Graham DeLaet has a new look at this week's RBC Canadian Open, having shaved the bushy beard golf fans have gotten used to seeing in recent years. Unfortunately, making a certain change in his golf game isn't as easy. It appears Graham DeLaet still has the chipping yips. Poor Graham DeLaet.
The ugly stuff was on full display during Thursday's first round. First on the ninth hole, when his seemingly straightforward chip sent an opponent's caddie scrambling to get out of the way:
DeLaet double bogeyed that hole. Then had an even worse go of it on 16. DeLaet was in the par 5's greenside bunker in two, but skulled his ball into another bunker that he needed two attempts to escape. He wound up with another double bogey and an opening score of 77.
Last month DeLaet withdrew from the Memorial, citing "anxiety while chipping/pitching."
DeLaet appeared to have sorted stuff out with a T-29 at the Barracuda Championship and a T-8 at the Barbasol Championship in his first two starts back. For the sake of DeLaet -- and Canada, who he'll play for in next month's Olympics -- we hope this is just a temporary blip.
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