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LPGA TOUR
Spaniard Carlota Ciganda birdied the final two holes in her singles match against Nelly Korda of the United States, securing the clinching point as Europe retained the Solheim Cup with the first-ever tie in the event, 14-14. It’s the first time Europe has secured three straight Solheim Cups against the United States. The teams entered the final day tied 8-8 after the U.S. got off to its best start with a 4-0 win in the foursome matches on Friday morning. The Europeans fought back, taking 8 of the next 12 matches heading into the final day of singles play. Each team won five matches on the final day, with two ties. The Solheim Cup will be played again in 2024 in order to keep it and the Ryder Cup in opposite years. Next year’s Solheim Cup will be played at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.
NEXT EVENT: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship (Sep 29)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Maddie Szeryk, Alena Sharp
KORN FERRY TOUR
Norman Xiong carded a final round 67 en route to a four-stroke victory at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship. It equalled the largest margin of victory this season while the win earned Xiong a PGA Tour card for next season. Xiong was one of four players to secure PGA Tour cards with their final-round finish – Jake Knapp, Nicholas Lindehim and Chandler Phillips also secured 2024 status. The top 75 players on the points list have all secured status on the Korn Ferry Tour for next season and will go on to play in the season-ending Tour Championship where the top 30 will earn PGA Tour cards for next season. …Roger Sloan, who carded just his second top-20 result of the season, moved up two places and currently sits 31st on the points list.
POS
SCORES
TOTAL
T18
Roger Sloan
68-73-72-70
-1
T42
Ben Silverman
73-71-76-68
+4
MC
Wil Bateman
79-71
NEXT EVENT: Korn Ferry Tour Championship (Oct 5)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Wil Bateman, Ben Silverman, Roger Sloan,
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
Thongchai Jaidee outlasted Justin Leonard in a four-hole playoff to win the PURE Insurance Championship. Leonard hooked his tee shot on the par-5 18th hole at Pebble Beach into a penalty area abutting the Pacific Ocean, leaving Jaidee with a two-putt par to win for the second time in his career on the senior’s tour. Leonard, who won the British Open in 1997, was looking to win for the first time on the Champions Tour.
…Mike Weir posted his first top-20 result since May. …Stephen Ames sits No. 3 in the Schwab Cup standings
POS
SCORES
TOTAL
T20
Mike Weir
68-73-71
-4
T25
Stephen Ames
70-72-72
-2
NEXT EVENT: Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS (Oct 6)
EUROPEAN TOUR
Japanese golfer Ryo Hisatsune made five birdies on the back nine to win the Cazoo Open de France by two shots over Jeff Winther of Denmark and Jordan Smith of England. It was his first career victory on the European Tour. Smith, who shared the overnight lead with Ewen Ferguson of Scotland, opened the final round with two birdies, but three bogeys over his next seven holes sealed his fate as he carded a final round 72. There were no Canadians entered in the event.
NEXT EVENT: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (Oct 5)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Aaron Cockerill
EPSON TOUR
Natasha Andrea Oon carded a final round 69 for a three-stroke victory in the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout. It was the first professional win for the Epson Tour rookie who sits second in the Race for the Card standings. Prior to her victory, four of her seven top-10 finishes this year were runner-up results. …Selena Costabile posted her first top-15 result since June. …Alena Sharp sits 12th in the Race for the Card standings, only $2,000 behind 10th place with just two tournaments remaining
In June, Nick Taylor became the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open, holing a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to beat Tommy Fleetwood at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
“We are honoured and humbled to be nominated for these prestigious awards by the PGA TOUR,” said Bryan Crawford, RBC Canadian Open tournament director. “It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, including staff, partners, fans and volunteers, who are committed to delivering excellence in everything we do. This is a moment of pride for us, and we are grateful to be recognized in this way.”
The 2023 RBC Canadian Open picked up nominations in the following four categories:
Best Marketing Initiative: Criteria include the development and execution of a marketing campaign designed to increase ticket sales and attendance.
Most Engaged Community: Attendance, volunteer support, year-round community involvement, new community engagement program, media participation, community woven in to the “fabric” of the tournament and charity partners.
Best Special Event: Development of an actionable plan with clear objectives, creative elements and measurable results which drove attendance, social media attention, local PR, ticket sales, charity donations or media value. Examples: luncheon, special dinner, concert/concert series, 5K run, sales event, celebrity shootout, etc.)
Sustainability Award: Designed to recognize engagement in sustainability and commitment to reducing the tournament’s environmental impact, which will help protect the game for future generations.
Winners will be announced at the 2023 PGA TOUR Tournament Awards Celebration, which take place Thursday, December 7 in La Quinta, CA.
Captains Mike Weir and Jim Furyk preparing for the Presidents Cup in Montreal a year out
John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press
Canadian golfing legend Mike Weir is counting the days until he can again hear the roar of a Presidents Cup crowd.
Weir, from Brights Grove, Ont., was doing site inspections and meeting key organizers of the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club on Tuesday. He said that although the 12-on-12 tournament will feature some of the best players on the PGA Tour, the atmosphere is on an entirely different level than the top men’s circuit.
“There’s roars, there’s not just pops,” said Weir, who is the first Canadian to captain the International team. “It’s a whole different experience, not only for the players, but the fans, the fans are more engaged.”
“It becomes more like a hockey game. There’s chanting, there’s songs being sung out there.”
The Presidents Cup sees 12 players from the United States face 12 players from around the world, excluding Europe. Because the team-based event has significantly fewer groups on the course at any given time, the crowds follow players from hole to hole, creating a lively atmosphere with thousands of people surrounding every tee box and green.
The first hole at a Presidents Cup is especially impressive, with players arriving at the tee through a tunnel with an announcer and video packages heralding their arrival.
“The first tee experience is incredible,” said Weir. “There’s music playing as players come out through the tunnel, there’s a big screen up on the first tee, and you can see the opening tee shots go down and the camera pans with it.”
“People cheer when the home team hits the fairway and people jeer when the ball goes in the rough and it’s a totally different experience for the fans and the players in a team competition.”
Weir and Jim Furyk, as the non-playing captains of the International and American teams, are responsible for almost every detail for their squads.
Although the first eight players selected to each team are taken automatically based on their PGA Tour rankings, Weir and Furyk will get to choose the remaining four players themselves. They’re also responsible for decking out the team cabins where the players and their spouses prepare for their matches, the design of the team uniforms and bags, as well as when and how their teams practice.
Weir and Furyk have to balance these responsibilities with playing on the PGA Tour Champions, the senior circuit for men’s golf.
“As soon as I accepted the position I knew my own game would go on the back burner for a couple of years,” said Weir, who missed Champions Tour events last week and this week so he could focus on preparing for the Presidents Cup. “This team and the Presidents Cup, for me have always been a huge part of my career.”
“Being the captain is priority No. 1 in the golf world for me, and my own game is second.”
Royal Montreal Golf Club is hosting the Presidents Cup from Sept. 24 to 29, 2024. It’s the second time the oldest golf club in North America will host the event. Both Weir and Furyk played in the 2007 edition of the tournament.
“The golf course really hasn’t changed that much since ’07,” said Furyk in the midst of his day in Montreal. “They’re going to add a little yardage to it, but it still looks very similar. It’s withstood the test of time, for sure.”
“The event’s grown in stature, as far as the number of eyes, the television outlets, the worldwide appeal. I think the game of golf has kind of grown worldwide as well.”
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., were on the International team at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., last year, the first time two Canadians played in the event. The United States beat the Internationals 17.5-12.5 and Furyk said that his team will be ready to play in hostile territory when the tournament heads north of the border.
“We’re the away team so a lot of fans will be pulling for the International team,” said Furyk. “I think as a player, you enjoy both scenarios, right?”
“You enjoy being the home team, you enjoy support, but it’s nice to have an away game once in a while and play the villain role.”
Nick Taylor wins RBC Canadian Open, first Canadian champion since 1954
(Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Canadian Press
TORONTO – Nick Taylor became the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open, holing a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to beat Tommy Fleetwood in the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday.
Taylor tossed his putter into the air and jumped into the arms of his caddie after the longest made putt of his PGA Tour career, and fellow Canadian players Mike Weir, Corey Conners and Adam Hadwin were among those who ran onto the green to congratulate him. Hadwin, Taylor’s close friend, was tackled by a security guard while spraying champagne from a bottle.
“I’m speechless. This is for all the guys that are here. This is for my family at home,” Taylor said with tears in his eyes. “This is the most incredible feeling.”
The last player from Canada to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver. Fletcher was born in England; Carl Keffer had been the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Weir lost a playoff to Vijay Singh in 2004.
With galleries cheering his every move and even serenading him with “O Canada” on one tee box, Taylor curled in an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 17-under 271 at Oakdale, walking backwards with his fist raised as the ball dropped into the cup. He shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday.
Fleetwood needed a birdie on the reachable par 5 to win in regulation, but he missed his tee shot right, laid up into an awkward lie in the right rough and two-putted for par to force the playoff in rainy conditions.
The players traded birdies on their first time playing No. 18 in the playoff. They both parred 18 and the par-3 ninth before heading back to 18.
Taylor’s tee shot found a divot in the fairway, but he hit his second shot 221 yards to the front of the green, while Fleetwood laid up after his drive found a fairway bunker. Fleetwood hit his third shot to 12 feet, but didn’t need to putt after Taylor’s uphill eagle putt hit the flagstick and dropped.
Fans swarmed toward the green, and Hadwin who like Taylor grew up in Abbotsford, British Columbia got leveled amid the chaos. He said had so much adrenaline that the tackle didn’t faze him.
“It’s incredible. I mean, what do you say to one of the greatest moments of Canadian golf history?” Hadwin said. “I think we all predicted that this was going to happen.
“I’m not sure that any one of us predicted a 72-foot (eagle) putt … to get it done, but what a way to go.”
The 35-year-old Taylor, who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, won for the third time on the PGA Tour. He shot 75 in Thursday’s opening round but rallied with a 67 on Friday to make the cut, then shot 63 on Saturday to begin the final round three shots behind leader C.T. Pan.
Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy, two shots back of Pan entering the final round, closed with a 72 and finished in a tie for ninth, five shots back.
Fleetwood, a two-time Ryder Cup player from England and a six-time winner on the European tour, remains winless on the PGA Tour.
“I played great today, even though I missed some chances, if you like, on those playoff holes,” Fleetwood said. “Yeah, it was close. I just have to take the positives from it and start practicing tomorrow. I got a major next week. So can’t dwell on it too much.”
Tyrrell Hatton (64), Aaron Rai (69) and Pan (70) finished one shot out of the playoff.
Rory sits 2 shots back heading into final round of RBC Canadian Open
Rory McIlroy
Canadian Press
Back-to-back birdies to close out the third round put C.T. Pan two strokes up on the field at the RBC Canadian Open, but that lead is far from safe with a pack of big names and two Canadians in the hunt.
Pan, from Taiwan, shot a 6-under 66 to sit at 14-under overall on Saturday at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in the northwest corner of Toronto. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was in a six-way tie for second as he looks for a third consecutive title at the men’s national golf championship.
“You still have to play aggressive, because this course is a lot of rough, but if you hit it in the fairway you will have a lot of short irons in and you’re going to create a lot of birdie opportunities,” said Pan, adding that he won’t change too much as he tries to fend off the group tied for second that includes McIlroy, Americans Mark Hubbard, Harry Higgs, and Andrew Novak, as well as England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if someone shoots 8-, 9-under, because the PGA Tour guys are really good.”
Nick Taylor, from Abbotsford, B.C., did just that earlier Saturday, firing a 9-under 63 to set a new course record at Oakdale Golf and Country Club. That round rocketed Taylor up the leaderboard to sit in a tie with England’s Aaron Rai at 11-under, good for eighth.
Taylor surpassed the record of 8-under that England’s Tyrrell Hatton matched in Friday’s second round. Oakdale actually has 27 holes on its property and is using a composite course for the PGA Tour event.
Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George Knudson, who won on the PGA Tour eight times in the 1960s and ’70s, was a regular at Oakdale and has nine of the holes at the 98-year-old course named after him.
“To have a course record is really cool,” said Taylor. “I don’t think I have one out here on Tour.
“To do it at the RBC Canadian Open is even more special and to be mentioned in the same breath as George Knudson is phenomenal.”
Corey Conners (70) of Listowel, Ont., rounded out the top 10 at 10-under overall. He and Taylor agreed that they’d be happy with either one of them winning the Canadian Open and end a nearly 70-year drought for Canadians at the event.
“I think we’re rooting for each other, but we still want to win,” said Taylor, who regularly practices with Conners ahead of PGA Tour events. “If we don’t win, I think we want another Canadian to win.
“If I look up and I’m second and Corey Conners is first then that’s almost as good as winning.”
Pat Fletcher won at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf and Country Club in 1954. Although there have been some close calls in the past 20 years, this year’s edition of the tournament holds a great deal of promise as eight Canadians, the most since 2002, made the cut.
“It’s been far too long,” said Conners. “I’m going to be letting it fly, giving it my all tomorrow and I’m sure (Taylor’s) going to be doing the same thing.
“I’ve got some ground to make up, but you never know. We have a chance.”
McIlroy won in 2019 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club and again last year at St. George’s Golf and Country Club. The event was canceled in the intervening years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It feels eerily similar to the last two tournaments,” said McIlroy. “I was tied for the lead with (Webb Simpson) at Hamilton in 2019. Then last year with (Tony Finau and Justin Thomas).
“Looks like there could be a lot of guys up around the lead tomorrow. So it’s going to be a really interesting day.”
Conners a shot back after second round of RBC Canadian Open
Corey Conners
Canadian Press
Chants of “Corrr-ayyyy! Cor-ay! Cor-ay! Cor-ay!” to the tune of the famous “Ole!” soccer song followed Corey Conners up to the 18th green during the second round of the RBC Canadian Open.
The product of Listowel, Ont., responded well to the chants from hundreds of fans. He two-putted on the challenging green at Oakdale Golf and Country Club to pull within a shot of the lead at the men’s national golf championship.
“Lots of chants out there, but definitely that one was new,” said Conners with a chuckle. “I’m really embracing the Canadian support.”
Conners shot a 3-under 69 on Friday to sit in a tie for second with Taiwan’s C.T. Pan, England’s Aaron Rai and Tyrrell Hatton at 8-under overall.
China’s Carl Yuan turned in a 5-under round to sit atop the leaderboard one shot ahead of that group.
“Really happy with the start,” said Conners who was tied for the lead after the first round. “It’s been a lot of fun out here this week.
“Fun playing in front of the Canadian fans. Just enjoying the walk out there.”
Yuan said after his round in the morning wave that his goal is always to have fun out on the course.
“That’s my goal coming into the week. That’s my No. 1 goal,” said Yuan of keeping it light. “Not a result goal, just being in the present, hitting shot by shot and, yeah, being out here trying to have the most fun. All of it.”
Conners was in the mix at the PGA Championship in late May and tied for 12th. He said his cool demeanour paid off there and is also keeping him focused at the Canadian Open, which most Canadian players consider a fifth major.
“I would say this week I’ve been a lot more relaxed than even I was there and I felt like I was quite relaxed at the PGA Championship,” he said. “So I’m feeling good about my game and able to play with freedom and confidence. I’m just having a lot of fun.”
It has been almost 70 years since a Canadian last won the men’s national golf championship. Pat Fletcher won in 1954 at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf and Country Club.
Although Conners is in the best position to end that drought, he’s far from the only Canadian in the hunt as eight of his countrymen made the cut.
Adam Hadwin (68) of Abbotsford, B.C., and Rogers Sloan (70) of Merritt, B.C., were tied for 17th at 5 under.
Edmonton’s Wil Bateman, playing in his first-ever Canadian Open and only his second PGA Tour event, rocketed up the leaderboard with a 6-under round. That put Bateman at 4-under overall and tied for 22nd.
“When they bring out the cameras and the little fuzzy little mic you know you’re doing something right,” joked Bateman. “But I just tried to just stay in the moment. I’m just really excited for the weekend.”
After two days of air quality advisories due to forest fires raging in Ontario and Quebec, steady rain cleared the air at Oakdale in Toronto’s northwest corner. Between the lack of sunlight and cold rain, the temperature didn’t go above 17 degrees Celsius.
“I think this is right up my alley,” said Yuan, who was born in Dalian, China. “I went to school in Seattle at the University of Washington.
“That’s exactly what we deal with in the wintertime.”
Conners said that the course’s conditions have been great, although with a 9-under overall score topping the leaderboard it’s clear that Oakdale is proving to be a challenge.
“I feel like the golf course and the greens have sped up and the rough has continued to grow and become thicker from when I saw it a few weeks ago,” said Conners. “Also just tournament conditions, it’s playing a little trickier but there’s definitely some opportunities.
“If the weather stays nice I think that you can shoot some good numbers this weekend.”
Canada’s Corey Conners shares lead at RBC Canadian Open
Corey Conners
PGA TOUR Communications
TORONTO – It’s been 20 years since Mike Weir won the Masters, and now Canada is seeing the influence that victory had – with more Canadians playing at a high level on the PGA TOUR than ever before.
But one thing that continues to elude the best from Canada – including Weir himself – is a victory at the RBC Canadian Open. The last Canadian to win the country’s national open was Pat Fletcher in 1954.
Through 18 holes, however, Corey Conners is trending towards breaking the long-standing drought.
Conners shot a 5-under 67 to open things at Oakdale Golf and Country Club, and through the first round he sits in a four-way tie for the lead with Aaron Rai, Justin Lower and Chesson Hadley.
The last Canadian to lead the RBC Canadian Open after the first round was Weir in 2008, and the last Canadian to lead the championship after any round was David Hearn, who had the 54-hole lead in 2015.
Conners, who finished sixth at last year’s RBC Canadian Open, was not able to speak to media after his round because he had to deal with an urgent personal matter.
His caddie, Danny Sahl, said that Conners’ success came from being strong all around and especially disciplined off the tee. Conners hasn’t made a bogey at the RBC Canadian Open in 51 holes, dating back to last year.
Conners was first in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and fourth in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee after the first round. Sahl said there’s an easy comparison between Oakdale and Oak Hill Country Club, the host of this year’s PGA Championship where Conners played in Sunday’s penultimate pairing.
“It’s the same mentality that he brought over from (Oak Hill), and he knows that’s what it’s going to take to play well,” Sahl said. “Just get it in the fairway and we were aggressive on a couple of holes. He’s seeing his spots and keeping it really simple.”
Weir also had the first-round lead at the RBC Canadian Open in 2004 and came agonizingly close to winning the event – eventually losing in a playoff to Vijay Singh. He knows as much as anyone what it’s going to take to keep the pedal down over the next three days.
“I think (Conners is) experienced enough to know that we’re so early and that it doesn’t really mean much yet,” Weir said. “I know he just wants to, I’m sure, keep doing what he’s doing. I was watching a little on TV this morning and he looked like he was just playing Corey Conners golf. I saw solid play and nice ball striking, and that’s a good recipe around here.
“It’s pretty demanding off the tee. If you miss the fairways you’re in trouble, so if you can keep driving it good, he’ll be in good shape.”
Conners is one of three Canadians to have won on the PGA TOUR this season, with Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Svensson being the others.
Hughes made four birdies on his back nine Thursday to finish at 3 under. Taylor Pendrith and Roger Sloan also got it to 3 under after the first round.
Weir, in his 30th RBC Canadian Open start, shot an even-par 72.
Hughes, who went to Kent State University with both Pendrith and Conners, said with golf in Canada continuing to increase its momentum, having a Canadian with a chance to win on Sunday would be huge.
“We’ve got a few guys up there, kind of close, and hopefully one of us can keep it going all the way to Sunday,” Hughes said
McIlroy ready to defend his RBC Canadian Open title
North York, ON, Canada June 7 2023 - RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf Club
Photo: Gary Yee (garyphoto.ca)
Mike Masaro
Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy is ready to make history in defence of the RBC Canadian Open title at Oakdale Golf & Country Club.
The world’s number three ranked player will lead a field of 156 of the world’s best players looking to become the first player in history to win three consecutive titles.
“Any time you can come back and defend a title sort of wherever that is in the world, it’s nice to be able to do that, said McIlroy. “Obviously the Sunday last year was, to me, one of the probably one of the best experiences I’ve ever had playing on TOUR. Battling it out with JT and Tony down the stretch. Rosie was on course trying to shoot 59. There was a ton of low scores. Battling with those two guys. JT and Tony being two of the best players in the world. Coming out on top. Yeah, it was really nice. Nice to be able to defend a title. I felt like the support I got out there was absolutely amazing and I’m looking forward to playing in that sort of atmosphere again this week.”
Canada’s Myles Creighton wins on Latinoamerica Tour to take top spot in standings
Golf Canada
BOGOTA – Myles Creighton, native of Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada, has achieved his first-ever victory on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica.
Finishing at 19 under, Creighton emerged victorious by a single stroke in the Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship on Sunday.
Austin Hitt of the United States secured second place, finishing at 18 under.
On Monday, Creighton is anticipated to ascend to the top position in the Totalplay Cup standings.
The Latinoamérica Tour still has two more events scheduled for this season.
The golfer who concludes the Totalplay Cup standings in first place earns exempt status on the second-tier of the Korn Ferry Tour.
Players ranking from 2nd to 5th in the third-tier Latinoamérica Tour standings will obtain conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the following season.
Additionally, the top five players in the Totalplay Cup standings receive an exemption into the final stage of the 2023 PGA Tour Q-School.
Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy along with international stars Matt Fitzpatrick, Sam Burns, Cameron Young, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Sahith Theegala and Justin Rose will be joined by past Major champions, in-year winners and Canadian stars led by Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Svensson, Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith at Oakdale Golf and Country Club
20 Canadians set to compete in 112th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship
RBCxMusic Concert Series to feature Grammy Award-winning artists The Black Eyed Peas (Friday, June 9) and Alanis Morrissette (Saturday, June 10) performing live onsite atOakdale Golf & Country Club in Toronto
Toronto (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field vying for the US$9 million purse at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-11 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ont.
Two-time defending champion and world no. 3 Rory McIlroy returns to Canada looking to defend his title and make history as no player has even won three straight Canadian Open titles.
Other fan-favourites in the field for the 112th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include reigning US Open and RBC Heritage champion and world no. 8 Matthew Fitzpatrick and world no. 17 Tyrell Hatton, along with fellow European stars Tommy Fleetwood (world no. 23), Shane Lowry (world no. 26) and Justin Rose (world no. 28).
The group will compete alongside Team RBC ambassadors Sam Burns (world no. 13), Cameron Young (world no. 16), Sahith Theegala (world no. 27), seven-time PGA TOUR winner Webb Simpson, and nine-time PGA TOUR winner Matt Kuchar.
A 20-player Canadian contingent will challenge for the national championship led by PGA TOUR winners Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (world no. 29), Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (world no. 61), Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. (world no. 66), Nick Taylor of Abbottsford, B.C. (world no. 69), and Adam Hadwin of Abbottsford, B.C. (world no. 74) as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. and Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont.
A trio of young rising stars representing three of the top-five players on the World Amateur Golf Ranking will also compete at Oakdale – world no. 1 Ludvig Aberg, world No. 3 Michael Thorbjornsen and world no. 5 Sam Bennett. Aberg, the Texas Tech senior and two-time Ben Hogan Award winner who finished atop the final PGA TOUR University standings to earn a tour card for the rest of the year, will make his professional debut at the RBC Canadian Open. Bennett, the 2022 US Amateur winner who was in contention at The Masters earlier this season, made his professional debut this week at The Memorial.
In addition to world class golf, fans at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open will be treated to the two-night RBCxMusic Concert Series onsite at Oakdale Golf and Country with Grammy Award-winning pop group, the Black Eyed Peas performing on Friday, June 9 and Canadian Grammy Award-winning icon Alanis Morissette performing on Saturday, June 10.
“We are very pleased with our field of world-class competitors that are making their way to Canada to join us at Oakdale Golf and Country Club and challenge for the 112th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “Led by our two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy, this year’s championship features a strong mix of stars from all around the world and the deepest field of Canadian talent ever to challenge for our National Men’s Open title. Along with great golf, fans will be treated to an incredible festival environment with terrific on-site activities including The Fare Way featuring The Keg and the RBCxMusic Concert series featuring the Black Eyed Peas (Friday, June 9) and Alanis Morissette (Saturday, June 10).”
In total, 156 players will compete for the US$9 million purse next week in Toronto when the RBC Canadian Open makes its first ever visit to the storied Oakdale Golf and Country Club. Oakdale, a 27-hole course (Thompson / Homenuik / Knudson) located near the heart of Toronto, will play as 7,264-yard (par 72) composite course, using 9-holes designed by Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Robbie Robinson and an additional nine holes designed by fellow Hall of Famer Stanley Thompson.
Click here for a full field list for the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.
PGA TOUR Season Winners…
Eight in-year PGA TOUR winners will compete at Oakdale including Mackenize Hughes ((Sanderson Farms), Rory McIlroy (CJ Cup), Adam Svensson (RSM Classic), Sahith Theegala (QBE Shootout), Justin Rose AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am), Davis Riley (Zurich Classic of New Orleans), Nico Echavarria (Puerto Rico Open) and Corey Conners (Valero Texas Open).
Major Winners….
Six major winners are represented in the field including four-time major winner Rory McIllroy (2011 US Open, 2012 & 2014 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship) along with Matt Fitzpatrick (2022 US Open), Shane Lowry (2019 Open Championship), Webb Simpson (2012 US Open), Jason Dufner (2013 PGA Championship) and Mike Weir (2003 Masters).
Past Champions…
Four past RBC Canadian Open champions will compete at Oakdale including Chez Reavie (2008), Sean O’Hair (2011), Brandt Snedeker (2013 ) and two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy (2022, 2019).
Twenty Canadians to compete for their National Men’s Open Title…
Current PGA TOUR players Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Adam Svensson, Taylor Pendrith, Michael Gligic, and will lead a talented roster of 20 Canadians competing in the RBC Canadian Open. The 2023 event welcomes home a legend as 8-time PGA TOUR winner and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir will make his 30th start in the RBC Canadian Open. Other Canadians competing on exemption include David Hearn, Aaron Cockerill, Ben Silverman, Wil Bateman, and Roger Sloan, along with Team Canada members Stuart MacDonald, Myles Creighton, and Johnny Travale. Three other Canadians earned exemptions through RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying including Taylor Durham of North Vancouver, B.C. (BC Regional Qualifier at Ledgeview Golf Club), Daniel Kim of Toronto, Ont. (Ontario Regional Qualifying #1 at Oshawa Golf & Curling Club), and Sebastian Szirmak of Toronto, Ont. (Ontario Regional Qualifying #2 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley). Team Canada pro Etienne Papineau of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu has also joined the field on a tournament exemption.
Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…
The final four tournament exemptions into the field for the 2023 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 4 at Coppinwood Golf Club in Goodwood, Ont. A record number of players attempted to gain entry into the field by competing at five Regional Qualifying sites last month. A total of 124 players including 107 Canadians will compete at Coppinwood. Click here for a field list.
Golf’s Longest Day – U.S. Open Final Qualifying on Monday June 5….
A total of 29 players including 10 Canadians will compete in the U.S. Open Final Qualifier on Monday, June 5 at Lambton Golf and Country Club in Toronto. Players competing in Golf’s Longest Day will battle over 36 holes at Lambton for one of the spots in the field for the 123rd US Open, June 12-18 at LA Country Club. The total number of spots available will be confirmed in the coming days. Click here for pairings.
RBC Hall of Fame Day Returns on Tuesday, June 6…
Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to welcome the return of RBC Hall of Fame Day as an official kickoff event for the 2023 RBC Canadian Open. RBC Hall of Fame Day will include the induction ceremony for former PGA TOUR player Jim Rutledge as well as the late legendary golf writer, Robert Stanley Weir as the 84th and 85th honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Joining the celebration will be a several honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. The event gets underway at 11:00am ET on Tuesday, June 6 at the SiriusXM stage located in The Fare Way featuring The Keg onsite at Oakdale Golf and Country Club.
MOBILE APP EXPERIENCE…
Experience the RBC Canadian Open like never before by downloading the Golf Canada Mobile App on your iOS or Android device. Essential features include a live map, leaderboard & pairings, tickets, breaking news, and special events. Plus, use the Golf Canada Mobile App to enhance your experience while playing! Find golf courses, track your game, set up matches against friends, access GPS yardages and more. Click here to download.
Click here for the full current list of competitors competing in the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-11 at Oakdale Golf and Country in Toronto.