Curse of Pat Fletcher: DeLaet and Hughes fall short at RBC Canadian Open
OAKVILLE, Ont. — Graham DeLaet joked about the “Curse of Pat Fletcher” after he and Mackenzie Hughes were the only two Canadians to make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open on Friday. Two days later and the 63-year drought for Canadians at the national men’s golf championship continued.
Hughes, from nearby Dundas, Ont., fired a 4-under 68 to tie for 32nd at 10 under at the Canadian Open on Sunday as the low Canadian. DeLaet, from Weyburn, Sask., shot 1-under 71 for the fourth round to place 48th at 8 under.
Fletcher, from Victoria, was the last Canadian to win the national championship in 1954, finishing at 8 under with a four-stroke lead at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf Club. Since then, not only has no Canadian won, but only Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., has been a runner-up. Every year at the tournament Canadian golfers are asked about replacing Fletcher in the history books.
“You know, I don’t know if the curse is real but I just know it’s really hard to win a golf tournament, especially on the PGA Tour,” said Hughes shortly before being handed the Rivermead Cup as low Canadian. “That’s what I attribute it to and the fact that we’re trying to win this one and only one in Canada every year, there’s a lot of things that have to go your way.