Event of the Day: Second round of the RBC Canadian Open
Our event of the day is the second round of the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Course in Oakville, Ontario. This will be the 109th version of the tournament that was first held in 1904. Historically, the tournament draws a strong field. Past champions include legends such as Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods. This year’s field is highlighted by two-time defending champion Jhonattan Vegas, British golfers Ian Poulter and Tommy Fleetwood, and world number 1 ranked Dustin Johnson. Glen Abbey first held the tournament in 1977 and with this year’s rendition will have hosted it 30 times in total. The Jack Nicklaus designed course has it’s toughest stretch of holes from 11 through to 15, known as the “Valley Holes”. However, Glen Abbey’s signature hole is the Par 5 18th.
Tiger Woods hit one of his best shots of his career out of a fairway bunker to famously clinch victory in 2000. Some high scores were posted out on the course in the first round on Thursday. American Robert Garrigus leads the pack after shooting a 9-under 63 that saw him start off with a par on the first hole followed by five straight birdies. He ended up shooting a 30 on the front nine and tallied four more birdies after the turn. Fellow Americans Adam Schenk (-8), Chris Stroud (-7) and Ben Crane (-6) turned in good rounds themselves and are hot on Garrigus’ tail. With the forecast showing sunny skies today it should be another low scoring affair out there on the links at Glen Abbey.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to Stage 19 of the Tour de France. This 200.5 kilometre stretch begins in Lourdes and finishes in the small town of Laruns. The 19th stage favours the climbers as the route takes them back into the Pyrenees. In tennis, the ATP World Tour is in Hamburg as the German Open enters it’s 5th day of matches. It is also Day 5 of the Moscow River Cup on the clay courts at the National Tennis Centre in Moscow. In cricket, there are a pair of matches in the Natwest T20 Blast as Gloucestershire play Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire face Lancashire. Major League Baseball takes place at Coors Field in Denver as the Colorado Rockies host the Oakland Athletics. The Chicago Cubs pay a visit to St. Louis to begin a three game series against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Elsewhere in the golfing world, it is the second day of the Porsche European Open at Green Eagle Golf Course in Winsen, Germany. Horse racing is on at Royal Ascot as the 2018 King George Weekend kicks off. In rugby, Super League action takes place at Kirklees Stadium between the Huddersfield Giants and Wakefield Trinity, and Wigan Warriors host the Catalans Dragons at DW Stadium. In the AFL, Essendon do battle with the Sydney Swans at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. In London, the Women’s Hockey World Cup continues at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by RBC Canadian Open