The Round Table: Where does the RBC Canadian Open fit?

Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.

Last week during an interview, Jordan Spieth commented that part of the reason for the hostile reaction to Wyndham Clark at the U.S. Open had to do with betting – specifically a large percentage of people watching were betting on Scottie Scheffler and against Clark. Although there were other reasons not to support Clark, it’s possible some in the crowd were trying to distract him. Does the PGA Tour have a real or potential gambling problem and if so, what can they do about it to protect the integrity of competition?

Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine: Not being a bettor on any sports (or gambler, period), I would never have guessed that betting would motivate anyone to try to directly influence the outcome as it was happening or be so angry with the athlete who prevented the bettor from winning his bet, as to bad-mouthing him.  But then, we ARE talking about the world’s worst golf fans, aren’t we?  I don’t suppose there’s any way that the Tour can prevent or ban gambling on golf tournaments, but that would be the best solution.  At the very least, the Tour should work with broadcasters to prevent sports gambling commercials during tournament broadcasts.  But that would probably have minimal effect.  Maybe they should hire Phil Mickelson (wearing a halo) to do some anti-gambling commercials.

Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: That ship has sailed. Ontario generates $12.7 BILLION in revenue from gambling added to the Federal share. When a sport is played outdoors in a ‘silent’ zone, the opportunity for interference is high. Beer sales add too much profit to an event to be curtailed aggressively. Ray Floyd’s father and Tiger’s father both did unsettling things to unnerve their boys, making them immune to outside distractions. In tournaments, stuff is going to happen and as purses increase, it will happen more.

TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): Of all the sports that have betting, I’ve never thought of golf as being one of the bigger culprits.  I know Spieth is trying to deflect a bit, but I think most of the booing was based on Clark just being a very unlikeable guy, and due to his acting out at Oakmont last year.  I’m sure there is regular gambling, but not likely to the Mickelson type levels of years past.  It’s never jumped out to me as being an issue but maybe I’m just naive.

Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine: I’d attribute the Clark abuse to his reputation and the typically rowdy New York crowd most. Maybe there were a few punters looking for an edge, but elite players are used to crowd noise, jeering and even the occasional personal insult, and a handful of desperate bettors isn’t likely to throw them off their game. Think of the WM Phoenix Open or the Ryder Cup. The Tour does a pretty good job of monitoring crowd activity and if it gets out of hand, they throw a few of the bums out. The rest quickly get the message.

Chris Gotterup has now won three times on the PGA Tour this year and four times in the past 12 months. Nobody else has put together those kinds of figures this season, yet he doesn’t get the kind of attention his record perhaps deserves. Does he need to win a major before he’s talked about like the elite player he has become?

Deeks: Yes, no question.  Without at least one major on your résumé, nobody remembers your name next week.

Schurman: Some players never get the fan support they deserve. Billy Casper should have made the ‘big four’ but he wasn’t signed by McCormick. Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Paul Azinger were players of our time but didn’t get rave recognition. Polite applause, yes but earned recognition no; Tiger and Phil got it all. Even Nicklaus failed to gain fan support and when he did, it was respect, not love. Arnie got the love.

Rule: I have to admit that hearing he has won three times this year shocked me.  I guess the first two he won were so early in the year it was a while ago and I’m getting too old to remember that far back.  He may not have to win a major to get into that conversation but winning a signature event would help.  I mean, winning anything on the PGA Tour is impressive, but the Sony Open and John Deere don’t draw nearly as much attention as other events. He’s also defending this week in Scotland, and maybe this will spur him on to his first major at Birkdale next week.

Mumford: Some players are beloved (Arnie), others are respected (Jack) and the rest fight for any kind of recognition they can get. When Tiger was in his prime (and maybe even today), the media would rather show a picture of Tiger eating a banana than a shot of anybody else doing anything. It’s not fair but a handful of players will always hog the spotlight to the detriment of the rest. Gotterup may earn that distinction eventually but a major will be required at least and then some.

How much does strength of field have to do with winning a national open? In years past, the RBC Canadian Open had difficult dates on the schedule and had few top ranked players, yet there was still a champion. Now, with the upcoming changes to the PGA Tour, RBC and Golf Canada may be faced with a decision on where the Open fits. Would it make a difference to you if the Championship included lots of Canadians and was played on the Challenger Series or DP World Tour without top ranked players or does it need to include the best players on the PGA Tour?

Deeks: I hate to sound shallow, but a tournament without a good contingent of top-ranked players holds very little interest for me.  I so remember the Canadian Open of 1982, when a horde of the top Tour players canceled out of the tournament because the word got out that the Glen Abbey greens were diseased and it was like putting on railroad tracks.  That, plus Lee Trevino retired after nine holes on Thursday due to back problems, and Jack Nicklaus didn’t make the cut for the only time in his career.  The media started calling it “The No Name Open”, and by Sunday afternoon, there were about 11 spectators lining the 18th fairway, despite the presence of many fine Canadian players.  My point being: without big names, no one gives a hoot.

Schurman: Does a pressed long-sleeved shirt, silk bow tie, arm bands, argyle socks, linen plus fours, a woolen cap, a tweed vest and hob nailed boots sound in vogue? Of course, a national open requires a strong field of the best players and in our case, the opportunity for some Canadian exemptions and invitations. Either it is of championship caliber like it was until about 30 years ago or it is a Canadian ‘only’ Open. Things change, not always for the better. Just as clothing evolved, the event has devolved falling from the 5th major to a second-tier event. Rather than clinging to a fantasy dream that we will somehow crown a champion from a weak field, I’d rather take the trophy and all the memorabilia and put it in the Golf Museum. Then start a new Canadian Open. A real, true Canadian Open with qualifying sites across the country for Pros and Ams with a $100,000 prize money purse for each. Bring the qualifiers together and host a tournament for Canadians only with a $2M purse. RBC would make a great sponsor saving about $20M as they would now only require about $5M and they would be marketing to ‘grass roots’ customers. They would be the only fish in the pond. Instead of waving our flag from the back of the boat, we’d be flying it from the front or even the top of the mast.

Rule: It would be a travesty if this historic tournament wasn’t a full Championship Event on the PGA Tour.  It has too much history and means too much to Canadians and Golf Canada.  I realise we would sacrifice having Canadians play in the event, but I think it’s more important to be at the elite level   Tour.

Mumford: As I said last week, the Tour must recognize the special nature of a national open and allow for exemptions and open qualifying. This week’s Scottish Open is a perfect example. If they fail to do that, then I would reluctantly support having the RBC Canadian (not Open) Championship in the Championship Series with the best players.