RBC Canadian Open

Defending champion Nathan Green will be challenged by a list of PGA TOUR stars that includes Sean O’Hair, Camilo Villegas, Luke Donald, Tim Clark, John Daly, Hunter Mahan, Paul Casey, Fred Couples, Trevor Imelman, David Duval, Paul Azinger and Retief Goosen as well as Canadian PGA TOUR stars Stephen Ames, Graham DeLaet and Mike Weir.

Additional notables committing to play this afternoon include Trevor Immelman, Stuart Appleby, Charles Howell III, Paul Azinger, David Duval, Ryuji Imada, Rocco Mediate, Andres Romero, Jeev Milka Singh, Brandt Snedeker and Charlie Hoffman, bolstering an already strong field of talent set to take on the historic St. George’s Golf and Country Club.

Ames, DeLaet and Weir headline a list of 13 Canadians looking to become the first Canadian since Pat Fletcher in 1954 to take home Canada’s national championship. Other Canadian pros competing on the Nationwide Tour include Ted Brown, Barrett Jarosch, David Hearn and Jon Mills. Two-time defending Canadian Men’s Amateur champion Cam Burke as well as Team Canada teammates Nick Taylor and Eugene Wong will also compete as well as former Team Canada member Matt Hill, 2009 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion Dave Bunker and 2009 Canadian PGA champion Ben Boudreau.

Six additional exemptions will be awarded following this weekend’s Canadian Tour event including the winner of the Players Cup - in Winnipeg, Man. as well as the top five players on the Canadian Tour’s order of merit.

“The field is set and we’re ready to kick off the 101st playing of Canada’s national open championship,” said Bill Paul, Tournament Director. “The positive buzz about this year’s golf course, playing in the city of Toronto and how far we’ve come as an event with RBC’s support over the past three years has really gained us traction with the players. Canadian golf fans are about to be treated to a real showcase at St. George’s Golf and Country Club.”