ABOVE: Canada’s David Hearn talks about his 2-shot lead in the RBC Canadian Open heading into what could be a historic Sunday
On Sunday David Hearn will try to become the first Canadian in 61 years to win the RBC Canadian Open. Not since Pat Fletcher won the tournament in 1954 has another Canadian taken the country’s national golf title. Hearn goes into the final round with a two-shot lead and paired with two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson.
Here’s five things you need to know about Hearn:
He’s not just from Brantford, but also still lives there.
The RBC Canadian Open is a home game for Hearn, 37, who lives in Brantford, Ont., the hometown of Wayne Gretzky. Hearn’s wife, Heather, is also from Brantford, and though the family spends part of their time in Florida, they have a home in Brantford and reside there in the warm summer months. In fact, Hearn is the only one of Canada’s PGA Tour pros who spends a majority of the time in Canada.
He’s one of a handful of tour pros produced by Brantford Golf and Country Club
Hearn’s home club is Brantford Golf and Country Club, a private club in the town that has an outstanding history of producing great golfers. Despite not having a full driving range, Brantford has been central in the development of Hearn, LPGA pro Alena Sharp, professional female golfers Nicole Vandermade and Jennifer Kirby, as well as a handful of top amateurs. Hearn credits Brantford with helping shape his game, as the course requires a wide variety of shots.
He’s not won on the PGA Tour—but he’s come close
Hearn has lost in a playoff on the PGA Tour twice. The first loss came at the John Deere Classic in 2013, and was the breakout of golf star Jordan Spieth. The second playoff loss came this year at the Greenbrier Classic where Hearn was outpaced by Danny Lee.
This is his second stint on the PGA Tour
Hearn turned pro in 2001 and moved up the pro ranks rapidly, winning on the Web.com Tour in 2004 and moving to the PGA Tour in 2005. He didn’t play well and retreated back to the Web.com Tour for the next five years, cracking the PGA Tour again in 2011. He’s been on the PGA Tour ever since.
Hearn has played golf with Wayne Gretzky
In his youth Hearn did play hockey, but simply wasn’t big enough.
“I didn’t really fill out well enough,” Hearn said. “That decision was kind of made for me at a young age that I was going to be a golfer, not a hockey player. I played hockey in the winter and then I would play golf in the summer. But I always knew I’d be a golfer. I made the right choice. I didn’t really have a choice.”
However, he has tipped it up with Wayne Gretzky, being paired with hockey legend at a Web.com Tour event that was held in Collingwood, Ont.
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