 of his last 34 rounds at the RBC Canadian Open in par or better, including his last 19 rounds. No player has won more money in this event that Furyk at $3,129,703 in 14 appearances. WATCH THE PREVIEW

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Jordan Spieth jumped up the leaderboard with a final-round 66 to win in a playoff over Patrick Cantlay at the RBC Heritage. Check out the clubs he used to get it done at Harbour Town. RELATED: Final leaderboard Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X 3-wood: Titleist TS2 (15.0 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X Hybrid: Titleist 818 H2 (21 degrees) Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 95 X Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9) Shafts: Project X 6.5 Wedges: Vokey Design SM9 (46.08F, 52.08F, 56.10S), WedgeWorks 60T Shafts: True Temper Project X 6.0 Putter: Scotty Cameron 009 tour prototype Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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