MMO: Champions in Montreal

Monday Morning Observer: 50 and Over Edition

* One of the biggest golf events of the year in Canada begins today. Know what it is? The Montreal Championship, a Champions Tour event which was a success in its first year, gets going this week with about a dozen pro-ams and then the tournament itself starting Friday. It’s a bit of a surprise that this doesn’t get more attention than it does but organizers are doing the best they can to expose the tournament to all regions of Canada this year. The field, including defending champion Larry Mize, is very strong with the likes of Tom Kite, Tom Lehman, John Cook, Hale Irwin and Canadians Yvan Beauchemin, Danny Talbot, Rod Spittle and Jim Rutledge all competing. 

* Let’s see . . . a week ago Rory McIlroy wins the U.S. Open by eight shots and is front-page news. Yesterday, Yani Tseng captures the Wegmans LPGA Championship by a mere 10 strokes and is relegated to the back pages. For Tseng, it was her fourth major and she’s only 22. She deserves to be a bigger story. Oh and if you happen to be walking around Niagara Falls today, you might run into Tseng, who was planning to visit. 

* Congrats to Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., who won the Kinnear Glencoe Amateur over the weekend. The high-profile event, held at the Glencoe G&CC, annually draws one of the best fields in amateur golf. Hughes, a member of the national team, has had quite a year. He won the Mid-American Conference championship while playing for Kent State and helped lead his school to the team title. 

* Give credit to RBC and Bill Paul for lining up a stellar field for the RBC Canadian Open next month. It would appear to be one of the strongest since the national championship got saddled with the right-after-the-British Open date. Of course having six of the highest-profile golfers in the game under contract never hurts. Anyone who grumbles that this is appearance money should look around as RBC is only playing the same game every other tournament does in attracting top-flight players. Now with the players in order, will the fans show up? The didn’t last time, at least in large enough numbers to turn a profit. 

* Speaking of the Open, look for Matt Hill and Nick Taylor to officially receive exemptions into the RBC Canadian Open this week. Tournament director told us on Fairways, our Saturday morning radio program in Toronto, that he’d extend the offer to the two fledgling pros this week. 

* Congrats to Danny Sahl, who finally won a Canadian Tour event in his 80th try. Sahl, who spent two-and-a-half years as a PGA Tour caddy for Ben Curtis, captured the Syncrude Boreal Open in Fort McMurray. Perseverance pays off. 

* I spent much of last week out in Whistler and got to see all four courses there (although I didn’t hit a shot) and all are in top shape but could use a break with the weather. Big news there is that the Whistler Golf Club will be re-doing its greens starting later this year. The improvement will allow the course to have better greens earlier (and later) in the year in the mountain environment. 

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MMO: Champions in Montreal

Monday morning the observer: 50 and above Edition * one of the biggest events in golf this year in Canada begins today. I know what it is? The Montreal Championship, an event Champions Tour was a success in its first year, you will receive this week with a dozen pro-ams, and then the same tournament Starting Friday. It is a bit of a surprise that this is more carefully than I do but organizers do the best they can, in order to expose the tournaments in all regions of Canada this year. The field, including defending champion Larry Mize, is very strong with Tom Kite, Tom Lehman, John Cook, Hale Irwin and Canadians Yvan Beauchemin, Danny Best, Rod spittle and Jim Rutledge competing. * Let's see ... a week ago, Rory McIlroy wins the U.S. open by eight shots and was front-page news. Yesterday, Yani Tseng captures the Wegmans LPGA Championship by a mere 10 strokes and relegated to the back pages. For Tseng, was the fourth principal and only 22. Deserves a larger story. Oh and if you walk around Niagara Falls today, you may encounter Tseng, who was planning to visit. * CONGRATS to Mackenzie Hughes, of Dundas, Ont, which won the games Glencoe Kinnear at the weekend. The high-profile event, held at the Glencoe G and CC, is annually one of the best fields in amateur golf. Hughes, a member of the national team, had a lot of time. He won the Championship in the Mid-American Conference, while playing for Kent State and helped lead the school in the title of the group. * Credit To RBC and Bill Paul on lining up a stellar field for the RBC Canadian open in the next month. Seems to be one of the strongest since the Panhellenic Championship got saddled with the open date right-after-the-UK. Of course having six golfers from the higher profile of the game under a contract never hurts. Anyone grumbles that appearance money would have to look around as RBC only plays the same game as any other tournaments in attracting top flight players. Now with players in order of their followers will appear? The last time, at least not in large enough numbers to turn a profit. * Speaking of open, look for Matt Hill and Nick Taylor to officially take exceptions to the Canadian open this week, RBC. Our Tournament Director said, we come to life on Saturday morning radio program in Toronto that he would extend the offer to two young pros this week. * CONGRATS to Danny Sahl, who eventually won a Canadian tour event in his 80th test. Sahl, who spent two-and-a-half years as a PGA Tour caddy for Ben Curtis, occupied the Arctic open Syncrude in Fort McMurray. Perseverance is profitable. * I spent much of last week on Windows XP and you can see all four lessons there (though not affected a snapshot) and everything is in top shape, but could use a break in the weather. There is a great news is that the Whistler Golf Club will be re-doing the Greens starting later this year. The improvement will allow the process to have the best Greens earlier (and later) the year of the mountain environment.

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