How Brandt Snedeker won the 2013 RBC Canadian Open

Brandt Snedeker began the final round of the 2014 RBC Canadian Open with a one-stroke lead over David Lingmerth at 14-under-par. After making three birdies and two bogeys through the first 15 holes of the final round, he would go on to make birdie at the par-5 16^th to reach 16-under par, a score that Dustin Johnson had previously reached before making a triple bogey at the par-4 17^th to fall out of contention. Snedeker safely made par at the final two holes for his sixth career PGA Tour victory and his second of the 2013 season (AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am). His win moved him to third in the FedExCup standings, where he would finish the Regular Season before going on to finish 12^th.

More on Brandt Snedeker

• The 2013 RBC Canadian Open was the sixth time Snedeker has held at least a share of the lead heading into the final round, and the third time he converted the lead into victory.
• In 19 starts so far in 2014, Snedeker has made 16 cuts and has 16 top-25s and two top-10s.
• The 2014 RBC Canadian Open will be Snedeker’s third consecutive start at Canada’s national open and his first at Royal Montreal. Prior to his 2013 win, he finished T-34 in 2012. Snedeker also missed the cut in 2010 and posted a pair of top 10s in 2009 (T-5) and 2007 (T-7).

Notes on the field

• Three players that finished inside the top 10 at last week’s Open Championship: Jim Furyk (4^th), Charl Schwartzel (T7) and Graeme McDowell (T9).
• Six of the top 30 in the current FedExCup standings led by No. 3 Dustin Johnson and No. 4 Matt Kuchar and, who both finished tied for second at the RBC Canadian Open in 2013 along with William McGirt and Jason Bohn.
• Matt Kuchar will be looking to make it an RBC sweep after claiming the RBC Heritage in April. Kuchar has eight other top-10 finishes in 2014 ncluding a tie for fifth at The Masters and a playoff loss at the Shell Houston Open.
• Five of the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking and 10 of the top 50: Matt Kuchar (7), Jim Furyk (10), Dustin Johnson (15), Graeme McDowell (16), Luke Donald (24), Charl Schwartzel (22), Brandt Snedeker (35), Kevin Na (37), Graham DeLaet (38), and Hunter Mahan (44).
• Ten past RBC Canadian Open champions; Brandt Snedeker (2013), Scott Piercy (2012), Sean O’Hair (2011), Carl Pettersson (2010), Nathan Green (2009), Jim Furyk (2006 & 2007), Mark Calcavecchia (2005), Vijay Singh (2004), John Rollins (2002), Dudley Hart (1996).
• Team RBC members in the field: Brandt Snedeker, Graeme McDowell, Graham DeLaet, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Graham DeLaet, Luke Donald, Mike Weir, Stephen Ames, Hunter Mahan and David Hearn.
• Hunter Mahan returns to the RBC Canadian Open one year after taking the 36-hole lead, then withdrawing before the third round with his wife Kandi going into labor. The Mahans welcomed a baby girl, Zoe, before Sunday’s final round. In nine starts at the RBC Canadian Open, Mahan has never missed the cut and has two top-five finishes (T4, 2004 and T5, 2007).

RBC Canadian Open and the FedExCup

With just four weeks remaining before the start of the FedExCup Playoffs, the RBC Canadian Open will once again play a pivotal role in the shaping of the Playoff fields:

• 2013 winner Brandt Snedeker solidified his spot in the FedExCup standings, moving from No. 3 to No. 4 and qualified for all four Playoff events including the season-ending TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.
• 2012 winner Scott Piercy jumped from No. 36 to 13 in the standings and qualified for all four Playoff
• events.
• 2011 winner Sean O’Hair jumped from No. 147 to No. 43 and qualified for the first three Playoff events.

2007 Presidents Cup team members in the field

11 participants from the 2007 Presidents Cup, which took place here at Royal Montreal Golf Club, are in the field this week. Below are the members of the United States and International teams from 2007.

Player                          Team 

Ernie Els                       International (South Africa)
Vijay Singh                   International (Fiji)
Geoff Ogilvy                 International (Australia)
Retief Goosen               International (South Africa)
Trevor Immelman       International (South Africa)
Stuart Appleby             International (Australia)
Mike Weir                     International (Canada)
Jim Furyk                      United States
Stewart Cink                 United States
Lucas Glover                 United States
Hunter Mahan              United States

Tournament notes

• Prior to the 2013 RBC Canadian Open, the tournament had been decided either by one stroke or in a playoff for four consecutive seasons and 10 of the last 11. Snedeker’s three-stroke margin of victory was the largest since Scott Verplank won in 2001 by three over Bob Estes and Joey Sindelar.
• Since 1997, just two players have made the RBC Canadian Open their maiden victory on the PGA TOUR: Nathan Green (2009), Chez Reavie (2008) and John Rollins (2002).
• 2014 marks 60 years since a Canadian won the RBC Canadian Open (Pat Fletcher, 1954).
• Since Sam Snead in 1940 and 1941, Jim Furyk is the only player to successfully defend his title at the RBC Canadian Open, doing so in 2006 and 2007. Here are how defending champions have fared since 2000:

Year                          Defending Champion                  Finish

2013                             Scott Piercy                                          T52
2012                             Sean O’Hair                                          CUT
2011                             Carl Pettersson                                     CUT
2010                             Nathan Green                                       T37
2009                             Chez Reavie                                          CUT
2008                             Jim Furyk                                              T14
2007                             Jim Furyk                                              WON
2006                             Mark Calcavecchia                               T29
2005                             Vijay Singh                                            T7
2004                             Bob Tway                                              T26
2003                             John Rollins                                         CUT
2002                             Scott Verplank                                      CUT
2001                             Tiger Woods                                          T23

Canadians in the RBC Canadian Open field (19):

PGA TOUR members from Canada:

• Graham DeLaet – Weyburn, Sask. native is in his fifth season on the PGA TOUR and the highest Canadian in the Official World Golf Ranking at No. 38.
• Mike Weir – Bright’s Grove, Ontario native is making his 24^th start at the RBC Canadian Open and finished second here in 2004
• David Hearn – Brantford, Ont. native is making his 12^th start at the RBC Canadian Open and coming off his first career start at The Open Championship and fifth career major.
• Stephen Ames – Calgary, Alta. resident is making his 17^th RBC Canadian Open start and owns two top-10s. Ames is making his 18^th start of the 2013-14 PGA TOUR season but also made his Champions Tour debut at the 2014 Senior PGA Championship.
• Brad Fritsch – Manotick, Ont. native is making his 7th RBC Canadian Open start and his 16^th PGA TOUR start of the season, coming off his second top-25 result of the 2013-14 campaign at the John Deere Classic (T-13)

Players in the field with Quebec connections:

• Beon-Yeong Lee – Montreal resident moved to Canada from South Korea eight years ago and is in his second year on PGA TOUR Canada, where he is currently 23rd on the Order of Merit. Lee was the medalist at a regional qualifier.
• Dave Levesque – Montreal native was offered an exemption after his victory at the PGA Championship of Canada.

Other Canadians:

• Adam Hadwin – Abbotsford, B.C. native won his first Web.com Tour event at the Chile Classic this season and will make his fourth RBC Canadian Open start. Finished T4 at Shaughnessy in 2011.
• Michael Gligic – PGA TOUR Canada member from Burlington, Ont. won a regional qualifier to earn his second RBC Canadian Open start.
• Eugene Wong – Two-time PGA TOUR Canada winner and former Jack Nicklaus Award winner at the University of Oregon will make his fifth RBC Canadian Open start. Currently top Canadian on PGA TOUR Canada’s 2014 Order of Merit.
• Billy Walsh – Markham, Ont. native earned an exemption as the No. 1 player on the PGA of Canada rankings following the PGA Championship of Canada.
• Taylor Pendrith (a) – Richmond Hill, Ont. native won the prestigious Porter Cup this summer and recently finished a standout career at Kent State University. Currently 15^th in World Amateur Golf Ranking.
• Corey Conners (a) – Semi-finalist at 2013 U.S. Amateur also recently finished collegiate career at Kent State. Currently 28^th in World Amateur Golf Ranking.
• Adam Svensson (a) – Barry University student and Golf Canada National Amateur Team member was named the Jack Nicklaus Award winner as NCAA Division II player of the year. 30^th in World Amateur Golf Ranking.
• Chris Hemmerich (a) – University of Guelph Gryphon will make first RBC Canadian Open start. Recently won 2014 Ontario Amateur Championship.
• Kevin Carrigan (a) – Full-time financial planner from Victoria, B.C. won his second Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship in 2013 to gain entry.
• Robbie Greenwell – Georgetown, Ontario native played his way into the field through open qualifying with a 5-under 67.
• Kevin Stinson – Mission, British Columbia native played his way into the field through open qualifying with a 5-under 67. Has successfully Monday qualified three times on PGA TOUR Canada this season
• Ben Silverman – Thornhill, Ontario native played his way into the field through open qualifying with a 5-under 67. Has three top-15 finishes on PGA TOUR Canada this season to sit 30^th on the Order of Merit.