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Inside the ropes at Telus Skins Game
Everyone needs a "bucket list" of things you must do at some point in your life. If you're a keen golfer - duffer, weekend warrior, amateur competitor or club pro - watching the "Golfing Gawds" in person should be at the top of the list.
In June this writer spent two days at the Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria following five of the best golfers that walk the face of the earth - Canadian Mike "Weirsey" Weir, American Fred "Boom-Boom" Couples, South African Retief "Goose" Goosen, Englishman Ian Poulter and Columbian Camilo "Spyder" Villegas. Here are a few thoughts on this s-e-n-s-a-t-i-o-n-a-l experience and some tips for when you make a pilgrimage to a Skins Game. MORE >>
Wilcox grabs Dakota Dunes Casino Open
American Will Wilcox sure knows how to make the most of a sponsor's exemption.
Playing the week of July 8 on a free pass, the 24-year-old from Alabama jarred a 15-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole Sunday to edge compatriot Brady Stockton and win the Canadian Tour's $250,000 Dakota Dunes Casino Open.
Wilcox closed with a 6-under 66 to finish four trips around Dakota Dunes at 25-under 263, one shot clear of Stockton. New Zealand's Josh Geary, who won in Saskatoon in 2008, and Garrett Frank placed third, a distant five shots off the pace.
Californian Cody Slover posted a course record 11-under 61 to vault into fifth with fellow American Wil Collins and Edmonton's Danny Sahl. Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont. (64) and Kris Wasylowich of Lethbridge, Alb. (66) finished in ninth at 18-under.
"This is great, just unbelievable," said an elated Wilcox, who took home $40,000 for the triumph. "This is really going to have a positive impact on my career going forward. Life just changed for me. This is great stuff."
Both Wilcox and Stockton traded shots down the backstretch at Dakota Dunes and it was beginning to look like last birdie would win – which is exactly how the final moments unfolded. Neck and neck at the turn, Stockton birdied 11, 12 and 13 to pull ahead by one before Wilcox answered with birdies of his own at 13 and 14. Stockton made long putts on 16 and 17 to save par and remain even.
On the par-5 closing hole, Wilcox hit his second shot into a greenside bunker and blasted out to 15 feet. Seconds after Stockton failed to knock in his 18-foot birdie attempt, Wilcox stepped up and canned his winner.
"I thought for sure he was going to make that putt on 18," Wilcox added, referring to Stockton. "We had quite the battle down the stretch and he seemed to be making everything."
ilcox will now have to alter his travel plans for the coming week, although he isn't complaining. Originally scheduled to compete in a mini-tour event in Texas, he will stay north of the 49th for this week's $300,000 Players Cup in Winnipeg. In fact, he's now fully exempt on the Canadian Tour through 2012.
"It's a no-brainer," said Wilcox. "My decision was all based on how I played today but now I don't even have to think about it. That's some serious money. "I'm going to Winnipeg."
NOTES: The 25-under winning score was three shots shy of the all-time Tour record for lowest winning score relative to par, set by Brian Unk at the 2009 Seaforth Country Classic...Former Canadian Tour star Peter Tomasulo, who won the Montreal Open in 2005, rallied with a final-day 10-under 61 Sunday to win the Nationwide Tour's Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic in Clarksburg, Ontario.
Pro tips do help
Toe it out If you find yourself in heavy rough just off the fringe of the green, there are several options. A putter may not work and a wedge or iron may fail to make contact. Try a club that makes a stroke that strikes the ball with the tow. You may want to practice this a few times prior to trying it on the course.
Ask for quiet Talking, cell phones and noise on a golf course are not infrequent. You have a right to ask your playing partners for a little quiet. Don’t be shy to ask for a little courtesy.
How far, really? You need to know how far you really hit your clubs. Get a range finder during practice and figure out an average for your various clubs. This will take the guesswork out of wood and approach shots while out on the course.
Big Bad John comes to city
John Daly, of PGA Tour fame, will be helping The Synergy 8 Community Builders launch their "2010 Drive for Kids Campaign" aimed at raising money for a Pediatric Ultrasound machine for the PICU ward in Saskatoon.
The 2010 Drive for Kids Campaign goal is to raise $160,000 to purchase a new Pediatric Ultrasound Machine for the PICU Ward. Daly was asked if he would be willing to come to Saskatoon as a special guest for this Campaign. After reviewing what the goal of the Campaign was Daly (lived up to his reputation of having a HUGE heart for sick kids) agreed to come to Saskatoon on Sept. 15-16.
No stranger to the spotlight, "celebrity golfer and reformed bad boy", john Daly has recenty scored additional fame with his own reality TV show called Being John Daly on the Golf Channel. Part soap opera and part fashion show, Daly is also known for wearing a loud wardrobe of LoudMouthGolf attire.
The highlight of the Campaign will be a breakfast that Daly will be speaking at on the morning of the 16th at Prairieland Park. Other events include a VIP Night for Corporate Sponsors, a golf tournament at Moon Lake Golf & Country Club where Daly will be hitting balls all day for people to see, and a banquet to close things off.
"Synergy 8 is very excited to have John Daly coming to Saskatoon, John's golf career and his life story is truly amazing. Thanks to John's commitment to sick children millions of dollars have been raised which is why we approached John to come to Saskatoon," says Troy Davies Synergy 8 Community Builders spokesperson.
For more information on the Campaign or on Synergy 8 Community Builders go to www.synergycommunitybuilders.ca or call Troy at 227-2446.
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Canadian Open record set
Carl Pettersson followed his Canadian Open record setting 10-under par 60 on Saturday with a 3-under par 67 Sunday to win the RBC Canadian Open at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
With Pettersson winning the 2010 RBC Canadian Open, Sweden becomes the ninth country to claim a champion at Canada's national open. The other countries are Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and the United States.
"It's unbelievable, I still can't believe I won the tournament," said Pettersson, who captured his fourth PGA TOUR victory. "It was fun. My other wins I've led starting the day and led the whole back nine, so this is the first win I've had coming from behind. And it was a different feeling, and it was very enjoyable."
Pettersson, 32, was 10-under on his par 5's this week, 4-under on the par 3's and even on his par 4's. He was 5-under on the par-5 11th hole, with three birdies and an eagle (third round).
Interestingly enough, Pettersson was one of the five PGA TOUR players who flew from the British Open to Toronto on the private jet provided by Golf Canada – then the Royal Canadian Golf Association – in 2007, despite not playing in the Canadian Open that year.
Dean Wilson, who held the 54-hole lead, picked up his second career PGA TOUR runner-up performance after firing a 2-over par 72 today. His first second place finish came at the 2006 Valero Texas Open, the same year he won his lone PGA TOUR title, The International.
"Carl just played great," said the 40-year old Hawaiian. "I had a four shot lead going into the back and just couldn't get anything done, couldn't get any birdies, and Carl shot 4 under."
Finishing third was Luke Donald, who fired a 4-under par 66 Sunday to finish at 12-under par. It is the Englishman's sixth third place finish on the PGA TOUR.
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. captured low Canadian honours to win the Rivermead trophy. Hadwin shot a 1-over par 71 Sunday to finish T37th at 5-under par, edging out Oshawa, Ont.'s Jon Mills. Mills finished T48th at 4-under par.
Following the 2010 RBC Canadian Open, Bruno Bonneville, President of Rivermead Golf Club, presented Hadwin with the Rivermead trophy as part of the club's centennial celebration.
The following are final scores for the 18 Canadians in the 2010 RBC Canadian Open field.
T37 - Hadwin, Adam, Abbotsford, B.C. 68-66-70-71=275 (-5)
T48 - Mills, Jon, Oshawa, Ont. 67-71-66-72=204 (-4)
T59- Ames, Stephen, Calgary, Alta. 67-68-73-70=278 (-2)
--- CUT ---
DeLaet, Graham,Weyburn, Sask. 70-70=140 (E)
Brown, Ted, Calgary, Alta. 71-69=140 (E)
Ross, Christopher, Dundas, Ont. 72-68=140 (E)
Hill, Matt, Bright's Grove, Ont. 69-71=140 (E)
Burke, Cam (a), New Hamburg, Ont. 71-70=141 (+1)
Bunker, Dave (a), Woodbridge, Ont. 71-71=142 (+2)
Taylor, Nick (a), Abbotsford, B.C. 71-71=142 (+2)
Hearn, David, Brantford, Ont. 72-74=142 (+2)
Wong, Eugene (a), North Vancouver, B.C. 71-72=143 (+3)
Lee, Beon Yeong (a), Montreal, Que. 78-65=143 (+3)
Puska, Jeffery, Ladysmith, B.C. 73-72=145 (+5)
Jarosch, Barrett, Edmonton, Alta. 72-73=145 (+5)
Weir, Mike, Bright's Grove, Ont. 72-74=146 (+6)
Rutledge, Jim, Victoria, B.C. 76-71=147 (+7)
Boudreau, Ben, Longueuil, Que. 74-82=156 (+16)
Top 10 signs you will never break 100
The starter sees you coming and quickly puts out a sign that says No Swing, No Clue, No Service.
You've never shot your age but you have shot your cholesterol count.
Your idea of an athlete is John Daly downing a frosty tall one with a cigarette dangling off his lip.
You refuse to post a score until Florida does a hand recount of each hole.
Your name is Tripp Bogart, but you're better known as Triple Bogey.
The only eagle you ever had was confiscated by a Fish and Game official.
Every year you attend the Million Mulligan Man March.
You'd much rather break 100 hymens.
Instead of practicing, you buy magic birdie beans from a gypsy woman.
After 18 holes, your buddy wants to play another round but you'd rather cuddle.
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Stand proud
Stand proud you noble swingers of clubs and losers of balls...
A recent study found the average golfer walks about 900 miles a year.
Another study found golfers drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a Year.
That means, on average, golfers get about 41 miles to the gallon.
Kind of makes you proud. Almost feel like a hybrid. A lean mean golfing machine - so to speak!
DeLaet inside the ropes
Graham DeLaet of Weyburn will write a weekly blog on the association’s website, www.cpga.com. The 27-year-old has started off well with four top-15 finishes in South Africa, two of those as runner-up. His performance in South Africa comes on the heels on a tie for 13th at the World Cup and a win at the Canadian Tour’s Montreal Open. He also finished second at the Jane Rogers Championship and Canadian Tour Championship late in 2008.
Amen Corner
"I never learned anything from a match I won."
- the immortal Bobby Jones

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