Musings: 'Small Unit' wins Canadian Open

Chez Reavie may have the worst nickname in all of sports, but for a weekend, he was the world’s best golfer.

The former Arizona State Sun Devil, who stands 5’9” on his tip-toes, picked up the moniker “the Small Unit” during his stint in the desert, to contrast him with the Big Unit, former Arizona Diamondback Randy Johnson.

Apparently that manhood-diminishing nickname hasn’t damaged his confidence. Reavie won this weekend’s RBC Canadian Open in impressive fashion, outgunning a strong leaderboard that included local favorite Mike Weir, phenom-du-jour Anthony Kim, young guns Sean O’Hair and Steve Marino and wily veteran Billy Mayfair, who finished second at three strokes back.

“Oh, man, I’m just so excited,” Reavie said after a sparkling 17-under finish gave him his first win on the PGA Tour. “I don’t think a lot of people understand when you’re growing up and you’re practicing and you’re working so hard, this is, obviously, your goal. But there are no guarantees.”

Reavie dominated the par 4s at Glen Abbey, posting 16 birdies in 44 holes, the most par-4 birdies at the Canadian Open in the last 25 years. He also became only the second player this year to birdie two different par 4s in all four rounds, turning the trick at Nos. 4 and 9.

Reavie more than doubled his career earnings with the $900,000 first-place check. “How much? $900,000. That's unbelievable, really,” he said. “Yeah, wow! That's all I can say is wow to that.”

Two players who received a lot of attention on Sunday had dramatically different final-round performances. Kim, who began the final round a stroke back, stumbled to a 75, displaying a lack of seasoning that befits a relatively inexperienced 23-year-old. “I played terrible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Canadian Mike Weir, carrying the hopes of a nation on his slim frame, shot a solid 69, although he could never quite climb into contention and finished five strokes back. “I enjoyed it. I played well this week,” he said. “It has been exhausting.”

Slave to Routine

Rain interrupted the proceedings at the Canadian Open, but Reavie didn’t allow it to interrupt his routine. He went through two entire pre-round routines on Sunday, once before he finished his rain-delayed third round, and the second before the start of his final round. Reavie took two showers and even ate two breakfasts.

After a birdie on the final hole of his third round gave him a one-shot lead, Reavie essentially started his day anew. “I changed my shoes, went back to my hotel, had a nap for an hour and a half, then I started my routine all over again,” he said. “I didn't shave, but I showered twice, ate two breakfasts. I wanted to do the exact same routine even though I'd already done it. But no, I won't be eating twice in the future.”

Watch Out, Phil

With two Claret Jugs in tow, Padraig Harrington is setting his sights on the No. 1 ranking in the world. To get there, he needs to leapfrog a certain lefthander. “To get to world No. 1 you have to get to world No. 2,” Harrington said, firing a warning shot in Phil Mickelson’s direction. “It’s a tough battle to catch Phil there, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the competition. It will probably push both of us on.” Harrington has moved up to third, with Mickelson within striking distance. Tiger Woods retains his stranglehold on the top spot, but his margin will continue to diminish with his absence from competitive golf.

Just One of the Guys

For reasons known only to her, Michelle Wie is taking another shot at the men. She’ll be teeing it up at this week’s Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, her eighth appearance on the PGA Tour.

It will be one of the weaker fields all year, as the top players will be competing at the WGC-Bridgestone. But that hasn’t stopped critics from complaining that Wie just doesn’t belong. Jay Williamson, who will be in the Reno field, called her participation “a joke.”

Wie is nonplussed by the criticism. “I don’t know who he is. I don’t even read that stuff,” she said.

In Wie’s defense, she is coming off her best performance on the LPGA Tour. She was a shot off the lead going into the final round of the State Farm Classic when she was disqualified for leaving the scoring area without signing her second-round scorecard. Her injured wrist seems to have healed.

“I wish I had no critics, but I’m realistic,” she said. “People will write negative things about me. The only thing I can control is myself. A good score will resolve everything.

“I’m not going to focus on making the cut. My goal this week is how to make less bogeys and more birdies. Focus on the little things, and it’ll take care of itself.”

First-timer

Bruce Vaughan made his first victory on either the PGA Tour or the Champions Tour a big one. Vaughan beat John Cook in Sudden Death to win the Senior British Open at Royal Troon. Money is great but until you win, you're just another player. It's all about winning. You only get a few of these," said Vaughan, whose mother died in a car accident seven weeks ago returning from watching her son play.

Cook entered his final nine with a three-shot lead but squandered his cushion with a 4-over 39 coming in.

Greg Norman put the finishing touches on a nice fortnight in Britain, finishing tied for fifth after a final-round 68.

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