PREVIEW: Canadian Open

Jim Furyk is the star turn in this week's Canadian Open following his share of fifth place at Royal Birkdale and he will be looking to create a bit of history by winning this title for an unprecedented third straight year.

Whether he has anything left in the tank following the rigours of the Open Championship is anyone's guess but he has not won on this week's course, the Glen Abbey Golf Club, and in four previous starts here has not finished better than a tie for 22nd. Also, interestingly, he has only broken par three times in 14 rounds.

The last time this tournament was played here, four years ago, Vijay Singh triumphed over local favourite Mike Weir. The Fijian is taking a week off though, needless to say, Weir is in the field. A Canadian has not landed his national title since Pat Fletcher prevailed in 1954 and Weir will be looking to address a poor run having made just six of 17 cuts in the event.

Stephen Ames is the other big Canadian hope and he will be full of confidence, if not energy, after tying for seventh last week. Another player who finished on the same mark is 2003 Open winner Ben Curtis and he is added to Pool A as a wildcard, as is Steve Elkington and the in-form Dean Wilson.

Other additions are England's Brian Davis (Pool C) and a couple of former Major winners in Lee Janzen and Corey Pavin (both Pool E).

One player who has some course form at Glen Abbey is Fred Couples - the American has not played in this tournament since 1995 but has four top-10s over this track.

The course was closed on Monday due to 4.5 inches of rain though the wind is supposedly negligible which will be a welcome relief to those who have made the trip over from Southport.

Fantasy Golf players to have entered this week

Pool A
Jim Furyk
Steve Elkington *
Ben Curtis *
Dean Wilson *

Pool B
Scott Verplank
Stephen Ames
Retief Goosen
Mike Weir
Billy Mayfair

Pool C
Mark Calcavecchia
John Senden
Jerry Kelly
Pat Perez
Brian Davis *

Pool D
Camilo Villegas
Anthony Kim
Carl Pettersson
Jeff Quinney
Sean O'Hair
Joe Durant

Pool E
Troy Matteson
Steve Flesch
Fred Couples
Bubba Watson
Steve Marino
Lee Janzen *
Corey Pavin *

* Denotes wildcards