CALEDON, Ont. – Richard T. Lee brought his A-game to the second round of the RBC Canadian Open in front of hometown fans and family.

The 34-year-old Canadian made his first cut on the PGA Tour by carding a six-under 66 for the round. He now sits at nine under heading into the weekend.

“I’ve played Web.com and made cuts there, but it’s my first cut made on the PGA Tour and it’s one of the best feelings I’ve had,” he said.

The five-foot-10 Canadian was quick to credit his iron play for his strong second round.

“I think the key to my success today was my iron shots. Inside 145 yards, I was spot on. I had great looks at birdie and some of them were pretty easy,” he said.

Lee was born in Richmond Hill, Ont., and moved to Vancouver when he was one year old.

“Prior to last year’s Canadian Open, I hadn’t been back to the Toronto area in a long time, but it’s a great feeling to be back,” said Lee, who now lives in Arizona.

Also soaking in the moment were his uncle Ken Hong and aunt Mary Hong, who were on-site to see their nephew’s performance.

“We’re from Toronto and it’s great to see him compete here,” said Ken Hong, who still remembers his nephew’s humble beginnings at age three.

“Last year, he missed the cut by one shot, and seeing what he did today shows he’s got determination to succeed,” he added.

Mary Hong admitted she got a little emotional watching Lee’s success.

“Richard played so amazing today. He seemed so calm and I’m just so proud of him. I cried a little bit after his round,” she said.

Lee currently competes on the Asian Tour but says his dream is to achieve success on the PGA Tour. After a strong second round, the talented Canadian is in contention near the top of the leaderboard.

Heading into the weekend, Lee is focused on keeping up his strong play.

“Just going to take it shot by shot and play the way I did today,” he said when asked about his mindset.

“It’s always been one of my dreams to succeed on the PGA Tour, and if I am able to get to Sunday and get a ‘W,’ then it will be a dream come true.”

Three of Canada’s best golfers are in one of the marquee groups at the RBC Canadian Open and they’re living up to that top billing.

Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., were in the morning wave together in Thursday’s opening round. They were just ahead of a group that featured world No. 2 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Sweden’s Ludwig Aberg and Luke Clanton of the United States.

Pendrith was tied with Americans Alex Smalley and Paul Peterson at 5-under 65 to hold the clubhouse lead. They dropped down into a nine-way tie for eighth once the afternoon wave was finished. Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Chile’s Cristobal Del Solar both flirted with the course record at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, firing 9-under 61 rounds to finish the first round atop the leaderboard.

“It was great out there. I felt like the crowd really filled in on the back nine,” said Pendrith, standing within sight of the 18th green. “Nick was making some birdies, and I was making some birdies. Mac holed a 6-iron on 5. 

“So it was a lot of fun. The crowd was into it. Nice to see a lot of people out here on a rainy day. We had a blast out there, and we all played pretty well.”

Taylor, the 2023 winner of the men’s national golf championship, was a shot back of Pendrith tied with a group for 16th. Hughes shot a 2-under 68 to sit in a tie with Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., among others.

“It was fun to feed off each other. It’s better than going the other way, obviously,” said Taylor. “Everyone played well. 

“Mac probably could have made a couple more putts where he normally does, but for all of us to be under par, it was a good start.”

It was a far cry from their first appearances at the Canadian Open, when they were all amateurs getting to play in the national championship thanks to sponsor exemptions.

“It’s cool to look back on. I think 2008 might have been my first Canadian Open, and I teed off at 7:30 at night because we had a long rain delay, and that was kind of my unique first start,” said Taylor. “Fast forward 17 years, being the featured group, it’s cool. It’s what we dreamt about.”

Pendrith agreed with Taylor, adding that his first Canadian Open appearance at Royal Montreal Golf Club in 2014 was formative for him.

“Those experiences, I think, help me,” said Pendrith. “It’s one of the biggest events for us, and it’s one that we look forward to all year. 

“It’s my fifth or sixth Canadian Open now, and it’s nice to play in a group with those guys and have all the fans supporting us. It’s the week that we look forward to every year.”

It’s a tradition on the PGA Tour that all the Canadians in the field practice together on the Tuesday of tournament week. That camaraderie bled over into Thursday’s round.

“To play a practice round with a couple buddies — excuse me, tournament round, it felt like a practice round is what I’m trying to say — It was a lot of fun,” said Taylor. “We kept it loose. It was nice to see a few birdies go in.”

A thunderstorm Wednesday night and continued rain into the morning made the greens soft and accuracy important. It affected spectators too, as they had to seek cover in the morning.

Fans who tried to come in the early afternoon struggled to find parking as one of two public lots at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley had to be closed because the heavy rainfall made the ground too soft to be driven on. The other parking lot quickly filled up, so Golf Canada encouraged spectators to use ride share or public drop-off if possible.

Olesen said that the rainy conditions actually helped him take the lead.

“Obviously, they’re a little bit softer than what they were yesterday,” he said. “I didn’t actually see the front nine until today. That worked out well maybe not to know any of the holes really.

“Sometimes you just have a feel of the greens and you just look at it, and you can sort of see the lines easy, and that was one of those days for me.”

Caledon, Ont. – The field is now set as the final four players locked up their spots in the 2025 RBC Canadian Open on Sunday following the Final Qualifier at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont.  

Americans Christian DiMarco of Tampa, Fla., and Josh Goldenberg of Scarsdale, N.Y. claimed the top two spots on Sunday’s leaderboard to earn their exemptions, while Yi Cao of Beijing, China (Delta, B.C. resident) finished in a tie for second with Goldenberg to secure his exemption. 

Team Canada NextGen member, Matthew Javier of North York, Ont., battled out with fellow Canadian Mark Hoffman of Toronto, Ont. for the final spot in the 2025 RBC Canadian Open field.  

The two played the 18th hole to decide the winner with both finding the green on their approach. Putting from distance, Javier placed his birdie putt five feet left of the hole, while Hoffman laboured to a bogey finish. Javier converted on his par putt to secure the tournament’s final spot and end a dramatic Final Qualifier at The Pulpit Club.  

“It’s been a lifelong dream to play an event on the PGA TOUR,” commented Javier following his playoff win on Sunday. Javier started his round at 9 a.m. and wrapped up play nearly 11 hours later, taking to a Matchplay mindset to secure the playoff victory over Hoffman.  

DiMarco – who made his professional golf debut two weeks ago on the Korn Ferry Tour – led the group of players to earn an exemption on Sunday with a three-under par performance. A pair of early birdies at the first and third holes vaulted DiMarco into red figures to begin his round before adding two more birdies at the 11th and 12th to nab the top spot on the leaderboard. DiMarco is the son of golfer Chris DiMarco, who currently plays on the PGA TOUR Champions.  

“I think it’s a testament to the work I’ve put in over the years and know that I just keep doing the right things and good things will happen,” said DiMarco who admitted to not having his sharpest game amid the afternoon’s windy and cool conditions.  

DiMarco’s countryman, Josh Goldenberg of Scarsdale, N.Y., carded five birdies on his round to help secure his spot in next week’s field at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. Goldenberg entered the final three holes of his round at four-under par, but was reeled into a T2 finish alongside Cao after bogeys at holes 16 and 18. Teeing off at 7:40 a.m. local time, Goldenberg was forced to wait nearly eight hours to confirm his spot in next week’s Canadian Men’s National Open and passed the time by studying for one of his exams.  

“At the end of the day it was totally out of my control and whatever was going to happen, I just tried accepting that,” said Goldenberg. “This is a dream come true, something I’ve thought about for my entire life. I just can’t believe it’s happening.”  

Like the Americans ahead of him, Cao birdied the par-four 12th to get to his round back to even par before going on a decisive scoring run to punch his ticket to the RBC Canadian Open. Adding back-to-back birdies on holes 13 and 14, Cao worked his way to a two-under par performance to join Goldenberg with the clubhouse lead after both headlined the morning wave.  

The 2025 RBC Canadian Open will run from June 4 – June 8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont.  

Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., had a breakthrough year in 2024, and he’s keeping the momentum going into the 2025 PGA Tour season. The 33-year-old has already recorded four top-10 finishes, with the most recent coming at the PGA Championship.

At the second major of the season in Charlotte, N.C., the former Canadian national team member finished in a tie for fifth and earned US$694,700 for his efforts.

Pendrith enjoyed his biggest triumph in early May 2024, when he captured the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. In doing so, he became the first Canadian to win the tournament since its inception in 1944.

“I’m not a big history guy, but Byron Nelson is a special name and for my name to be on that trophy is super special,” he said following the win.

While consistency is often cited as the biggest key to success in golf, it’s also one of the hardest things to achieve. But it appears Pendrith has figured it out in his early 30s.

Former LPGA pro Rebecca Lee-Bentham, who went to high school with Pendrith, says his rise is nothing short of inspiring.

“Taylor picked up golf later than most kids, and from what I recall, he would shoot in the high 70s to mid-80s while the other top juniors were going under par in tournaments,” she said.
“If you told me a kid like him would be a winner on the PGA Tour, I wouldn’t believe you. But honestly, it’s one of the most inspiring things to witness. It’s a true testament to his talent, hard work and love for the game.”

Another standout from Richmond Hill, amateur Monet Chun, says Pendrith’s journey motivates her as well.

“I’ve played at Summit Golf and Country Club and know Taylor has played there too. It’s inspiring to see the success he’s having as a professional on the PGA Tour,” she said.

Now 34, Pendrith believes his best golf is still ahead of him. His key to continued success? Keeping the support system around him strong and steady.

“I’ve pretty much had the same team for a long time now. Derek Ingram is my golf coach — he’s been with me since I was part of the amateur national team, so that’s, I don’t know, 13 or 14 years now. He’s great. He knows my game, I’m comfortable with him, and he’s a great guy to hang around with,” said Pendrith.

“I started working with a physio out here a couple of years ago who’s helped with my body and preparation from week to week. I’ve also recently reconnected with a mental coach from the national team who I’ve known for 13 years.

“My family and my wife are a huge part of it. They’re a big part of the team and a huge reason for my success.”

Pendrith also draws motivation from his former teammates on the Canadian national team and at Kent State University — Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes.

“They were on the PGA Tour well before me. I was there to see Mackenzie’s first PGA win in Charleston — that was such a cool moment. And a couple of years later, Corey won,” he said.

“We were all teammates at Kent State and on the Golf Canada national team. It’s a lot of motivation and inspiration for me, having played so much golf with Corey and Mackenzie and knowing my game could compete with theirs.

“It was a huge goal of mine to join them on the PGA Tour, and to now join them in the winner’s circle is pretty cool.”

Now, Pendrith is looking forward to performing in front of a home crowd at the RBC Canadian Open, which will be held this year at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley — a course he knows well.

“I’m hoping to have a great week and put myself in contention on Sunday. It’s something all of us Canadian players dream about,” said Pendrith.

“I’m especially excited for this one. I’ve spent a lot of time at TPC Toronto — played a couple of Mackenzie Tour events there. I’ve practised there a lot and played with family and friends. It’s a beautiful venue and I can’t wait to get back.”

Purchase RBC Canadian Open tickets

Defending champion Robert MacIntyre and two-time winner Rory McIlroy along with international stars Ludvig Åberg, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Sungjae Im, Wyndham Clark, Tom Kim, Max Homa, Sahith Theegala, Sam Burns and Cameron Young ready to challenge
TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley

2023 champion Nick Taylor and fellow Canadian stars Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin and Adam Svensson headline a group of 21 Canadians set to compete in 114th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship

Two-night SiriusXM Concert Series will feature an all-Canadian line-up:
JUNO Award winners Billy Talent with JJ Wilde on Friday, June 6; and
JUNO Award winner, Sam Roberts Band with Ruby Waters
on Saturday, June 7

Caledon, Ont. – Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field vying for the $9.8 million US purse at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, June 4 – 8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont.

A world-class field led by two-time RBC Canadian Open Champion and world no. 2 Rory McIlroy will compete next week in Caledon. The 29-time PGA TOUR winner and career Grand Slam winner will be looking to claim his third Canadian Open title in 2025 and join a trio of three-time champions in Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, and Lee Trevino.

Other fan-favourites in the field for the 114th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship feature a number of international starts including Ludvig Åberg (world no. 6), Shane Lowry (world no. 14), Justin Rose (world no. 17), defending champion Robert MacIntyre (world no. 19), Sungjae Im (world no. 21), Wyndham Clark (world no. 22), Tom Kim (world no. 45),  Alex Noren (world no. 71), Max Homa (world no. 87) and Gary Woodland (world no. 95).

Along with international stars, a 20-player Canadian contingent will compete at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. Led by 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion, Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. (world no. 43) and fellow PGA TOUR winners, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (world no. 20), Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. (world no. 39), Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. (world no. 49), Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. (world no. 101) and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. as well as fellow PGA TOUR member Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont.

In addition to world class golf, fans at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open will be treated to the two-night SiriusXM Concert Series onsite at TPC Toronto featuring an all-Canadian line-up. Night one is headlined by JUNO Award winners, Billy Talent, featuring JJ Wilde. Night two features Juno Award winner Sam Roberts Band with Ruby Waters opening on Saturday. Fans will also have a chance to enjoy a number premium food and beverage options located in The Fareway featuring The Keg onsite at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

“We are proud and excited to welcome TPC Toronto to the host venue rotation for the RBC Canadian Open and look forward to kicking off this exciting new chapter next week for the 114th playing of our Men’s Canadian National Open Championship. Next week’s championship will bring a vision to life for TPC Toronto as the host venue,” said Ryan Paul, Tournament Director, RBC Canadian Open. “Golf fans and event enthusiasts are in for an exceptional experience with a world-class field competing in addition to a two-night concert series along with numerous premium food and beverage options at one of Canada’s premium live sporting events.”

In total, 156 players will compete for the $9.8 million US purse next week in Caledon when TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley will become the 38th golf course in the history of the RBC Canadian Open (and only the eighth since 1977) to host Canada’s National Men’s Open Golf Championship. In 2023, the Doug Carrick-designed North Course underwent a major golf course renovation under the guidance of renowned architect Ian Andrew with consultation from the PGA TOUR for the venue to host large-scale, global championship level competition.

Click here for a full field list for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont.

PGA TOUR Season Winners…

Seven in-year PGA TOUR winners will compete at TPC Toronto including Nick Taylor (Sony Open), Rory McIlroy (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The PLAYERS Championship, Masters), Thomas Detry (WM Phoenix Open), Ludvig Åberg (The Genesis Invitational), Brian Campbell (Mexico Open at VidantaWorld), Karl Vilips (Puerto Rico Open), and Ryan Fox (ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic).

Major Winners….

11 major winners are represented in the field including five-time major winner Rory McIlroy (2011 U.S. Open, 2012 & 2014 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship, 2025 Masters), Wyndham Clark (2023 U.S. Open), Gary Woodland (2019 U.S. Open), Shane Lowry (2019 Open Championship), Danny Willett (2016 Masters), Justin Rose (2013 U.S. Open) and Mike Weir (2003 Masters).

Past Champions…

Four past RBC Canadian Open champions will be in the field including two-time champion Rory McIlroy (2022, 2019) and defending champion, Robert MacIntyre (2024). In addition, Nick Taylor (2023), and Brandt Snedeker (2013) will also be competing.

International winners and other notables…

The field comprises over 180 international tournament wins. Seven winners from past European Ryder Cup Team wins and two winners from the U.S. Team wins and 10 U.S. Presidents Cup Team winners. Along with 34 past Olympians, including 2016 Olympic Games Gold medalist Justin Rose and Bronze medalist, Matt Kuchar.

21 Canadians to compete for their National Men’s Open Title…

In total, a 21-player Canadian contingent will challenge for the national championship led by 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion, Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. (world no. 43) and PGA TOUR winners, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (world no. 20), Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. (world no. 39), Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. (world no. 49), Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. (world no. 101) and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. as well as fellow PGA TOUR member Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. Canadian golf icon and Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. will be competing in his 32nd RBC Canadian Open. Six members of Team Canada including Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont., Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., Hunter Thomson of Calgary, Alta along with Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S. and A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. who recently accepted exemptions. Joining the Team Canada athletes are Richard T. Lee of Toronto, Ont., Wes Heffernan of Calgary, Alta.,  Roger Sloan of Calgary, Alta and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. Three other Canadians earned exemptions through RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying including Team Canada alumnus Cougar Collins of Mono, Ont. (First Ontario Regional Qualifier at Brampton Golf Club), Matt Scobie of Oshawa, Ont. (Second Ontario Regional Qualifying at Cherry Hill Club) and Brett Webster of Chilliwack, B.C. (B.C. Regional Qualifier at Squamish Valley Golf Club).

Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…

The final four tournament exemptions into the field for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 1 at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont. A high number of players attempted to gain entry into the field by competing at five Regional Qualifying sites earlier this month. A total of 103 players including 83 Canadians will compete at The Pulpit Club. Click here for a field list.

Lambton Golf & Country Club to host Final Qualifier for 125th U.S. Open on Golf’s Longest Day

On Monday, Lambton Golf & Country Club will be one of the site’s hosting a Final Qualifier into the 125th U.S. Open. The field is currently comprised of 70 players battling over 36-holes in Toronto. For the field competing at Lambton, click here. The 125th U.S. Open will take place, following the RBC Canadian Open, June 12-15 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa.

Three places in the 153rd Open Championship available at the RBC Canadian Open
The leading three players not already exempt who make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open will earn a place in The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. In the event of a tie for a qualifying place, the player with the higher ranking in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) at the beginning of the week commencing June 2 will be awarded a place in The Open.

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley to host National Finals of the BDO National Golf League…

The BDO National Golf League finals take place on Saturday, May 31 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) with 52 pairings (104 total golfers) competing for the national championship and the opportunity to represent Canada at The R&A 9 Hole Challenge at Royal Portrush in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, one-week prior to the 153rd Open Championship. Launched by Golf Canada ahead of the 2023 season as a nationwide, season-long competition to enhance weekly recreational league experiences for men, women and junior golfers, the National Golf League embodies over 100 leagues across Canada and occurs throughout a six-week period of a club’s league season. Registration for the 2025 BDO National Golf League is now open, for more information please visit nationalgolfleague.ca.

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.

RBC CANADIAN OPEN – MEDIA GUIDE & PLAYER PERFORMANCE GUIDE

Below are links to the RBC Canadian Open Media Guide as well as the all-time Player Performance Guide:

2025 RBC Canadian Open Media Guide

RBC Canadian Open – All-Time Player Performance Guide

Tickets for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

It didn’t take very long into his major debut for Ashton McCulloch to get his name into a unique circle of Canadian golfers. Under the backdrop of Donald Ross’ architectural masterpiece that is Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, McCulloch – who earned his spot in the 2024 U.S. Open by edging out a handful of regulars on the PGA TOUR in a qualifier – discovered that his name was more recognizable than he initially thought as the top Canadians on TOUR were already familiar with the then 21-year old amateur.  

“The fact that they knew my name was so cool,” recalled McCulloch after his run-in with professionals including Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith throughout the tournament. “I’m just a kid from Kingston, Ontario, and I play golf and those are professional golfers and obviously some of the best in the world, so the fact that they knew me and that we could have a normal conversation not even surrounding golf was really cool and something I won’t forget.”    

McCulloch’s name started wedging itself into conversations of up-and-coming Canadian talents well before his appearance at a major tournament. His triumph at the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont. vaulted McCulloch into an elite group of names to have found success at the third-oldest amateur championship, joining a list of familiar figures in which he had the luxury of meeting at last year’s U.S. Open, including Taylor’s victory in 2007 and Hughes back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012.  

“It’s really cool to look at kind of what I’ve done in the game of golf and what other greats like Taylor, Hughes, Pendrith and all those guys and what they’ve done,” commented McCulloch. “I’m still far away from how good they are but just trying to continue to grow like they did,” he added.  

The win clinched McCulloch a spot in the 2024 field at the RBC Canadian Open, his first professional event and one he grew up watching. The euphoria of playing his National Open immediately kicked in after rolling his final putt to take the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship by five strokes, and so too was the desire to prove to a lot of people that he was capable of playing at the highest level.  

Though his debut experience at Hamilton Golf & Country Club last summer left him on the outside looking in come the weekend, McCulloch was pleased with his ball striking ability and ultimately adding an early steppingstone in his young and aspiring career. 

The 22-year-old with have another opportunity on the biggest stage in the nation from June 4 to June 8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. Eager to build off his debut experience, McCulloch – the lowest raked Canadian in the World Amateur Golf rankings – adds to the strong list of Canadian talent competing next week as a result of his exemption. 

“To have that opportunity to not only play against the best players in the world; test my game, learn from them and learn more about myself, but also just the pride in the opportunity to play for our country and our Canadian Open is something I’m so grateful to receive,” said McCulloch.  

One of 18 male members part of the Team Canada program, McCulloch has steadily improved throughout his amateur career, competing in the Big Ten at Michigan State University (MSU) where he just finished his senior season. The top finisher on the team in his last six starts of the 2024 campaign, McCulloch was a major force at MSU and placed third in both the Big Ten Championship and the Canadian Collegiate Invitational as a junior. He also picked up a win at the Johnnie-O at Sea Island event last season and finished the year with the best scoring average in program history.  

Earlier this month, McCulloch was awarded a sponsor’s exemption into the 2025 Rocket Classic set to take place in Detroit, Mich. in June. By the time he arrives at Detroit Golf Club, he will already have two other PGA TOUR events under his belt and looks to use the experiences as a launching pad towards his pursuit of a professional golf career. 

“To use those events and not only the [ranking] points that you get from them but the experiences you get from them that are so much more valuable,” said McCulloch ahead of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. “The journey is far from over and you just kind of keep on pushing and use those [events] as confidence boosters and not to get too complacent,” he added.  

The 2025 summer will see McCulloch’s name featured alongside the game’s best players and add another Canadian threat to a pair of fields on the PGA TOUR. Nearing the end of his collegiate tenure, the future looks promising for McCulloch, a rising star with a name already familiar with several current Canadian on TOUR.  

“I just want to keep progressing, keep the boots on the ground and keep going and try to chase the best golf that I can.” 

McCulloch will be amongst a field of 156 players will compete at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in the 114th playing of the RBC Canadian Open, June 4 -8. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit rbccanadianopen.com. 

Caledon, Ont. – Teammates William and Alex Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs) came away victorious in a playoff to win the inaugural RBC Canadian Open / NHLPA Faceoff on Thursday, at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. 

Each of the 10 teams began their round at different holes, gathering points through a net Stableford format before four squads culminated at the iconic no.14 Rink Hole to compete in a sudden-death, total gross score playoff.  

Competing with Sam Gagner and Ryan McLeod (Buffalo Sabres), Jamie Drysdale (Philadelphia Flyers) and Will Cuylle (New York Rangers), and NHL alumni Jeff O’Neill (Hartford Whalers / Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs) and Carlo Colaiacovo (Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers), the Nylander brothers successfully hit each of their tee shots closest to the pin to put themselves in position to win the playoff.  

Putting from within 15 feet of the hole and closer than any other player on the 14th green, William rolled in his sixth birdie of the day to secure his team the championship.  

“It feels great,” commented William just moments after landing his walk-off putt. “We had a blast out there, our group was pretty good, and we had a lot of fun.”  

The duo entered the playoff in a tie for second alongside O’Neill and Colaiacovo with 45 net Stableford points. Gagner and McLeod led the field after 18 holes with 47 net Stableford points while Drysdale and Cuylle pieced together 37 points.  

To view the full leaderboard from Thursday’s round, please click here.  

Starting his round on the fourth hole, Drysdale emphatically powered his side into the early lead on Thursday without leaving the tee box. The Flyers defenceman optioned for a pitching wedge on the 150-yard par-3 and tumbled his tee shot towards the flagstick before his ball fell into the cup for a hole-in-one. A major highlight of the round, Drysdale admitted it was the first ace of his life and was initially unaware his ball dropped in the hole after his shot.  

“I didn’t know it went in for thirty seconds and then I just found out it went in. I was kind of shell shocked, not much of a reaction out of the gate but definitely really cool,” said Drysdale following his round.  

“It was a fantastic day for the RBC Canadian Open / NHLPA Faceoff. It was great to see something that started as an idea really culminate into a fantastic event,” commented Tim McLaughlin, Chief Marketing Officer at Golf Canada.  

“We had great support from the NHLPA, all the players were really enthusiastic, and we saw some amazing golf being played. A great way to set up what shapes up to be one of the most exciting RBC Canadian Opens on record,” added McLaughlin. 

The 114th playing of the RBC Canadian Open will take place June 4-8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. For more information on the RBC Canadian Open, including volunteer opportunities or to purchase tickets, please visit rbccanadianopen.com. 

Current and recently retired NHL players will compete in an
18-hole competition prior to the RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto

OAKVILLE/TORONTO, ON – Golf Canada and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) are proud to announce the creation of the RBC Canadian Open/NHLPA Faceoff taking place at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. on Thursday, May 29.

This unique event will take place one week prior to the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and will feature current National Hockey League (NHL) Players and Alumni competing in a one-day tournament. The format will see eight teams of two players competing in an 18-hole competition, culminating in a playoff on the iconic no. 14 Rink Hole at TPC Toronto.

“We are excited to partner with the NHLPA on this new initiative leading into the 114^th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship. Golf and hockey bring a natural intersect for players and we want to thank the NHLPA and its members for their shared enthusiasm in bringing this concept to reality,” said Tim McLaughlin, Chief Marketing Officer, Golf Canada. “We have seen the success and growth of golf content online and through social media, and this promises to be a fun and engaging experience for the players ahead of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.”

The roster of current NHLPA members set to compete in the inaugural RBC Canadian Open/NHLPA Faceoff at TPC Toronto includes Will Cuylle and Calvin deHaan (New York Rangers), Jamie Drysdale (Philadelphia Flyers), Warren Foegele and Quinton Byfield (L.A. Kings), Robert Thomas (St. Louis Blues), Ryan Strome (Anaheim Ducks), Logan Stanley (Winnipeg Jets) with more players to be named later.

In addition, current TSN personalities and NHL Alumni, Jeff O’Neill (Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs), and Carlo Colaiacovo (Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres), will also be competing on May 29.

“Golf and hockey have traditionally gone hand-in-hand here in Canada, so we’re thrilled to partner with Golf Canada to bring the RBC Canadian Open/NHLPA Faceoff to life,” said Devin Smith, NHLPA Senior Director, Sponsorship & Player Marketing. “The opportunity to bring NHL players and the RBC Canadian Open together here at this incredible venue at TPC Toronto in such a fun and unique format is something we at the NHLPA and the players are very excited about. We are looking forward to a great day of competition along with some fun and engaging content for fans, in partnership with Golf Canada and RBC.”   

Scoring will follow a stableford format, with set points awarded based off a golfer’s net score for the hole. Points will be awarded as follows: Albatross (5 points), Eagle (4 points), Birdie (3 points), Par (2 points), Bogey (1 point), Double Bogey or higher (0 points). The top teams with the highest total of accumulated points will advance to the playoff.

The competition will be closed to the public but will be covered on both Golf Canada and NHLPA social media channels and a full-length feature piece will be shared online shortly after the completion of the event. The 114th playing of the RBC Canadian Open will take place June 4-8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. For more information on the RBC Canadian Open, including volunteer opportunities or to purchase tickets, please visit rbccanadianopen.com.

Click here for more information on the RBC Canadian Open/ NLPA Faceoff

Ludvig Åberg, Sungjae Im, Tom Kim and Alex Noren to compete in the
114th playing of Canada’s Men’s National Open Championship

Oakville, ON – RBC and Golf Canada are pleased to announce that international stars Ludvig Åberg, Sungjae Im, Tom Kim and Alex Noren have all confirmed their commitment to compete in the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.

Åberg (world no. 6) returns to the RBC Canadian Open, where he made his professional debut on the PGA TOUR in 2023. In that short time, Åberg has become a two-time winner with his most recent win coming at the Genesis Invitational this past February. Åberg was part of Europe’s Ryder Cup winning side in 2023 and represented his native, Sweden at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In addition to his win, Åberg has earned three top 10’s and four top 25’s this season. He has also earned one international win in his career, the Omega European Masters in 2023.

Im (world no. 21) is a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR and has also earned three international wins during his career. This season, Im has earned three top 10’s and six top 25’s including a T5 finish at The Masters last month. Im has been part of the International Team at three Presidents Cups (2019, 2022, 2024) and represented the Republic of Korea at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Im will be making his second appearance at the RBC Canadian Open after finishing seventh in 2019.

Kim (world no. 45) is a three-time winner on the PGA TOUR and has earned seven career international wins. The 22-year-old will be making his second appearance at the RBC Canadian Open, after finishing T4 last year in Hamilton, Ont. Kim was part of the International Team at the past two Presidents Cups (2022, 2024) and represented the Republic of Korea at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This season, Kim has earned one top 10 and one top 25 finish in 13 events on the PGA TOUR.

Noren (world no. 71) has won 10 times on the DP World Tour in his career and will be making his third appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. Noren was most recently in the final pairing of the 2025 PGA Championship this past Sunday, in only his second tournament since returning from an injury that sidelined him for multiple months. Noren was part of Europe’s Ryder Cup win in 2018 and has represented Sweden at the past two Olympic Games (2020 in Tokyo and 2024 in Paris). Noren is a three-time runner-up on the PGA TOUR.

Also joining the international stars are up-and-coming collegiate standouts Luke Clanton of Hialeah, Fla., and Gordon Sargent of Birmingham, Ala.

Clanton is currently the no. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and on Monday was named the recipient of the 2025 Ben Hogan Award, recognizing the outstanding male amateur and collegiate golfer of the year. Clanton earned his PGA TOUR Card through the PGA TOUR University Accelerated and has competed in 13 PGA TOUR events over the past two years. He has earned two runner-up finishes along with an additional top five and a top ten finish. He also made the cut at the 2024 U.S. Open finishing T41, his first tournament on the TOUR. Clanton is a junior at Florida State University and earned the McCormack Medal in 2024 as the world’s top amateur golfer.

Sargent is currently ranked no. 20 on the WAGR and is a senior at Vanderbilt University. Sargent won the 2022 NCAA Men’s Individual National Championship as well as the 2023 McCormack Medal. He became the first player to earn their PGA TOUR Card through PGA TOUR University Accelerated in October 2023. In addition, he finished as the low amateur at the 2023 U.S. Open, finishing T39. He has competed in six events on the PGA TOUR over the past two years.

“RBC and Golf Canada are excited to announce these four great players in Åberg, Im, Kim and Noren to the emerging field set to compete in the 114th playing of the RBC Canadian Open,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “We also look forward to welcoming two of the top amateurs in the world and rising stars  Luke Clanton and Gordon Sargent to compete at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.”

Tickets for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

Mirabel, Qué. – Wei-Hsuan Wang of Niagara Falls, Ont., emerged victorious in a dramatic playoff at the Québec Regional Qualifier on Wednesday, securing a direct exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.

Wang outlasted Eric Banks of Quispamsis, N.B., and Olivier Ménard of Valleyfield, Que., in a three-man playoff at Club de Golf Griffon des Sources. After draining a 15-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole, Wang sealed the win with a composed par save on the second.

“It’s a dream come true to have a direct exemption to play in the 2025 RBC Canadian Open,” Wang said. “I have always wanted to play on the PGA TOUR, and for the past few years, I have been aiming to join the Korn Ferry Tour. But with my mom facing cancer, I’m very happy about today’s result.”

Wang’s round was a rollercoaster. He opened with a double bogey and a bogey in his first three holes but rebounded with an eagle on the par-5 fourth to steady the ship. He finished the front nine at one-over before carding birdies on holes 10, 13 and 15 to post a two-under 70 and force the playoff.

“Actually, I had a tough start this morning, being three over after three holes with a double bogey, a par, and a bogey,” Wang explained. “But then I bounced back, so I was already quite happy with that. The win is a bit of a bonus for me. I feel really lucky to get this chance. My driver wasn’t great today, but the greens were soft, which helped. My putting was really good and played a major role in my win.”

A total of 132 players participated in the event in Mirabel, including 79 amateurs. The field represented 13 provinces and states, with 68 players from Québec. The top 10 percent of the field—14 players, including ties—advanced to the Final Qualifier, scheduled for Sunday, June 1, at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont.

Wang joins a growing list of regional qualifiers who have earned their way into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for June 4-8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. That list includes Team Canada alumnus Cougar Collins of Mono, Ont. (First Ontario Regional Qualifier at Brampton Golf Club), Matt Scobie of Oshawa, Ont. (Second Ontario Regional Qualifier at Cherry Hill Club), and Brett Webster of Chilliwack, B.C. (B.C. Regional Qualifier at Squamish Valley Golf Club).

For the final leaderboard from today’s qualifier, please click here.