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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, July 31, 2013 | 26 Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports Shaughnessy, since 2004. "Golf is the entertainment business, and I think the majority of people like to see guys birdie," said Canadian Open tournament director Bill Paul. "I think (the course) held its own. Going back to the early days of Glen Abbey, it was a little tougher getting (to certain holes) in two. Now players have the opportunity to birdie three of the last four holes, and that's what people want to see." Having someone of Snedeker's pedigree fill the leading role had to be an ideal scenario for Canadian Open organizers as well -- particularly at the Abbey. It had been a long time since players the likes of Vijay Singh (2004) and Tiger Woods (2000) hoisted the trophy in Oakville. A pair of relative nobodies, Chez Reavie and Nathan Green, won the tournament in 2008 and 2009, respectively. It was the first PGA Tour victory for each player. Neither has won since. Sunday was not Snedeker's first career victory, and it likely won't be his last. The Nashville native won the Wyndham Championship in his first full year on the Tour in 2007 -- when he was named the PGA's rookie of the year -- and he has won five times since, including twice this season. Snedeker was also the FedExCup champion a year ago. "Any time you do a sporting event like this, it's great to have what I'll call a marquee name win it," Paul said. "But who can complain about Arnold Palmer winning his first tournament (at the 1955 Canadian Open in west Toronto)? You can't control what these guys do the rest of their lives... that's the PGA Tour. It Bill Paul RBC Canadian Open was certainly nice to see a guy tournament director like Snedeker win. He's just a heck of a nice guy, too, and that makes it all the more pleasing." Snedeker's caddy, Scott Vail, provided the heartwarming part to the tale. Vail, the son of former NHLer Eric Vail, is an Oshawa native who now resides in Toronto. Snedeker acknowledged several times during the week that winning the Canadian Open would be special for his Canadian bag carrier. "It feels good," Vail said afterward. "Brandt said to me just as he was tapping "Connected to your Community" No exciting finish, but still plenty of intrigue at the Abbey W hen it came to a climactic finish on the 18th green, the latest installment of the RBC Canadian Open could be accused of being a bit lacking. Minutes after Dustin Johnson pulled into a tie with Brandt Snedeker late Sunday afternoon, Johnson triple-bogeyed 17 to allow Snedeker to play things safe and cruise home for a comfortable three-shot victory. Other than that, and perhaps the absence of a Canadian contender playing the role of hero, Sports Editor the story couldn't have Oakville Beaver been scripted much better at the 104th playing of Canada's national open golf championship. For starters, how about the setting? Except for a brief thunderstorm-induced stoppage during Round 3 Saturday, the tournament could not have been played in much better conditions. Sure, Sunday's final round might have been a bit cool and breezy, but we'll gladly take that over the torrential downpours that plagued and delayed the last two Canadian Opens contested at Glen Abbey in '08 and '09. Speaking of Glen Abbey, the stage itself stood up well against the pros while also yielding its share of birdies and eagles -- a delicate balance for a national open. Make the course too easy and the players can make a mockery of the event. Make it too difficult and nobody will want to come back, already a concern for a tournament that has the unfortunate scheduling allocation of being the weekend after the Open Championship each year. Snedeker's winning score of 16-under-par 266, three strokes ahead of four secondplace finishers, falls in line with scores that were posted by winners at every Canadian Open in the last eight years -- except those contested at Vancouver's Shaughnessy (4-under won the tournament in 2011 and 5-under was the winning score in '05). Yes, there were a few low rounds. John Merrick tied the course record with a 10-under 62 on Friday, and Snedeker and Johnson both carded 9-under 63s the following day. But the overall tournament scoring average of 71.603 strokes was the highest at the Canadian Open, excluding Jon Kuiperij It's great to have what I'll call a marquee name win it. With a large gallery in the background, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion Brandt Snedeker surveys the 18th green Sunday at Glen Abbey Golf Club.| photo by Eric Riehl -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog out, `How does it feel to win your own national championship?' So I had a giggle with him." The bet-you-didn't-see-that-coming twist to the plot was provided by Hunter Mahan. The Texan held a two-shot lead after 36 holes, sitting at 13-under, but withdrew Saturday because his wife, Kandi, had prematurely gone into labour near the couple's Texas home. "Zoe will get a very nice baby gift from me," Snedeker said with a laugh, speaking of the Mahan family's first-born daughter, who arrived at 3:26 a.m. Sunday. "I can't thank Kandi enough for going into labour. I don't know if I'd be sitting here if she didn't." And let's not forget the comic relief provided by seven young water-rafters who were floating in Sixteen Mile Creek -- complete with hockey sticks for paddles -- as Snedeker and Sunday playing partner David Lingmerth prepared to tee off on No. 14. Security might not have been laughing, rushing to get the group out of the golfers' see Canadian on p.27