The BWD Tournament Hole of the Week: July 21 – 24, 2016. The 18th at Glen Abbey GC, Home of RBC Canadian Open.

Tournament: RBC Canadian Open – Glen Abbey Golf Club, Ontario, Canada
Hole: 18th – Par 5, 524 Yards
Architect: Jack Nicklaus – 1976

Architectural Summary:

The final hole at Glen Abbey is a risk/reward reachable par 5 measuring 524 yards. Featuring thirteen bunkers and a small lake guarding the green, the home hole will offer an exciting finish and scoring opportunity. From the tee, competitors will look to find the left center of the fairway for the best angle into the green. Two left fairway bunkers located from 295-325 yards will narrow the generous fairway to 20 yards wide. Any tee shots finding a fairway bunker or trees will likely result in a lay-up. Players longer off the tee may consider a 3 wood in order to avoid the fairway bunkers flanking both sides of the fairway. Even when selecting 3 wood off the tee, longer players will be able to reach the green in two if they find the fairway. Second shots will look to carry the lake fronting the green while also avoiding the greenside bunkers. The green is long and narrow measuring 42 yards long by 17 yards wide and slopes strongly from left to right away from the bunkers and towards the lake. Approach shots must be precise in order to find the green, though the three bunkers to the left and rear of the green will be a safe miss for competitors as they look to close out their rounds.

Statistical Analysis:

The 18th at Glen Abbey has traditionally played as one of the least difficult holes on the course. Last year, the hole played to a scoring average of 4.547 (33 Eagles, 208 Birdies, 192 Pars, 37 Bogeys, 7 Doubles, 2 “Others”).

Fun Facts:

  • In 2015, Jason Day played the 18th hole in 5-under par en route to victory. Day recorded three birdies in a row to finish the tournament with a two-shot lead.
  • The final par 5 played as the sixth easiest home hole in 2015 on the PGA Tour. There were nearly as many eagles (33) as bogeys (37) last year.
  • After finding a fairway bunker off the tee on the 18th during the 2000 final round, Tiger Woods hit a 6-iron out of the sand from 218 yards, carrying the large pond, to land within 18 feet of the pin. The memorable shot propelled Woods to his one-shot victory.