Plenty of homegrown talent on display at Canadian Open  PGATOUR.com staff Typically it's Mike Weir and Stephen Ames. Last year it was Jim Rutledge. But this year, the three of them are sharing the spotlight at their home tournament, the Canadian Open presented by Franklin Templeton Investments.  David Morland IV is one of the many homegrown talents in this week's Canadian Open. (Getty Images)
This year's tournament boasts a field littered with 20 of Canada's top prospects, most notably six Nationwide Tour members -- David Hearn, David Morland IV, Ian Leggatt, Brad Fritsch, Bryn Parry and Chris Baryla. Some have had success at golf's third-oldest national open before; Hearn tied for 20th last year, Morland tied for fifth in 2001, and in 2003, Baryla became the first Canadian amateur to make the cut in 20 years. Hearn, Morland and Parry have all won on the Canadian Tour, and their achievements have gotten the attention of Canada's favorite golfer, Weir. "These guys, I'm really impressed with them," the former Masters champion said. "They're all good, young guys. I think they all know what it takes." Leading the pack this week is Morland. A two-time Nationwide Tour winner and a two-time PGA TOUR member, he currently stands at No. 38 on the Nationwide Tour money list. Morland started his career at Kent State. A two-time All-American, Morland joined the Canadian Tour and was promptly named rookie of the year in 1992. He followed a win in his final Canadian Tour event, the McDonald's PEI Challenge, with a tie for 16th at the PGA TOUR National Qualifying Tournament in 1999. After bouncing between the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour, Morland finally found a home on the Nationwide Tour in 2005. His journey is similar to Hearn's. Hearn was rookie of the year on the Canadian Tour 10 years after Morland. Two years later, he had his breakout year. In 2004, he was second on the Canadian Tour in stroke average and notched his first two victories, the Canadian Tour's Times Columnist Open and the Nationwide Tour's Nationwide Calgary Classic. After a tough year on the PGA TOUR in 2005, Hearn found himself back on the Nationwide Tour, as well. He is currently No. 58 on the money list in a season highlighted by two top-10 finishes. "They've got a lot of talent. These guys really hit the ball well," Weir said. "Now [they have to start] channeling that and the small intricacies of the game, getting that straightened out and getting the experience, and getting that going." Weir said that by playing on the Canadian Tour, all of these players are on the right track, adding that the circuit helped him get to where he is today. "The development of the Canadian Tour to get out here for me is very important," Weir said. "It is a legitimate international tour from guys from all over the world trying to make the next step. It's kind of when you're getting on the PGA TOUR, you don't just jump there, there's steps, and the Canadian Tour was a big step for me when I was out there." A good finish in a tournament where these Nationwide Tour players have something of a home-course advantage, could possibly be the next step in their budding careers. "The talent of these young guys out here, if they get good direction, which I think they are, I think sky's the limit," Weir said. "We're going to have some great champions out here." |
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