Martin Laird … With his reputation as a long-hitting, tee-to-green specialist, you’d expect him to thrive at Glen Abbey, and indeed he has with a T22 (2008), a T16 (2009) and a T2 (2016) on the board. He’s been a solid putter as well for the last four seasons, but the Scot is streaky and he enters in a mini-slump, so expectations are elevated that he’ll reconnect with form where he has time and again. Steve Wheatcroft … Ignore the season-long stats and his position in the FedExCup standings. Instead, put your faith in his feels right now. Almost always prime for a shootout, he’s comin’ in hot with a T12 at the John Deere Classic and a T10 at Barbasol. The 40-year-old also is no stranger to Glen Abbey where he’s 3-for-3 with a T5 in 2016. Keith Mitchell … Sat out the Barbasol Championship after placing T7 at the John Deere Classic, so he’s not only rested, he’s in form. He’s also a terrific fit this week. Glen Abbey’s targets are below average in size. That benefits guys who don’t rate well statistically with the putter. Cue the rookie who ranks eighth in strokes gained: off-the-tee and 31st in birdies-or-better percentage, both of which attributes for scoring. Cameron Champ … There may not be a hotter player in the field than the 23-year-old sponsor exemption. He’s fresh off his breakthrough title at the Web.com Tour’s Utah Championship, which was his sixth consecutive top-11 finish. He’s third on the circuit’s money list, so we’ll see him on the PGA TOUR regularly next season. The lanky product of Texas A&M also leads the Web.com Tour in distance off the tee, total driving, ball-striking and par-5 scoring. Showcasing his knack for scoring for which he slots second, he’s also fifth in greens hit and second in converting those chances into par breakers. Austin Connelly … It’s impossible to comprehend the pressure on Canadians to chase victory in their national open. For one, it’s why you’ll be reminded again this week that Pat Fletcher in 1954 is the last Canuck to prevail. Containing oneself while national pride is bursting isn’t standard operating procedure in most weeks. The other challenge is simple: the RBC Canadian Open is a PGA TOUR event distributing the full allocation of FedExCup points. That draws a terrific field from all over year after year. The 21-year-old plays under the Canadian flag for which 21 are represented this week at Glen Abbey. While he’s slowed after a successful foray on the European Tour in 2017, he’s still managed three top 20s in his last 11 starts. When locked in, he’s most dangerous off the tee and on the greens.
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