The Canadian Press
2008 Mike Weir, from Bright's Grove, Ont., and his caddie, Brennan Little wait to putt out at the 18th green at the Canadian Open golf championship at the Glen Abbey course in Oakville, Ont., Sunday, July 27, 2008.Weir tied for fifth place behind winner Chez Reavie.
The irony isn't lost on Bill Paul.
As several PGA Tour events enter 2009 facing potential sponsorship issues, the man in charge of the RBC Canadian Open feels optimistic about the direction of his tournament.
That alone makes the start of this new year a little different than the last couple.
"In '07, you really wondered what the future was, if there was a future for the Canadian Open," Paul said recently. "From where we went in 2007 to 2008, we made some giant steps forward. Our goal is to be best in class."
Other tournaments are just hoping to survive.
That really hit home for Paul during the PGA Tour meetings earlier this month. Commissioner Tim Finchem urged players and tournament organizers to "put on a strong face" in tough economic times, but that wasn't something many were able to do privately.
"There's no doubt that there is some fear among tournament directors," said Paul. "My counterparts are probably a little more fearful than the tour is themselves. ...
"I certainly felt in a stronger position, based on what the RCGA has done with sponsors, than what other host organizations have done south of the border. For a lot of them fear was a common word, about what the future was going to hold for them."
The main reason Paul feels so good is that title sponsor RBC has shown a strong commitment to the event since signing on in November 2007. That agreement runs through 2012.
One area he'll be keeping a close eye on is hospitality sales. Boxes and suites tend to fall under discretionary spending for companies that might be looking to cut back.
"I don't want to dismiss it," Paul said of the slowing economy. "Like any sports franchise or probably entertainment business in general, we'll feel it."
Even though the RBC Canadian Open will be held at Glen Abbey for a second straight year, there will be some changes in 2009.
The front nine of the course will be re-routed, starting on what traditionally was the fourth hole. The layout changes should save players 800 or 900 walking paces per round - equivalent to two holes - and speed up play. It's an idea that Paul first had several years ago and eventually decided to go ahead with after receiving positive feedback from all 25 players he asked about it.
Beyond that, he's going to ask Mother Nature for some kindness this July. "I'm going to get somebody in here that can dance and pray so we won't have any rain," said Paul.
That might be wise after watching more than 200 millimetres fall during this year's tournament. The bad weather caused several delays during an event won by Chez Reavie - a 26-year-old from Arizona who is sponsored by the Canadian clothing company Quagmire.
Mike Weir led after the first round and ended up in a tie for fifth at his home tournament, one of the eight top-10 finishes the lefty posted this season. He moved up to 22nd in the world rankings - his best position at year end since 2004 - and was happy with his performance even though it didn't include a win.
The native of Bright's Grove, Ont., was also busy off the course - announcing plans to expand his wine operation and moving closer to launching a course design business. His first project is expected to be in Vernon, B.C., and will likely be started in 2009.
However, Weir's primary focus remains on trying to win golf tournaments. He's currently going through a similar winter schedule to the one he had before winning the Masters and two other PGA Tour events a couple years back.
"I'm going to take a nice long break, which coincidentally I haven't really done since the 2002 season ... and 2003 wasn't too bad a year for me," Weir said on his website.
That's the opposite approach to the one being taken by Stephen Ames.
He's decided to try and stay sharper during this off-season than he has in years past and will continue hitting balls at an indoor range near his home in Calgary. Ames had seven top-10s and no victories in 2008.
The two highest-ranked Canadians will be the only players representing the Maple Leaf on the PGA Tour next year. An impressive eight Canadians made an appearance in the final stage of qualifying school, but none of them was able to earn a card.
It was a similar story on the women's side, although Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., did manage to secure part-time playing privileges on the LPGA Tour in 2009.
Hamilton's Alena Sharp was again the top Canadian on tour this year with over US$180,000 in earnings. She's been in contention a number of times and will be looking for her first LPGA victory in 2009.
It was a much tougher season for Charlottetown's Lorie Kane, who finished lower on the money list (131) than she has in any other year of her career.
Fortunately, the news remained good for the tournament Kane fought hard to keep alive a couple years ago - the CN Canadian Women's Open. The 2008 event in Ottawa was won by Katherine Hull and boasted a quality field, proving beyond doubt that it is among the best on the LPGA Tour.
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