Inside the Ropes

Jay on the Canadian Open

The Canadian Open is a wonderful experience for me. Not only do I have the privilege of playing in a very competitive field of golfers, I also get the opportunity to participate in one of the more historical tournaments in golf.  Established in 1904, the Canadian Open is the third oldest national open golf championship worldwide next to the British Open and the U.S. Open. This year the Canadian Open returned to Angus Glen Golf Club which hosted the Open in 2002.  The Open is being played this year on the North Course, newly renovated by veteran PGA pro, Davis Love III.

Like all well-established golf courses in need of renovation, the fairways at Angus Glen had to be narrowed and the entire course needed to be lengthened in order present any sort of challenge to today’s long hitters with bags full of the most advanced equipment available. 1904, the year Angus Glen was constructed, was the also the year Walter Travis used the Schenectady putter, an aluminum center-shafted mallet, to become the first American to win the British Amateur. It would be another 75 years before the TaylorMade Pittsburg Persimmon Drive was introduced, a club now considered extinct. I’m sure you get the point: the game has made a few more advances since then.

The “new” North Course received mixed reviews after the first round.  No fewer than six pros teeing-off in the morning shot 5-under or better, including first round leader, Hunter Mahan's 9-under par 62, which tied him for the lowest round in the 104-year history of the Canadian Open.  The nicest statement (that I can publish) from this crowd was that the course was “decent.” It seemed the higher the sun at the time a golfer teed-off for the first time, the better his review of the course.

One other interesting note from Thursday’s round was Bubba Watson’s 374 yard drive off the 1st tee.   What an ESPY moment that was.

Next week the PGA TOUR heads to Nevada for the Reno-Tahoe Open.  Played at Montreux Golf & Country Club since being added to the schedule in 1999, the Jack Nicklaus-designed course showcases three signature holes (#3, #4 and #5) known as the “Bear Trap.”  I know it’s corny, but any man capable of mastering Amen Corner six times has the right to design that, I guess.

Jay on what's coming next

Q:

What’s up next tournament wise?

Jay:

I’m leaving tomorrow morning for the John Deere Classic. The tournament director called Sunday night after the Travelers and offered an exemption. I’m really looking forward to it.

Q:

Has your Travelers finish taken some of the pressure off?

Jay:

Yes. I have to wake myself every morning and pinch myself. I can actually support my family playing this TOUR. This is where I’m comfortable.

Q:

Have you changed the way you prepare? Or does your day-to-day preparation stay the same?
    
Jay:

I have a set routine that I use in preparing for a tournament.  Really, my day-to-day activities are set at home; we’re like any other busy family.  I have to practice when I can and spend time with my wife and kids.  That’s just the way it is when you travel like I do.  During the week, I have my routine and that won’t change.  I’m going to rely on the system that has helped me win this year and reach a playoff at the Travelers. 
                  
Q:

Jason Day [Nationwide Legend Financial Group Classic winner] is only 19 years old and has his entire life and golf career before him.  What advice would you give him?

Jay:

You know that’s actually a good question because I did have the opportunity - I never played with him - but I had an opportunity to meet him on the range and talk to him and my advice to him two months ago was don’t change anything that you’re doing.

He’s a great kid; he’s obviously got a ton of talent. He’s one of the friendliest international players that I have ever met in my life. They have a tendency to be a little bit less outgoing. I think Jason Day is exactly the kind of person he should be. He is a real asset to golf.

Q:

How competitive is the game between players of different nationalities?  Is there a sense of competitiveness?

Jay:

Oh, absolutely. Americans have gotten their brains beat in the Ryder Cup for who knows how many years - I’ve kind of lost count. You sprinkle that in, and then you sprinkle in the fact that there are a lot of different nationalities on the PGA TOUR. I would almost venture to guess that it’s almost half and half at this point. If there’s a 144 man field, I am going to guess that there are at least 70 guys from outside the United States. Obviously the American pros are a little bit jeopardized job-wise, and we definitely see that. Golf is a competitive game, there’s a lot of money at stake and then you start shrinking jobs and you start beating us at the Ryder Cup then there’s definitely going to be some – not animosity - just competition.

Q:

Would you say the competition is mainly between the American and the international players, or do you also see the international players competing among themselves?

Jay:

I don’t recognize competition between the international players as much.

Q:

What are your thoughts on Tiger Woods being the only PGA pro with his own tournament?

Jay:

I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I think the fact that it’s a limited field doesn’t make any sense. And to be quite honest, I don’t think it’s the best time of year to play there, I think the golf course is kind of boring at that time of year, just hot and humid. I think it would be much better served in Seattle or somewhere in New England. I think weather plays such a big part in golf tournaments.

Q:

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem recently stated that a drug-testing policy is imminent on the PGA Tour, what are your thoughts on the subject?

Jay:

Well, yeah. I don’t know what he’s waiting for. I think it should have been adopted a year or two ago when all this was going on in baseball. I think there’s too much money at stake and guys will do anything they can to get an edge. I think it definitely should be adopted sooner rather than later.

Jay at the Buick Open

* All photos courtesy of Jason Nuttle Photography.