No. 23: Jhonattan Vegas

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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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Satoshi Kodaira made a 25-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to defeat Si Woo Kim after coming from six shots behind in the final round of the RBC Heritage for his first PGA TOUR victory on Sunday. Kodaira, 28, had finished off his round of 66 to get to 12-under par about an hour before Kim finished. Kodaira matched Kim with two pars on the 18th hole before rolling in his winning putt on the par-3 17th. Kim came up short on his 21-footer for birdie to keep the playoff going. Bryson DeChambeau (66) and Luke List (72) were tied for third. Third-round leader Ian Poulter’s bid for a second tour title in three weeks ended with a 75 and a tie for seventh.

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The transition of two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith from the hardcourt to the fairways has been well-documented. After his retirement from professional basketball, Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T and became the most famous member of the school’s golf team. Smith has played in the Aggies’ starting five and also competed in the recent Western Amateur. On Wednesday, he played in the BMW Championship pro-am alongside Tony Finau, a fellow hoops enthusiast as a fan of his hometown Utah Jazz and the cousin of NBA player Jabari Parker. Smith stood out Wednesday on the range at Wilmington Country Club and not just because of his 6-foot-6 frame. His orange hair and gold Rolex made a statement, as did his custom purple putter. Equipment is our expertise, so we will take a closer look at that putter here. As a collegiate golfer, Smith takes his game seriously, so the putter isn’t just for show. Smith went with a friend two weeks ago to Bettinardi’s headquarters in Tinley Park, Illinois, where he got fit for a new putter in the company’s “The Hive – Studio B” fitting studio. “I’ve been fortunate to be in a situation where people want to help me, and help my golf game get better,” Smith said. “So it worked out. One of my boys who took me (to Bettinardi), he had a purple (putter). Then it was like, alright, I gotta outdo him, or we gotta match a little bit. So we both went with the purple.” Besides the unique color, Tom Sopic of Bettinardi’s Hive Team said Smith’s putter also has custom neck and face engravings. Smith “instantly fell in love” with the putter’s look, including its purple head and matching 38-inch shaft, Sopic said. The putter is longer than your standard flatstick because of Smith’s above-average height. “He’s obsessed with the game of golf, and it has become a major passion in his life,” Sopic said of Smith. “He hit seven putts in a row on Quintic (a putting analysis system) that had perfect numbers in all categories right after he got his new putter. The iconic Stinger Bees on the sole are a staple within the Bettinardi brand, and a major symbol of The Hive. “His putter is a one-of-one, with a star-engraved 1.5-degree face piece, fitting for the superstar that is J.R. Smith” The putter also has an oversized purple Bettinardi cord grip to better fit his hands, which are – obviously – large enough to palm a basketball. We also took a look inside Smith’s bag to see what other clubs he has besides his unique putter. Check out the specs of his entire bag below: Driver: Titleist TSi3 (8 degrees) Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-IZ 6 X 3-wood: Titleist TSi3 (15 degrees) Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-BB 7 X Hybrid: Titleist TSi3 (20 degrees) Shaft: KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype 95 X Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9 iron) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Onyx X100 Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (46-10F, 52-12F, 56-10S and 60-04L) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Onyx X100 Putter: Bettinardi Inovai 6.0 “J.R. Smith” custom purple

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