It was a tweet that echoed ‘round the world.

Well, the Canadian golf world, at least.

“Leaving @RBCCanadianOpen after 34 tournaments and 11 as Tournament Chair. Melancholy moment thinking about all the memories of Glen Abbey. To @TheGolfCanada, thanks for all the wonderful experiences and friendships made.”

The author was Jim Clark (@cognashene for those of you on Twitter) and the accompanying photo showed him beside the RBC Canadian Open trophy as the sun set on this year’s championship on July 29.

Leaving ⁦@RBCCanadianOpen⁩ after 34 tournaments and 11 as Tournament Chair. Melancholy moment thinking about all the memories of Glen Abbey. To ⁦@TheGolfCanada⁩ Thanks for all of the wonderful experiences and friendships made. pic.twitter.com/qHpCxBcykY

— Jim Clark (@cognashene) July 30, 2018

Clark, 61, has been involved as a volunteer in our national men’s Open since 1984 when he joined the Caddies and Juniors Committee. The eventual progression took him through that and other committees until he was chosen to be the Tournament Chair at the 2002 championship at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

In 1984, Bill Paul was Golf Canada’s assistant tournament director, working under the legendary Richard “Dick” Grimm. Paul, now the organization’s director of professional tournaments, says Clark had a rare combination of qualities that made him the ideal volunteer.

“Jim was always interested in all areas of the tournament and was always trying to find ways to do things better. He was never satisfied with the status quo. He has a great personality, friendly and approachable. He listens to others and if he has an opinion, he explains it in a reasoned way.

“He’s the same when he was talking to the CEO of RBC as he was when he was talking to the volunteer marshal at the seventh hole at Glen Abbey.

“He was like the champion of the volunteers.”

It’s that last statement that will resonate most with Clark, without a doubt, because it echoes one of the many legacies of the late Dick Grimm, often referred to as “Mr. Canadian Open.”

Clark recalls the first time he saw Grimm. “I saw this large man lumbering through the parking lot and I asked, ‘Who’s that?’ ‘That’s Mr. Grimm,’ I was told. ‘He runs the place.’ He looked pretty intimidating, larger than life.”

But It didn’t take long for the two to become fast friends and for Clark to put his heart and soul behind one of Grimm’s core mantras.

“Look after the volunteers,” Clark says, doing a passable impression of Grimm’s gravelly baritone. “I can hear him saying that like it was this morning.”

According to Paul, Grimm would have been proud of how Clark carried out that legacy. Increasingly, the essential role of the volunteer (there were about 1,500 at this year’s RBC Canadian Open) can be overlooked, overtaken by the attention given to the necessary infrastructure, media, corporate presence, logistical realities and more.

Special thanks to over 1,500 volunteers that help make the #RBCCO a success

?? pic.twitter.com/k5SvO60Z7p

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) July 26, 2018

“You just don’t see what we had with Jim much in pro golf anymore,” says Paul. “He made it his mission to maintain Dick’s legacy of ‘the volunteer is king.’ In many ways, Jim was the man for the people, so to speak.”

Especially when the RBC Canadian Open is held at Glen Abbey, the role of the Golf Canada tournament chair is integral to the success of the event. Countless hours are devoted to finding the right people for the right roles for the more than 20 volunteer committees required to conduct the championship.

Once the planning is taken care of, then comes tournament week with its 18-hour days. But, says Clark, he would return to his “real job” in the computer industry on the Monday following the Open feeling “energized and exhilarated. It was such a great contrast to the other 51 weeks of the year, being around the best golfers in the world and some of the finest people I’ve ever met.”

When reflecting on some of the highlights, Clark harks back to the era of Jack Nicklaus (“my all-time favourite golfer”), Lee Trevino, Nick Price and their peers. “Guys like Price would duck into the caddie trailer to get out of the public eye, grab a beer, put their feet up on the cooler and just talk. Pretty cool.”

Being inside the ropes on the 18^th green at the 2000 RBC Canadian Open when Tiger hit that astounding shot on the 72nd hole was another great memory but four years later came one of the most unfortunate.

“I have to say the sadness of when Mike Weir lost in the playoff to Vijay will never go away. It was really heartbreaking.”

From the expression on his face in that July 29 photo, you can tell Clark was experiencing a bittersweet moment. And of his possible return to the volunteer ranks, as he says about the chances of the RBC Canadian Open returning to Glen Abbey, “never say never.”

With the 2019 CP Women’s Open coming up at Magna Golf Club near his Aurora, Ont., home, Clark, who remains a member of Golf Canada’s Governors Council, is “just a phone call away,” says Paul.

Never say never.

Possible Twitter alert?

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Mackenzie Hughes buried his face in his hands after his 14-foot putt on the 18th hole slowed to a stop short of the hole by a few inches.

The 27-year-old from Dundas, Ont., finished in a season-high tie for eighth place at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday, and captured the Rivermead Cup as the top Canadian for the second consecutive year.

But that last oh-so-narrow miss on 18 at Glen Abbey was a fitting ending to a week he’d “sniffed” golf greatness, but fallen just short.

“Talking to me right now, I’d say I’m a bit disappointed, just because right at the end there, those par 5s coming in (16 and 18) were both playing downwind, and if you’re out here playing with your buddies, probably birdie them both, but a little tougher in this pressure,” Hughes said.

“Just to kind of get sniffing around the lead here, I know Dustin (Johnson) is a little bit ahead, but if he was to have faltered, and you were to have posted 18 or 19, which wasn’t that out of the question, all of a sudden it looks like a pretty good chance.”

World No. 1 Johnson won the Canadian Open’s final appearance at Glen Abbey, shooting a 66 to go 23 under for the tournament.

Hats off to @MacHughesGolf, who won the Rivermead Cup as the low Canadian at 15 under par ????#RBCCO #OurOpen pic.twitter.com/odPGMUHHVE

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) July 29, 2018

Hughes, with wife Jenna and nine-month-old son Kenton watching on, began the day in a tie for 13th, and climbed up to fifth before a bogey on 15. He recovered with a birdie on 16, prompting a roar from the crowd when his 21-foot putt rolled in.

The Rivermead Cup was the original Canadian Open trophy, awarded to the tournament winner from 1920 to 1935, until Seagram’s took over sponsorship and wanted its own cup.

Hughes’ strong week is great timing with only two events left on the season to secure a PGA Tour card. Needing to finish in the top 125 in the FedExCup standings, he began the week at 174, but was projected to climb 22 spots to No. 152.

But the Canadian, who grew up about half an hour’s drive down the Queen Elizabeth Way from Glen Abbey, said, with the tour card looming, he felt the pressure on every hole.

“A birdie on 18, and every shot coming in really meant a lot because once you get up to that top five, top three kind of echelon, the points really ramp up,” Hughes said. “I kind of sensed that opportunity coming in and maybe got a little bit tight at the end, I don’t leave that putt (on 18) short ordinarily, so that’s just maybe getting a bit tight.

“I’ve got two weeks left . . . next week I can hopefully keep building on it.”

Fans along the course Sunday hollered “Go Leafs go!” at Hughes, a nod partly toward the Maple Leafs jerseys he wore all week walking up to No. 7. Known as “The Rink,” the seventh hole is circled with hockey boards. Officials wear hockey referee sweaters.

“The Rink’s been awesome, it’s a great addition to this tournament, you kind of feel the additional support, the cheers for myself seemed just a hair notched up, which is pretty cool, and not something we experience very often,” Hughes said. “I had some fun there this week with a chip-in and handing out some Leafs jerseys, so all in all it was a fun week on No. 7.”

Calgary’s Ryan Yip (70) finished at 12 under and tied for 22nd. Roger Sloan (68) of Merritt, B.C., finished at 10 under, one shot ahead of Chris Crisologo (69) of Richmond, B.C., Canada’s only amateur to make the cut. David Hearn (72) of Brantford, Ont., finished at 7 under and in a tie for 61st.

It was a rough day for Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., who both finished a 4 under and tied for 71st place. Taylor (77) went into the week ranked No. 127 in the FedExCup standings, and needing to improve two spots by season’s end to maintain his PGA Tour card. But he plummeted 42 spots down the leaderboard Sunday, and finished with a double bogey on No. 18, eliciting a groan from the crowd when he hit the ball into the water.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Dustin Johnson pulled away from the field after a nearly two-hour rain delay to win the RBC Canadian Open for the first time.

Johnson shot a 6-under 66 to finish the only Canadian stop on the PGA TOUR at 23-under par.

The world No. 1 tied for second in the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in 2013 and 2016.

Byeong Hun An (69) and Whee Kim (69) finished as runners up at 20-under in the US$6.2 million event, with Keegan Bradley (64) placing fourth at 19-under.

Mackenzie Hughes (68) of nearby Dundas, Ont., was the low Canadian, tying for eighth at 15 under overall to claim the Rivermead Cup.

A Canadian has not won the national title since Victoria’s Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat in 1954.

Johnson entered the day in a four-way tie for the lead with Kim, Hun An and Kevin Tway but had seven birdies and a bogey to pull away from the group.

A nearby lightning storm delayed play for an hour and 45 minutes and shrunk the massive crowd that usually trails Johnson from hole to hole.

Hamilton Golf and Country Club will host the 2019 RBC Canadian Open. It is also shifting forward in the PGA TOUR’s schedule, moving to early June in the week before the U.S. Open.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – No. 7 at Glen Abbey Golf Club has become the featured hole at the RBC Canadian Open the past two years. With hockey boards surrounding the tee, goalie masks being used as tee blocks, and officials wearing referees’ stripes, it’s a distinctly Canadian experience.

But with the RBC Canadian Open moving to Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2019 and Glen Abbey possibly slated for redevelopment by course owner ClubLink, there were questions about the fate of the so-called Rink.

“The rink is on wheels, the rink’s going to go where we go,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum on Sunday. “The rink’s going to move with us. We’ve already got those officials from that hole, they want to go with it. The players love it.”

In particular, Applebaum loves how fans pound their fists on the boards after players tee off. Although it caused some confusion among players in 2017 when the Rink was first unveiled, they’re now on board with it too.

“Bring the noise, bring the thunder,” said Applebaum from the media centre in the bowels of Glen Abbey’s clubhouse.

Glen Abbey was the first course designed solely by golf legend Jack Nicklaus and was completed in 1976. It’s become the home of Golf Canada and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, which holds its induction ceremony the same week as the Canadian Open, as long as the tournament is being held at Glen Abbey that year.

Applebaum thinks this year’s RBC Canadian Open – which saw a four-way tie atop the leaderboard between world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Whee Kim, Byeong Hun An and Kevin Tway heading into the fourth round – is the perfect sendoff for the storied course.

“Beer sales are up, food sales are up, merchandise sales are up and attendance will be up,” said Applebaum, who predicted that total attendance for the week would be over 80,000. “For me, it’s a win across the board. Spectacular.”

Hamilton will host the 2019 and 2023 events, with Applebaum believing the host for 2020 will be announced within the next two or three months. His intention is to keep the men’s national championship in the Greater Toronto Area, while the CP Women’s Open will continue to move back and forth across the country.

In addition to changing locations, the RBC Canadian Open will occupy a new spot on the PGA TOUR’s calendar beginning in 2019.

Historically, the RBC Canadian Open was held in September, but starting in 2007 it was played in late July, the prime golf season. But starting in 2019 it will be held in early June, the week before the U.S. Open, essentially turning it into a tune-up event for some of the biggest names in golf.

“The guys that have traditionally played our event seem like they will continue, but all the new people that haven’t played in the past, are talking about it,” said Applebaum. “The Phil Mickelsons, the Rory McIlroys, the Rickie Fowlers, it’s great to have that grouping of players who haven’t played it.”

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Bryan Crawford of Ancaster, Ont. has been named the new Tournament Director of the RBC Canadian Open. The appointment was officially announced by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum during a press conference held on the final Sunday of Canada’s national men’s golf championship.

Crawford served the past three years on the Leadership Team of Canada Basketball in the role of Senior Director, Operations. He led several of the organization’s strategic business functions including overseeing the development, implementation and operations of all Canada Basketball hosting and revenue generating activities. Bryan also developed and drove the long term, multi-event hosting strategy for major FIBA international events including athlete relations, volunteer management, community engagement, government relations, corporate partnerships and event execution.

Prior to that, he honed his executive management skills in the role of Interim Executive Director / Director of Operations with Ontario University Athletics (OUA), leading the operational, commercial and promotional activities as well as strategic planning for the governing body of interuniversity sport in Ontario.

Crawford is a former professional athlete, having spent seven seasons as a member of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club where he served as a Special Teams Captain and CFL Players’ Association Representative. A native of Ancaster, Ont., Bryan holds a B.A. in Political Studies and Development from Queens University where he was a two-sport athlete in football and track and field. He has been selected by the Canadian Olympic Committee as a COC Emerging Leader and has been a community ambassador for the ALS Society of Ontario, Right to Play, Climb for Cancer and the Argonauts’ Huddle Up Against Bullying Program.

Crawford will report directly to Golf Canada Chief Championship Officer Bill Paul. He will work collaboratively with Golf Canada’s sales, partnership, marketing and commercial teams and will be a key contact and central hub of the organization’s relationship with the PGA TOUR.

He began his new role on July 18, spending advance and tournament week getting oriented during the 2018 event in order to hit the ground running to lead the 2019 RBC Canadian Open in its new date, June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – A small boy followed Mackenzie Hughes around the final 11 holes Saturday at the RBC Canadian Open, easy to spot in a huge Toronto Maple Leafs jersey that hung down to his knees.

Hughes had delighted the boy – and the crowd gathered at the seventh hole at Glen Abbey, know as “The Rink” – when he walked up to the green wearing the Leafs jersey he’d autographed. Spotting the boy in the crowd, he tugged off the sweater, reached across the rope and handed it to him.

Priceless.@MacHughesGolf making this junior’s day with a @MapleLeafs jersey at #TheRink ?? pic.twitter.com/yfwbrC5eT7

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) July 28, 2018

The lone PGA Tour stop north of the border wears its Canadian pride on its sleeve, and Hughes was happy to play his part.

“I signed it before the round, and after I was on the green, I tried to find a young Leafs fan in the crowd,” Hughes said. “(I’m a) big Leafs fan.”

The 27-year-old from Dundas, Ont., just outside Hamilton, had plenty of fans himself Saturday as he climbed 24 spots up the leaderboard with his 5-under 67 in the third round. Hughes is in a group of eight tied for 13th at 11 under, six shots behind the four leaders.

Hughes opened with four birdies on his first five holes. On No. 5, he hit a phenomenal recovery shot from under the trees to get onto the green, then finished with a long putt for birdie. He double-bogeyed on No. 11, but finished strong with five birdies on the final six holes.

“I was playing well today and I got a tough break on 11,” Hughes said. “Hit a great drive, middle of the fairway, and had the worst divot I’ve ever been in in my life. And I normally don’t skull over the green, and I skulled over the green, made a 6 there, and I was 2-under in a good spot going into the back nine.”

“But, unlike maybe (Friday) where I was probably a bit impatient at times, I just told myself I was playing well and had some chances coming in and kind of got hot there.”

Dustin Johnson, Kevin Tway, Byeong Hun An and Whee Kim shared the lead at 17 under.

Calgary’s Ryan Yip shot a 66 to climb 40 spots into a tie for 21st, seven shots off the pace. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., shot 72 and dropped 19 spots to a tie for 29th, David Hearn (69) of Brantford, Ont., and Ben Silverman (73) of Thornhill, Ont., are 10 shots back and tied for 43rd. Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., and Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., Canada’s only amateur to make the cut, are tied for 53rd, 11 shots back.

Glen Abbey first dressed up its par-3 seventh hole last summer in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday last year. “The Rink” resembles an arena, with hockey boards replacing the rope lines. Officials wear referees’ jerseys.

A day earlier, Hughes took a shot with the Leafs sweater on, charming the crowd when his chip from just off the green went in.

“I was trying to figure out if I could hit a chip without the sleeves getting in the way and the Leafs emblem all over my chest getting a little bunched up,” Hughes told reporters. “But I was, like, ‘This is very chip-in-able and if I do it with the jersey on, it’s way cooler.”’

Moments after Saturday’s round, talk turned to the Maple Leafs’ major off-season acquisition John Tavares.

“Very excited,” Hughes said of the former New York Islanders star. “He’s coming to an already very talented roster, so I think the next three, four years with him will help us out.”

Hughes had a breakthrough in the fall of 2016, when he won the RSM Classic in his fifth PGA Tour start as a member. He went wire-to-wire for the win and became the first Canadian-born golfer to win on the tour since Taylor at 2014.

Taylor had a disappointing Saturday, salvaged slightly by an eagle on the 18th hole.

“I couldn’t buy a putt the whole day, it was nice to finally make one on 18 there. Yeah, just couldn’t make a putt. Just couldn’t get it going,” said Taylor, who heads into the fourth round nine shots back of the leaders. “It was nice to finish that way, get a little momentum going into tomorrow, and getting back to even was big.”

The 30-year-old, who’s 127th on the FedExCup rankings, needs a solid result Sunday, and down the stretch of the season, to climb to into the top 125 and keep his PGA Tour card.

“It’s important on a lot of levels, it’s so bunched that a great round would go a long way,” said Taylor, who played Saturday with world No. 1 Johnson. “Again, it was huge to make that eagle to get back to even, I feel like I salvaged something on the last hole. … I would’ve like to play better, but I’m still in a good spot.”

One of Taylor’s highlights of the day also came on No. 7, birdying to a loud round of applause.

“It was awesome, that’s a moment you’ll remember for a long time, it’s pretty fun to do it on that hole,” he said. “I’ve birdied that hole every day this week, it’s been good to me.”

The 27-year-old from Dundas, Ont., just outside Hamilton, had plenty of fans himself Saturday as he climbed 24 spots up the leaderboard with his 5-under 67 in the third round. Hughes is in a group of eight tied for 13th at 11 under, six shots behind the four leaders.

Hughes opened with four birdies on his first five holes. On No. 5, he hit a phenomenal recovery shot from under the trees to get onto the green, then finished with a long putt for birdie. He double-bogeyed on No. 11, but finished strong with five birdies on the final six holes.

“I was playing well today and I got a tough break on 11,” Hughes said. “Hit a great drive, middle of the fairway, and had the worst divot I’ve ever been in in my life. And I normally don’t skull over the green, and I skulled over the green, made a 6 there, and I was 2-under in a good spot going into the back nine.”

“But, unlike maybe (Friday) where I was probably a bit impatient at times, I just told myself I was playing well and had some chances coming in and kind of got hot there.”

Dustin Johnson, Kevin Tway, Byeong Hun An and Whee Kim shared the lead at 17 under.

Calgary’s Ryan Yip shot a 66 to climb 40 spots into a tie for 21st, seven shots off the pace. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., shot 72 and dropped 19 spots to a tie for 29th, David Hearn (69) of Brantford, Ont., and Ben Silverman (73) of Thornhill, Ont., are 10 shots back and tied for 43rd. Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., and Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., Canada’s only amateur to make the cut, are tied for 53rd, 11 shots back.

Glen Abbey first dressed up its par-3 seventh hole last summer in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday last year. “The Rink” resembles an arena, with hockey boards replacing the rope lines. Officials wear referees’ jerseys.

A day earlier, Hughes took a shot with the Leafs sweater on, charming the crowd when his chip from just off the green went in.

“I was trying to figure out if I could hit a chip without the sleeves getting in the way and the Leafs emblem all over my chest getting a little bunched up,” Hughes told reporters. “But I was, like, ‘This is very chip-in-able and if I do it with the jersey on, it’s way cooler.”’

Moments after Saturday’s round, talk turned to the Maple Leafs’ major off-season acquisition John Tavares.

“Very excited,” Hughes said of the former New York Islanders star. “He’s coming to an already very talented roster, so I think the next three, four years with him will help us out.”

Hughes had a breakthrough in the fall of 2016, when he won the RSM Classic in his fifth PGA Tour start as a member. He went wire-to-wire for the win and became the first Canadian-born golfer to win on the tour since Taylor at 2014.

Taylor had a disappointing Saturday, salvaged slightly by an eagle on the 18th hole.

“I couldn’t buy a putt the whole day, it was nice to finally make one on 18 there. Yeah, just couldn’t make a putt. Just couldn’t get it going,” said Taylor, who heads into the fourth round nine shots back of the leaders. “It was nice to finish that way, get a little momentum going into tomorrow, and getting back to even was big.”

The 30-year-old, who’s 127th on the FedExCup rankings, needs a solid result Sunday, and down the stretch of the season, to climb to into the top 125 and keep his PGA Tour card.

“It’s important on a lot of levels, it’s so bunched that a great round would go a long way,” said Taylor, who played Saturday with world No. 1 Johnson. “Again, it was huge to make that eagle to get back to even, I feel like I salvaged something on the last hole. … I would’ve like to play better, but I’m still in a good spot.”

One of Taylor’s highlights of the day also came on No. 7, birdying to a loud round of applause.

“It was awesome, that’s a moment you’ll remember for a long time, it’s pretty fun to do it on that hole,” he said. “I’ve birdied that hole every day this week, it’s been good to me.”

OAKVILLE, Ont. – As Dustin Johnson was leaving the clubhouse at the Glen Abbey Golf Club, he paused, looked around at the assembled media, and smiled.

“I hope to see y’all tomorrow,” said Johnson, laughing.

The world No. 1 was in a four-way tie with fellow American Kevin Tway and South Koreans Byeong Hun An and Whee Kim atop the leaderboard after three rounds at the RBC Canadian Open. Johnson surged up the standings on Saturday behind a 7-under 65 performance to reach 17 under overall.

Followed by massive crowds wherever he went, Johnson set the pace for the rest of the field, firing seven birdies and an eagle. Five of those birdies came in the opening six holes. Despite playing so well, Johnson thinks he’ll need to be even more aggressive to win the tournament.

“I like the golf course, I feel like my game’s in really good form, I’ve got a lot of confidence in it,” said Johnson, who tied for second in the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in 2013 and 2016 but has yet to win the event. “I’m going to have to go out and play really well tomorrow. There’s definitely low numbers out here.

“There’s a lot of guys right around the lead and somebody’s going to go shoot low. Hopefully it’s me.”

.@DJohnsonPGA is in with a 7-under 65 ?#RBCCO pic.twitter.com/9tQGnwMZX6

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) July 28, 2018

An (66) climbed three spots up the leaderboard, while Kim shot a 67 at the US$6.2-million PGA Tour event. Second-round leader Tway, who was paired with Kim, birdied on the par-5 18th hole to shoot a 68 and split the tie a fourth way.

Tway’s father Bob won the Canadian Open in 2003 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club. The younger Tway said on Saturday that he was aware he had to play catch-up with Johnson.

“Yeah, I looked (at the leaderboard) a little bit. He started off really hot,” said Tway, noting that the key to Glen Abbey is to attack the front nine and final three holes, but play more conservatively on Nos. 11-15 because they sit in a deep valley with a ravine and plenty of rough.

For his part, Kim isn’t intimidated by Johnson’s popularity and isn’t concerned with whether he’s chasing or holding a lead.

“Chasing the lead or holding the lead, it doesn’t matter. Just play your game,” said Kim. “Everybody’s going to say the same thing. It doesn’t matter.”

It will be difficult for the rest of the field to catch the top two pairs on Sunday.

Known for its small greens and narrow fairways, pinpoint accuracy is necessary to stay out of the rough at Glen Abbey. Players have benefited from daily rain showers or storms this week that have kept things soft. No rain is predicted on Sunday, however, firming up the greens and making it more likely balls will find their way into the rough.

Hudson Swafford and Rory Sabbatini are tied for fifth, four shots back of the leaders.

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., was the low Canadian after a 5-under 67 put him into a tie for 13th at 11 under overall. Calgary’s Ryan Yip (66) moved 40 spots up into a tie for 21st, seven shots back of Johnsonand Co.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., eagled on 18 to save par to tie for 29th at 9 under. He was paired with Johnson for the round.

“There’s a lot of camera clicks,” said Taylor. “I think I only had one putt where it somewhat bothered me. I should have backed off. But no, it was fun to have that many people. It’s definitely electric, and when I can chip in like that and make a putt on 18, it’s fun.”

Even though he’s the top player on the PGA Tour, Johnson insists he’s only popular in Canada by proxy – his fiancee Paulina Gretzky is the daughter of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky.

“Well, I can thank Wayne for that,” said Johnson. “There’s a lot of Gretzky fans out there, and so they tend to pull for me, which thanks, Wayne, I appreciate that. I do get a lot of love up here, and the fans have been great this week.”

David Hearn (69) of Brantford, Ont., and Ben Silverman (73) of Thornhill, Ont., are tied for 43rd at 7 under. Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., and Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., Canada’s only amateur to make the cut, are tied for 53rd, at 6 under.

ATHENS, Texas – Bruce Lietzke, the fun-loving, fade-hitting 2-time RBC Canadian Open (1978, 1982) winner whose practice regime – or lack of one – spawned an often-told spoiled banana story, died Saturday of brain cancer. He was 67.

Lietzke’s family said he died at his Athens ranch.

“Our PGA Tour family lost a treasured member with the death of Bruce Lietzke,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. “He touched on parts of five decades as a player, competed in 700 tournaments as a member of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions, and recorded a total of 20 victories.

“But to celebrate Bruce Lietzke’s life properly, we offer praise to the great family man and the cherished friend to many.”

With family, fishing and a large muscle car collection to tend to, the 13-time PGA Tour winner had little time or desire to tinker with a trusted swing that didn’t need tinkering – as the banana story hilariously illustrates. It started at the final event in 1984 when Lietzke told caddie Al Hansen that he wouldn’t touch his clubs again until the 1985 opener. The unbelieving Hansen put the banana in Lietzke’s golf bag as a test, only to discover the rotten fruit still there in January.

Lietzke was introduced to golf in his native Kansas City, Missouri, and starred at Forest Park High School in Beaumont, Texas, before moving on to the University of Houston.

Lietzke played in the United States’ 1981 Ryder Cup victory in England, and finished second to John Daly in the 1991 PGA Championship. He won seven times on the senior tour, the last victory coming in the 2003 U.S. Senior Open.

Lietzke is survived by wife Rose, son Stephen and daughter Christine.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Chris Crisologo was on the driving range earlier this week when he looked over and realized Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty was taking some practice swings of his own just a few steps away.

A lifelong Vancouver Canucks fans, Crisologo asked for a picture with the former Norris Trophy winner – a smiling shot of a golfer and hockey player.

On the range @RBCCanadianOpen and I had to turn around to see who was striping it behind me… it was @dewyy8. Awesome person to talk to! #StillACanucksFan pic.twitter.com/URRq207x7F

— Chris Crisologo (@CJCrisologo8) July 26, 2018

Crisologo will soon be the one getting stopped by strangers if he keeps up his stunning play at the RBC Canadian Open.

The 22-year-old amateur from Richmond, B.C., sits at 7 under in a tie for 23rd after wrapping up his rain-delayed opening round Friday morning with a tidy 68 before battling to a 69 on his second trip around Glen Abbey Golf Club.

“There are nerves,” Crisologo said. “But with the hometown crowd you can feel the energy.

“It’s not too hard to (turn) that into a positive.”

Crisologo sat at 7 under through six holes of the second round, but bogeyed three of his next four before picking up birdies on the back nine’s three par-5s.

“It’s just kind of managing your emotions,” he said. “There’s going to be momentum swings.”

Slight in stature and generously listed at five foot nine, Crisologo crushes the ball off the tee. One of his drives Friday measured 364 yards.

“He’s got speed like a Rory McIlory,” Golf Canada men’s coach Derek Ingram said. “You’re like, ‘He couldn’t have hit that.”’

A Golf Canada national team member since last fall, Crisologo competed four years in the NCAA with Simon Fraser University. He won B.C.’s amateur championship two weeks ago, but arrived at his first Canadian Open minus any expectations.

“He was excited to be here,” Ingram said. “He’s taking advantage.”

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was the low Canadian at 9 under in a tie for 10th after a roller-coaster Friday that included eight birdies and three bogeys.

The last Canadian crowned national championship was Victoria’s Pat Fletcher, who bested the field at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf Club in 1954.

“If I play well and I’m low Canadian, that’s great,” Taylor said. “But I’m trying to win a golf tournament.”

Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., followed up his first-round 73 with a 10-shot improvement to sit at 8 under in a tie for 15th. He had an eagle putt on No. 18 that could have tied the course record, but his 40-foot effort just missed.

Kevin Tway, whose father Bob captured the Open in 2003, tops the leaderboard of the US$6.2-million PGA Tour event at 13 under.

Roger Sloan (69) of Merritt, B.C., joined Crisologo at 7 under, while Mackenzie Hughes (69) of Dundas, Ont., is a stroke back.

David Hearn (72) of Brantford, Ont., who finished third in 2015, and Calgary’s Ryan Yip (72) just made the cut at 4 under as seven Canadians will play this weekend, the most since 2008 when eight qualified.

But Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin isn’t one of them after a 71 that left him at 3 under.

The 55th-ranked player in the world described his frustration level afterwards as “100 out of 10.”

“You come here with the highest of expectations and want to play well,” Hadwin said. “I just can’t seem to get it done.”

Jared du Toit (69) of Kimberley, B.C., carded an eagle on No. 16, but pushed a 10-foot birdie putt to the right on the final hole to also just miss the cut.

Michael Gligic (77) of Burlington, Ont., was 3 under after the first round, but struggled Friday and wound up 2 over.

Mike Weir (71) of Brights Grove, Ont., headlined the other 11 Canadians in the field heading home.

Crisologo said he will seek out du Toit, who played in the final group in 2016 as an amateur before finishing tied for ninth, on what to expect this weekend.

“It’s nice having that connection with previous amateurs, previous players that have played well at this tournament,” said Crisologo, who isn’t eligible for any of the Open’s prize money. “There’s no way to prep for it.”

One thing Crisologo can expect is bigger crowds and a lot more attention as the microscope sharpens further into focus.

“You never know what to expect,” he said. “I’m just out here to enjoy the moment and make the most of this opportunity.”

One that, if all goes well, will include a lot more picture requests.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – After any PGA TOUR round Kevin Tway calls his longest-serving coach: his dad Bob. That pipeline of advice will be especially handy as the Tways try to become the first father-son duo to win the Canadian Open.

Tway birdied the par-5 18th hole to take the clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the RBC Canadian Open on Friday. He fired a 7-under 65 to finish his day at 13-under overall at Glen Abbey Golf Club. No one caught him in the afternoon, putting him in a prime position to win this weekend.

After signing his scorecard and grabbing a meal in the clubhouse Tway expected he would phone his dad.

“I talk to dad every day, no matter if I’m home, here,” said Tway, who is from Edmond, Okla., but resides in Jupiter, Fla. “We talk about every round. He can probably tell you what kind of shots I’m hitting just by like watching on TV. He knows what the swing looks like. He’s been there throughout, so he’s a big key for me.”

Bob Tway won the Canadian Open in 2003 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, which will host the national championship in 2019. The elder Tway won eight PGA TOUR events over his career with his best finish coming in 1986 when he won the PGA Championship, two years before Kevin was born.

“It would be great to match (Canadian Open titles),” said Kevin. “He’s given me insight on this course. Although he won (in Hamilton), he’s played here many times.”

Your leaders heading into the weekend at the #RBCCO

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Bob Tway twice finished in a tie for ninth at Glen Abbey, in 1986 and 1995.

Although no father-son duo has won the Canadian Open, brothers Charles and Albert Murray of Montreal both won the national title twice during their Canadian Golf Hall of Fame careers. Charles won his first in 1906, while Albert won the brothers’ final title in 1913.

Keegan Bradley was in Tway’s pairing on Friday morning and made birdie-eagle-birdie-eagle on the final four holes to launch himself into a tie with South Korea’s Whee Kim for second at 12 under.

After sinking a 21-foot, two-inch putt on No. 18 Bradley turned to Tway and excitedly said something along the lines of “I’m coming.” Neither could remember the specifics because they were so excited.

“That was crazy,” said Bradley, who also had an eagle on the second hole. “I’ve never had anything close to that happen in my career.”

South Korea’s Byeong Hun An (67) and Johnson Wagner (65) were tied for fourth at 11-under. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson shot a 6-under 66 to enter a four-way tie for sixth with fellow American Zac Blair, Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, and New Zealand’s Aaron Baddeley at 10 under.

Robert Garrigus, the leader after the first round, shot an even par on Friday but was in a tie for 10th on the strength of his 9-under performance to start the TOURnament.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was the low Canadian. He fired a 5-under 67 on Friday to move to 9 under at the US$6.2 million PGA TOUR event.

“I hit it great off the tee, which set me up for a lot of short irons, and I gave myself a lot of chances,” said Taylor. “I actually missed a couple chances that I had on the back, as well, so I had a lot of chances and it was nice to make a bunch of them.”

Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., was one stroke behind Taylor after a torrid second round of 9-under 63. Silverman had a chance to tie the course record, but missed a 39-foot putt for eagle on the 18th hole and sits in a tie for 15th.

Silverman didn’t know that he was close to the course record at Glen Abbey, which is shared by many golfers but was most recently matched by Garrigus last year.

“I had no idea, I didn’t know what the course record was,” said Silverman. “I was just trying to keep going lower.”

Amateur Chris Crisologo (69) of Richmond, B.C., and Roger Sloan (69) of Merritt, B.C., are tied for 23rd at 7 under. Mackenzie Hughes (69) of Dundas, Ont., was in a group at 35th sitting at 6 under. Calgary’s Ryan Yip and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., shot identical 72s to tie for 61st.

The cut line was projected at 4 under.