OAKVILLE, Ont.—When 21-year old amateur Jared du Toit came to the RBC Canadian Open he had no expectations. He didn’t even have a caddie for the tournament.
Now he finds himself in the incredible position of being in second place and playing in the final group at Glen Abbey Golf Club, trying to become the first native son to win the country’s only PGA Tour event since 1954. Mike Weir couldn’t do it, nor could David Hearn last year.
And even though he’s surely feeling remarkable pressure, du Toit’s aw-shucks demeanor and ability to overcome adversity demonstrate that he’s not easily overwhelmed. If he was going to falter, it would have already happened.
“I’m honestly just out there to have some fun and enjoy the atmosphere,” du Toit said following a 2-under round that left him in second place, and paired on Sunday with past Canadian Open winner Brandt Snedeker. “Obviously I want to play well tomorrow, but it’s kind of my first go at it.”
The young Canadian from Kimberley, B.C., heading into his senior year at Arizona State University, had some struggles on the front nine, making three bogeys, leading to the suggestion that his incredible run might come to an end. After all, du Toit expected very little. He found his caddie—local teaching pro Sean Burke—through a friend, and had no experience at Glen Abbey.
The course is baked brown from heat and winds. Veteran tour golfers have struggled with it. It seemed all but certain that an inexperienced amateur would come back to earth.
Instead, du Toit made a birdie on the 13th hole, and hit a 364-yard drive on the 18th hole. His approach was average by the standards of the week, leaving him a 40-foot putt from the back of the green. He then confidently rolled in a putt for eagle to finish the round at 2-under par, and 8-under for the tournament. The crowd burst into “O Canada” as du Toit walked up to sign his card.
“The atmosphere out here has been unbelievable, walking to each green, each tee box, everybody high-fiving, hooting and hollering, ‘Go Canada,’” he said. “It’s been unbelievable.”
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If he’s going to win, he’ll have to get by some of the best players in golf. Snedeker is having a good year, with a win and four Top 10 finishes. Dustin Johnson, with whom he’s tied, had an average third round, but has 10 Top 10 finishes this year, including at the U.S. Open. Both Snedeker and Johnson battled in the final round of 2013, with Snedeker eventually prevailing.
Snedeker, a soft-spoken, articulate golfer, recognizes he won’t be popular if he beats the Canadian upstart tomorrow.
“I think I’m going to be the most hated man in Canada tomorrow,” Snedeker said, who shot 6-under in the third round to move to the top of the leaderboard.
“For a 21-year old kid to be playing golf here is awesome, let alone to do it at your national open. I can’t imagine the nerves this kid has to have to be playing as great of golf as he is.”
Jon Rahm knows du Toit’s golf game just about as well as anyone. He played with du Toit at ASU, and though he’s only two shots behind, Rahm’s cheering for his former teammate.
“That putt he made on 18 — I couldn’t have jumped higher — I was so happy for him,” Rahm said. “Even if he’s technically beating me — if someone is going to beat me, it has to be him. I wouldn’t mind if he beats me here. I’m extremely happy for him, and it doesn’t surprise me at all.”
Rahm, who roomed with du Toit on the road at college tournaments, says the sports world is just recognizing what he already knows: that Du Toit is smart, works really hard and is a quick learner.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” he said. “I know what he’s capable of and I’ve seen what he’s done in college. He just never had that last round score that he needed to win. Right now he’s living his dream—he’s leading his country’s open and playing great.
“It is one thing to have an opening round, but to come back and play the way he’s done and have a hard day and come in the way he did, overcoming adversity. He’s smart and he’s got all the tools to be a successful player.”
There’s still a lot of golf to play for du Toit, and it is easy to expect he’ll wilt under the pressure of trying to become the first Canadian in 62 years to win the country’s national open.
“Win or lose, I’m happy with the way this week’s gone,” he concluded.
And Canadian golf fans agree—but a fairy tale ending in du Toit’s PGA Tour debut would make the story that much sweeter.
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