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New Canadian Open star Kim likes how birdies fly up north

First is Anthony Kim's new marketing deal with the Royal Bank of Canada, the event's busy and aggressive title sponsor. The deal lasts three years, with an option for a fourth, so that potentially assures the presence of the accomplished young golfer in the next four fields, which line up now as Glen Abbey t Nike Air Bruin Max Dam his July, St. George's in 2010, Vancouver's Shaughnessy (unofficially) in 2011 and who knows where in 2012. There was no dollar figure available; industry estimates put it close to $1 million, which is significant. Kim is a head to toe Nike player, but will carry the RBC logo on his golf bag. Only Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie, from the Nike stable, carry non Nike bags.

Kim was asked if he would have tried the Canadian Open again, after finishing eighth at Glen Abbey in 2008, without the deal.

"I definitely think the RBC connection helped," he said. "Just to go last year, it's a company my agent (Toronto based Chris Armstrong) has been talking about for a while. I feel like they put so much effort and money and time that it really is turning out to be a great event.

"They are playing at a course that a lot of people are knocking, at Glen Abbey. I think it's a great golf course, first of all. People want to see tournaments won not just with pars, but with birdies and eagles."

Well, he is right about that. There are better, more difficult golf courses than Glen Abbey, Jack Nicklaus' first major design, but a guy who has gone to an awful lot of countries chasing the dimples can report that there is no finer course for spectators than the Abbey. The vantage points are great from all the mounds Nicklaus decreed and the layout allows fans to keep up with action on multiple holes without much hiking.

Some players don't like it, but here's a news flash: You can't name a golf course, from the Old Course to Pebble Beach, that some players won't complain about, although at certain tracks, like Augusta National, they keep their beefs to themselves.

The other item about the Canadian Open is that the regular Monday pro am, this year at least, will be dedicated to the Mike Weir Foundation. Weir, who is partnered with Woods and Robert Karlsson in this C nike A Championship over Doral's Blue Monster beginning Thursday, said in future years he might move the event off site, but for 2009 it will go at Glen Abbey.

The Royal Canadian Golf Association's charter flight back from the British Open delivers the players late Sunday evening that's the theory in Toronto, meaning they're available, however logy, for Monday morning.