Lucky all the caddies at golf tournaments have the name of their boss on their backs.  Especially at this year's Canadian Open which begins today in the Hammer.  Tiger, Phil and Rory aren't playing.  No names and also rans will come up here because most of the big shooters don't think it's worth their time.  Most blame the timing—right after the British Open, but the RCGA chartered a plane from England once again to give guys a free ride over here.  They still took a pass.  At least Ernie Els can show us that puny jug he won last weekend.     

     For a national championship, this field is paper thin.  The Canadian Open is about as important as the John Deere.   When the elite of the golfing world takes a pass, so does the interest in the public.  And that's what's happening at the Canadian Open.   I’m sorry, but this is a national championship.  Like the U.S, or the British Open.  Why doesn't it carry the same weight anymore?     

     I suspect it has something to do with the history of golf in Canada.  The best players in the game today don't take our championship seriously, because this country just doesn't have the golf heritage the States or Great Britain has.  And it shows each July, when the big guns stay home and some guy 135th on the money list wins the Eskimo carving.  It’s a crying shame.