The Canadian Open is 106 years old, a well-known stop in professional golf but it has the unfortunate lot in life to fall the week after the Open Championship.
Which leads to the next dilemma. A look a the leader board might lead to the logical question:
Who are these guys?
The first round leader at Glen Abbey is Emiliano Grillo. Sounds like a celebrity chef on a cable cooking show but he has been more of a regular on the European Tour. He is from Argentina, this is his sixth appearance on the PGA Tour. He made the most of it Thursday with four birdies on each nine of the Jack Nicklaus design.
Grillo lost in the Puerto Rico Open playoff and tied for 10th at the Barbasol. Over on the European Tour, he finished third at the Volvo China.
He was a shot better than Vaughn Taylor. Taylor’s the guy who was the ace of the Reno-Tahoe event for two years, winning back to back in 2004 and 2005. He’s now 357 in the world rankings. He was in at seven-under along with the little lefty, Brian Harman, a better-known face who is 74th in the world.
The real stunner is one of the players at six-under. Ryan Ruffels is a 17-year-old American-born Australian, son of tennis pro Ray Ruffels. He’s one of the world’s top amateurs and he gave a glimpse of where his future lies with his opening 66. He’s in there with relative unknowns Tyrone Van Aswegen, Mr. 629 in the world and Steve Wheatcroft, No. 262.
Four-under par is where you finally find the name players. Bubba Watson doesn’t like Europe but he must be okay with Canada. He’s in at 68 along with Jim Furyk, Hunter Mahan and pre-tournament favorite Jason Day.
Canada’s Graham DeLaet, the week’s crowd favorite, struggled with a wrist injury but still managed an even-par round of 72.
