Kevin Carrigan is in for the ride of his young life as the member of Royal Colwood gets set to play in next week鈥檚 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey.
Having just finished third at the sa国际传媒 Amateur, the 27-year-old financial adviser with Investors Group departs Friday for the Toronto area, where he will settle in before joining the PGA Tour field.
Carrigan will also play the prestigious Canadian Amateur, held Aug. 6-9 at his home course as well as Gorge Vale Golf Club. The field will bel split for the first two rounds before the final two are played at Royal Colwood.
鈥淚鈥檓 going with no expectations. But at the same time I鈥檓 there to play, to contend. I say no expectations, but I have my goals,鈥� Carrigan said of the Canadian Open. 鈥淣ot to be too ambitious, but I would like to be low Canadian.
鈥淔irst of all, I鈥檇 like to make the cut. But most of all, I want to play my game and see how it goes.鈥�
It鈥檚 gone very well so far as he finished third last week at the sa国际传媒 Amateur, just missing the two-man playoff by a stroke. He also won the Canadian Mid-Amateur last September, which qualified him for the PGA Tour event.
鈥淚t鈥檚 funny, I鈥檝e never been to a PGA Tour event, never watched the pros play, so this is so exciting,鈥� Carrigan said of next week鈥檚 opportunity in which he鈥檒l have plenty of support as sister Brette will be with him Friday.
His parents, Laurel and Perry, will come out Saturday and his godparents and a few friends will be in the gallery.
鈥淚鈥檝e got the old man on the bag [caddying]. I鈥檒l give him his first PGA Tour start,鈥� said Carrigan, who is thrilled about the opportunity.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the Canadian Open. I鈥檝e always held the Canadian Amateur in such high esteem. This is the next level, the next step. This is something that I would say 90 per cent of professional golfers will never get to do, is play in a PGA Tour event.鈥�
Not to downplay the Canadian Amateur, which he will tee up for two weeks later. This will be his ninth national Amateur, with his best finish 鈥� tied for fifth 鈥� coming a few years back.
鈥淚鈥檝e been waiting for this one for five years. This is one of the biggest factors why I didn鈥檛 go pro,鈥� he said of playing on his home course.
鈥淚 love my golf course and I know that this course can stack up against any course in the country,鈥� he said at a media day for the Amateur on Monday.
It is the third time Royal Colwood has hosted the national Amateur, the first since 1976 when Jim Nelford won two straight.
A qualifying round will be held Aug. 3 at Royal Colwood. Round 1 goes Aug. 6. The field of 240 golfers will be cut to the top 70 and ties after two rounds, with the awards ceremony and Willingdon Cup presentation following the fourth and final round.
CHIP SHOTS: The last time the Canadian Amateur was held in sa国际传媒 was 2003 at Shaughnessey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, when Richard Scott won the first of his three titles in four years.
The last time it was held on the Island was 1993 at Victoria Golf Club 鈥� More than 200 volunteers will help make sure everything works during the Amateur, which will have golfers from 11 countries competing for the Canadian championship.
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