OAKVILLE, ONT. (Golf Canada) – The final four spots into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open field will be determined Monday as the Final Qualifier is set to tee off at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

The 75-player field is comprised of touring professionals, top amateurs and 47 regional qualifiers as part of the two-stage RBC Canadian Open qualification process.

“We look forward to welcoming these talented golfers to our Final Qualifier at Heron Point Golf Links for an opportunity to earn an exemption into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open,” said Adam Helmer, Golf Canada’s Director, Rules, Competitions and Amateur Status. “The course is in great condition and will provide an excellent test for this impressive field of golfers vying for a spot into the 109^th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship.”

The Final Qualifier features 18 holes of stroke play with the low four competitors receiving an exemption directly into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open field.  If necessary, a hole-by-hole playoff will be conducted immediately following the conclusion of play.

Click here for pairings, start times and results for RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifying on Monday, July 23. Results will be available as players complete their rounds.

Monday of RBC Canadian Open week at Glen Abbey kicks off with the Canada Day Pro-Am in support of the Golf Canada Foundation. Click here for a list of Canadian golfers and other notable athletes competing in the shot-gun Pro-Am beginning at 12:15 pm.

The 2018 RBC Canadian Open will be contested at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 23-29, 2018. Ticket and corporate hospitality info is available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

OAKVILLE, Ont. (Golf Canada)  —  Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field of competitors vying for the US $6.2 million purse at the 2018 RBC Canadian Open, July 23-29 at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

World no. 1 and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson will be challenged by a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars including former Masters champion and world no.19 Sergio Garcia, two-time defending US Open champion and world no. 4 Brooks Koepka, world no.10 Tommy Fleetwood and big-hitting world no.13 Bubba Watson, a 12-time PGA TOUR winner who has won three times in 2018. 

Other notable additions to the field for the 109th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include world no. 27 Matt Kuchar; rising star and world no.31 Tony Finau; world no. 33 Kevin Kisner; former FedEx Cup champions Billy Horschel and Bill Haas; 12-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Stricker;  six-time PGA TOUR winners Jimmy Walker, Stewart Cink and Rory Sabbatini; fan-favourites Ian Poulter, J.B. Holmes, Charley Hoffman and Martin Kaymer; and two-time defending champion Jhonattan Vegas. 

Johnson, an 18-time winner on the PGA TOUR and Kuchar, a seven-time PGA TOUR winner will lead a roster of Team RBC players to Glen Abbey that includes three-time PGA TOUR winners Ryan Palmer and Graeme McDowell, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion and eight-time winner Brandt Snedeker; Jim Furyk, a 17-time winner and two-time RBC Canadian Open champion; along with Canadian Team RBC players Adam Hadwin, David Hearn and Nick Taylor.

“The field is nearly set and we’re ready to tee-up the 109th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship, starting next week at Glen Abbey Golf Club,” said Golf Canada Chief Championship Officer Bill Paul. “This year’s championship will feature a re-energized mix of international stars led by Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Brooks Keopka, Bubba Watson, Tony Finau and Tommy Fleetwood, plus five past champions, eight in-year PGA TOUR winners and the deepest field of Canadian talent ever to compete for our National Men’s Open title. Golf fans are sure to be treated to another world-class showcase when the stars of the PGA TOUR return to Glen Abbey.”

In total, 156 players will compete for the US$6.2 million purse next week in Oakville when Canada’s National Open Championship returns to Glen Abbey for a record 30th time.

Click here for a full field list for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open.

PGA TOUR In-Year Winners…
A total of eight in-year PGA TOUR winners (accounting for 11 PGA TOUR titles in 2018) will compete at Glen Abbey led by three-time winner Bubba Watson (Genesis Open, World Golf Championship-Dell Technologies Match Play and Travelers Championship) and two-time winner Dustin Johnson (Sentry Tournament of Champions and FedEx St. Jude Classic). Other 2018 PGA TOUR winners include Brooks Koepka (US Open), Ian Poulter (Houston Open), Ryan Armour (Sanderson Farms Championship), Austin Cook (RSM Classic), and Gary Woodland (Waste Management Phoenix Open) and Billy Horschel (Zurich Classic of New Orleans).

Past Champions…
Two-time (2016-17) defending champion Jhonattan Vegas returns to Glen Abbey looking to become the first player ever to win Canada’s National Open Championship on three consecutive occasions. Vegas is one of five past champions set to compete including Brandt Snedeker (2013), Sean O’Hair (2011) and Chez Reavie (2008) along with Jim Furyk who claimed back to back titles in 2006-07.

Sixteen Canadians to compete for National Men’s Open Title…
Leading the Canadian contingent at Glen Abbey will be Abbotsford, B.C. native and world No. 48 Adam Hadwin, who will return to Glen Abbey to play in his ninth RBC Canadian Open. Other confirmed Canadians include past PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas Valley, Ont., and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., Cory Conners of Listowel, Ont., Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., who finished third at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open. Also confirmed to compete is Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., who will tee it up in his 28th RBC Canadian Open.

Each of the 16 Canadian players in the field will look to become the first Canadian to capture the national title since Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat in 1954.

Twelve Canadians to receive Tournament Exemptions….
Web.com Tour players Adam Svensson and Roger Sloan as well as European Tour player Austin Connelly, and Golf Canada Young Pro Squad member Jared du Toit, along with a trio of National Amateur Squad members—Hugo Bernard, Joey Savoie and Chris Crisologo—are among the Canadians receiving tournament exemptions.

Svensson is tracking well to earn his PGA TOUR card, sitting eighth on the Web.com Tour money list with $187,607. The 24-year-old Surrey, B.C., talent and Team Canada graduate has four Web.com Tour top-10 finishes this season, including a win at the 2018 Bahamas Great Abaco Classic in January. 

Calgary native Roger Sloan currently sit no. 52 on the Web.com Tour money list and will make his fourth appearance in Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. He has two top-10 finishes on the Web.com Tour this season.  

Austin Connelly, a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, is a former member of Canada’s National Amateur Team. He made international headlines at last year’s Open Championship, where he finished with a share of 14th. He has three top-20 finishes on the European Tour this season, including a tie for 11th at the Rocco Forte Sicilian Open. 

In 2016, Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., took a thrilling run at the RBC Canadian Open, taking a share of the 54-hole lead into the final round before eventually finishing tied for ninth. A member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad, du Toit is ranked 21st on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit including four top-10 finishes. 

Tournament exemptions were also given to Team Canada National Amateur Squad members Hugo Bernard of Mont St-Hilaire, Que., Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., and Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C.

As well, 50-year old Winnipeg native Todd Fanning earned his place in the RBC Canadian Open by claiming victory in the 2017 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Fanning, a former pro who returned to amateur golf, will be making his fifth appearance in Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. 

PGA of Canada professional Marc-Etienne Bussières of Gatineau, Que., earned his way into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open by claiming the no. 1 position on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC.

Other confirmed tournament exemptions to notable international competitors including American Zach Bauchou, winner of the 2017 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship; Nyasha Mauchaza of Zimbabwe who topped the 144-player at the Ontario Regional Qualifer at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont. to earn automatic exemption; and recent amateur standout turned professional Norman Xiong of Canyon Lake, Calif., the 2018 recipient of the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award as the top player in NCAA Division I golf and Haskin Award as the most outstanding collegiate golfer.

Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…
Following the Osprey Valley Open which concludes on Sunday July 22, the top-three players on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit will earn exemptions to compete in the 2018 RBC Canadian Open.

The final four exemptions into the field for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Monday Final Qualifier on July 23, to be played at Heron Point Golf Links near Ancaster, Ont.

Click here for the full current list of competitors competing in the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club from July 23-29.

Tickets for all tournament rounds of the RBC Canadian Open are still available for purchase at www.rbccanadianopen.com. As well, kids 17-and-under get FREE admission all week long.

Glen Abbey Golf Club hosts the RBC Canadian Open for the 30th – and possibly final – time next week. Here are five of the top moments at the club, which first hosted Canada’s lone PGA tournament back in 1977.

2000 – Tiger’s towering drive

The biggest moment of them all from the biggest golfer of the last 25 years. Woods hit a towering six-iron more than 200 yards from a bunker, over water, on 18 to win by a shot over Grant Waite. It was his ninth win of the year and his only Canadian Open triumph. He joined Lee Trevino as the only two golfers to capture the Triple Crown, winning the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the Canadian Open in the same year.

2004 – So near for Weir

Canadian golfer Mike Weir lost the 2004 Canadian Open in a playoff to Vijay Singh after knocking his approach in the water on 18. The native of Bright’s Grove, Ont., came into the tournament as one of the biggest athletes in the country after his Masters victory in 2003 – the first, and only, time a Canadian male golfer has won a major.

1984 – Valet service

Greg Norman’s win in 1984 was made more memorable by his unique path to victory. In the final round, Norman hit an approach over the 17th green and it came to rest under a parked car. A volunteer moved the car and Norman caught a break. He’d go on to win by two shots over Jack Nicklaus.

1985 – Don’t be a stranger

Strange won his eighth PGA Tour event at the 1985 Canadian Open. He was paired with Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman for the final round and told The Canadian Press it was “one of the thrills” of his life and added the Canadian fans “adopted” him after that win. Nicklaus would never win the Canadian Open, but would finish runner-up seven times.

1977 – Grand debut

Lee Trevino won the first event at Glen Abbey when he bested Englishman Peter Oosterhuis by four shots. It was Trevino’s second Canadian Open (he also won in 1971), and was the first golfer in history to win the Triple Crown.

For over four decades, Glen Abbey Golf Club has been synonymous with the RBC Canadian Open. When the lone Canadian stop on the PGA Tour gets underway next week, it will mark the 30th time the venerable course in suburban Toronto has hosted the event.

It might also be the last. Glen Abbey’s owner, ClubLink Corp., announced plans to redevelop the site last year and the future of the venerable course – the first ever solo design project by the legendary Jack Niklaus – is in doubt.

The idea of the distinctive course in Oakville, Ont., with a parkland-style upper portion and an infamous 11th hole that leads into a steep drop into a valley, being bulldozed over for condos and offices does not sit well with some of Glen Abbey’s past champions.

“It’s a terrible idea,” said Chez Reavie, who won the 2008 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey. “All the people spent all that money to live on a golf course and they should still be on a golf course. It’s sad when you see pretty golf courses like that get torn up.”

ClubLink plans to build more than 3,200 residential units on the site along with office space and commercial/retail space. Officials from the Town of Oakville, which is fighting the development proposal, and ClubLink were in Toronto Superior Court this week arguing the property’s future.

Built in the late 1970s, Glen Abbey first hosted the Canadian Open in 1977. Golf legend Lee Trevino, who won that tournament, said he’s never been an advocate for plowing up a golf course to develop real estate, but understands its a business decision.

“There are dozens of golf courses that go under, but that would be a shame. It’s a great spot,” he said.

Nick Price, who won two RBC Canadian Opens at Glen Abbey, said he can see both sides of the development argument.

“Obviously as real estate becomes more valuable, and there is a need for people and housing, it’s hard to hang on to a golf course,” says Price. “But it would be very sad to see it go.”

With the future of Glen Abbey up in the air, Golf Canada and tournament sponsor RBC have decided to take event on a rotation of clubs in the Greater Toronto Area.

“From our standpoint, not knowing what that future was (of Glen Abbey) we had to re-tool and look at moving the Open around,” says Bill Paul, Golf Canada’s Chief Championship Officer.

Jane Clohecy, commissioner of community development for the Town of Oakville, said Glen Abbey is a cultural heritage landscape and that ClubLink’s proposal doesn’t fit in with the town’s growth management policy.

Clohecy says Oakville has identified six primary areas where it wants to grow. Glen Abbey’s location isn’t on the town’s radar.

“From a growth management perspective and a cultural heritage perspective, we didn’t see it as an appropriate place to redevelop,” she said.

The tournament will be played at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2019 and 2023. Paul said Glen Abbey will always be “part of the mix” in to deciding where to host the Canadian Open so long as the course remains intact.

But an official from Mississaugua Golf and Country Club told The Canadian Press the club has had discussions with Golf Canada about potentially hosting an upcoming Canadian Open, and a member of St. George’s Golf and Country Club said discussions have taken place there as well.

“For 2020 and 2021 we’ve had really developed discussions with a number of phenomenal golf courses,” Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum said in a recent press conference. “Hopefully in the short term we’ll have some announcements in that regard.”

While the Greater Toronto Area appears set for the next five years to host the Canadian Open, British Columbia has a PGA Tour winner in Adam Hadwin, whose best result at the tournament came at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club outside Vancouver in 2011.

Calgary also hosts an annual event on the senior PGA Tour Champions circuit, the Shaw Charity Classic, which has been named the top tournament on that Tour (for professional golfers aged 50-plus) three out of the last four years.

Hadwin says he would like to see the tournament moved around, but understands why it remains in the GTA.

“Any sort of national open – British Open, U.S. Open – they move it around the country and around some of the best courses the area has to offer,” Hadwin says. “I understand it from a tournament standpoint. I get why they do it. It’s the largest population to draw from and one (RBC) knows that’s supported well.”

Starting in 2019 the tournament will also have a new date, moving from early June after more than a decade following the British Open in late July.

TORONTO – Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd. and Golf Canada are pleased to announce that Single Malt Scotch Whisky brand, The Glenlivet, will continue as the official spirit supplier of Golf Canada’s National Open Championships—the RBC Canadian Open taking place from July 23-29, 2018 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. as well as the CP Women’s Open, August 20-26 at The Wascana Country Club in Regina, Sask.

“We’re excited to extend our partnership with the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open as it allows us to celebrate the tremendous excellence and heritage of golf in Canada with The Glenlivet,” says Bryan Lin, Scotch Whisky Brand Manager, Corby Spirit and Wine. “The Glenlivet is the ultimate Single Malt Scotch whisky that was distilled for pleasure since 1824. We are committed to delivering a first-class experience that can be shared by golf fans and patrons throughout the championship with multiple onsite activations and touchpoints.”

Attendees at the RBC Canadian Open Spectator Village will have the opportunity to sample the award-winning Single Malt Scotch Whisky The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve and take home their own custom label with The Glenlivet Label Maker Experience.

Fans can also enjoy a more premium viewing experience inside the Single Malt Super Seats Lounge behind the 16^th Hole Green, with feature tastings of the newly launched Ballantine 15 Year-old Glenburgie Single Malt Scotch led by The Glenlivet Brand Ambassador, Frank Biskupek.

Additionally, Corby Spirit and Wine will feature several of its premium spirits at public concessions, including Absolut Vodka, Havana Club Rum, Altos Tequila and Ungava Gin.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd. an offer our fans a truly world-class whiskey at both the RBC Canadian Open as well as the CP Women’s Open,” said Craig Sharp, Golf Canada Managing Director, Partnerships. “The tremendous history behind The Glenlivet pairs perfectly with well over 100 years of delivering a premium spectator experience at our historic National Open Golf Championships.”

More details about Golf Canada’s National Open Golf Championships including tickets can be found at www.rbccanadianopen.com and www.cpwomensopen.com.

As part of the Induction Celebration taking part on RBC Hall of Fame Day at the RBC Canadian Open, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is auctioning off a variety of exciting items with proceeds benefiting golf heritage.

One of the items up for grabs is a priceless Royal Montreal Golf Club Experience. The winner of this package will get a round of 18 holes for 3 people at Royal Montreal Golf Club, the oldest golf club in North America with a long and storied history that includes hosting 10 RBC Canadian Open tournaments.  This private club was granted the “Royal” status by Queen Victoria in 1884 and was one of the founding members of the Royal Canadian Golf Association in 1895.

Thanks to CGHF Honoured Member Lorie Kane, bidders also have a shot at winning a PEI Golf Experience, which includes two rounds of golf for 4 people at Mill River Resort and overnight accommodation at Mill River.  Also included is a round of golf at The Links at Crow Bush Cove and Dundarave Golf Course for 4 people (including golf cart).

Other items include:

• an official Team Canada Olympic golf bag signed by David Hearn and Graham DeLaet,
• a Brooke Henderson package with a Brooke Henderson signed CP Women’s Open tournament used flag along with a signed CP Women’s Open hat.
• an RBC golf bag autographed by PGA Tour players Graham Delaet, Ian Poulter, David Hearn, Charley Hoffman, Brandt Snedeker, Danny Lee, Camilo Villegas and Graeme McDowell.
• two weekly tickets for the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.
• The opportunity golf with 2-time US Amateur Champion Gary Cowan at his home course of Westmount Golf and Country Club

To view all the items up for auction, please click here. Items are continuing to be added so be sure to check back often!

The auction will run until July 24^th at 6 p.m. EST.

Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Commissionaires, the largest private employer of veterans in Canada, has announced a renewal partnership with Golf Canada to once again host Canadian Armed Forces Day on Saturday July 28, 2018 as part of the RBC Canadian Open.

“We are very pleased to renew our relationship with Golf Canada and the RBC Canadian open” says Benjamin Alexander, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Commissionaires Great Lakes. “Last year’s event was very well received within the Veteran community. With our expanded involvement to host selected members of the Veteran community to play in the Championship Pro-Am, this year promises to be a memorable event for those who serve our country”

All current and former members of Canada’s Armed Forces who register at www.commissionaires-cgl.ca will be entitled to complimentary access into the Military Outpost, a hospitality area hosted by Commissionaires.  Within the Military Outpost, guests of Commissionaires along with their immediate family will receive a complimentary lunch and an invitation to engage with a PGA TOUR Player in an exclusive engagement event.

“We are very proud to renew our partnership with Commissionaires and once again celebrate Canadian Armed Forces Day at the RBC Canadian Open,” said Golf Canada Chief Championship Officer Bill Paul. “We believe in honouring our veterans and are pleased to join Commissionaires in welcoming the brave men and women who served our country to enjoy a meaningful day at Canada’s National Open Championship.”

The 2018 RBC Canadian Open will be contested at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 23-29, 2018. Ticket, volunteering, sponsorship and corporate hospitality info is available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

Meet Argentina’s Ruben Yorio, the man on the bag for Venezuela’s favourite golfing son, two-time RBC Canadian Open defending champ Jhonattan Vegas

It was a change of plans for Ruben Yorio—one that would hit him in the pocketbook, but certainly not the heart. His boss of three years, Jhonattan Vegas, had just missed the cut at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, and decided to make a schedule adjustment in light of his mediocre play in 2018—a drought mostly borne of short-game woes that ranked him 166th on Tour around-the-green and 147th in putting heading into the end of June.

“We sat down in the locker-room after he finished and he said he’s going to take the next two weeks off—that he wanted to be ready for the Open at Carnoustie and to defend his title in Canada,” Yorio explains. “He said, ‘I’m not playing well. I need to go home. I’m mentally tired. I’m going to see my coach (Kevin Kirk, who also works with Masters champ Patrick Reed).”

That meant an unexpected vacation for Yorio—a welcome return to his wife Mara and seven-year-old daughter Catalina—except that there are no quick and inexpensive jaunts to see the family for Yorio, who, seated at JFK International Airport in New York on June 23rd, was more than 8,500 kms from his hometown of Ezpeleta, on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“It’s usually a $1,000 round-trip to from Miami,” notes Yorio, who says it without a hint of regret. He is immensely grateful to be a longtime member of the travelling troupe of PGA Tour caddies, a career that has included four victories: the 2009 Masters and 2014 Greenbrier Classic with fellow Argentinian Angel Cabrera, the 2011 Dubai Desert Classic with Alvaro Quiros and last year’s RBC Canadian Open with Venezuelan Vegas.

It’s an unlikely career path for Yorio. His father, a railway station worker, died of a heart attack when Ruben was 14, leaving Yorio’s mother, Emma, to raise he and his younger brother Leo.

“We were from a poor background,” Yorio relates. “My mother was working six days a week at a laundromat—she was our only support. She would leave no later than 7:00 in the morning and not get home until 7:00 or 8:00 at night. She did a fantastic job raising us, and we helped her out where we could.

“I had a good friend in a similar situation and hadn’t seen him in a few days,” Yorio remembers. “Then he showed up one day and had a new bike, new shoes and new clothes. And I said, ‘What are you doing, Fabian?’ And he said, ‘I am caddying at Ranelagh Golf Club.’”

As a 12-year-old, Yorio couldn’t have appreciated the history of the private course seven kilometres to the south—the hallowed ground of World Golf Hall of Famer Roberto De Vincenzo, winner of eight PGA Tour events, including the 1967 Open Championship. De Vincenzo, who lived a couple blocks from the course until his passing last June, had, himself, caddied at Ranelagh, where he’d also honed his game.

“Fabian took me there and I started caddying for the members. I could make $25 US a day, which was a lot of money,” says Yorio, who typically made the long trek on weekends as well as most Wednesdays (Women’s Day) by bus, although, when money was short, he’d take his bike or even walk.

At age 18, Yorio advanced to the professional ranks when he began carrying for a former fellow Ranelagh caddie, Rodolfo Gonzalez. That eventually led to a season on the European Tour with Vincente Fernandez, before a three-year stint on the LPGA Tour. The latter included an extended relationship with a Calgary woman, but when that broke down, Yorio found the true love of his life.

Mara Larrauri, a regular at Ranelagh GC, had returned from Campbell University in North Carolina, where she played on a golf scholarship. Who better than Yorio to shoulder her bag on the Futures (now Symetra) Tour. “Driving to every tournament in an old Mercury—24/7 together and really getting to know each other—was an amazing experience,” recalls Yorio, who married Mara in 2008 and wears out his cell phone staying in touch with his wife and Catalina, while returning to Ezpeleta as often as possible through the golf season.

“I love Mara to death—she’s taught me so much about life, about being kind to people. She made me better—she’s one of the reasons I’m here,” says Yorio of Mara, who now works at her family’s construction business.

Yorio was inspired by her work ethic as well. “When she was picked as Campbell University’s Athlete of the Year, her coach talked about how she was always the first one at practice. One time she didn’t have a car and the range was two miles from her dorm. Her coach saw her walking beside the highway carrying her clubs to practice.”

Yorio, who turns 49 in December, also credits fellow Argentine looper Adrian ‘Coco’ Monteros for his personal and professional development. “I learned a lot from Coco. He’s gone through a lot, but is a super nice, honest, wonderful person. He’s always said, if you do the right thing and keep trying, good things will come to you.”

Those good things have included one Masters crown for Yorio. “Cabrera was good to me, but his son started caddying for him, so they asked me to go part time, but I had a family to support,” he relates.

No hard feelings, especially in light of Tour victories since, including $108,000 US (minus Canadian taxes) for his work at the 2017 RBC Canadian Open—the standard 10% caddie cut for Vegas’ $1,080,000 first-place cheque.

Yorio is, expectedly, excited to be returning to Glen Abbey and the prospect of Vegas attempting to threepeat July 26-29. That 27-pound bag—“I’ve tried but can’t make it lighter than that”— seems a little easier to bear north of the border. “I’ve always had good memories of Canada.”

And he isn’t fretting over Vegas’ recent form. He remembers that his boss missed five straight cuts entering last year’s Open.

And he has life in perspective. Yorio’s 79-year-old mother, Emma, is suffering from Alzheimer’s. “She’s not doing great. She still remembers her phone number from her first house, but forgets stuff that just happened, and doesn’t know things like when to eat or shower. It will be good to see her.”

Yorio was counting the minutes before boarding his plane to Buenos Aires, to playing toy golf with Catalina and some personal time with Mara.

Some missed cuts, he figured, are better than others.

For ticket, volunteering, sponsorship and corporate hospitality information on the 2018 RBC Canadian Open, details are available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR today unveiled a revamped tournament schedule for next season, providing an exciting change for players and fans as they are able to engage in – and better follow – a cadence of events highlighted by significant championships every month and culminating with the FedExCup Playoffs in August.

Highlights from the new 46-tournament schedule:

• Per last week’s announcement, the RBC Canadian Open is moving from its traditional spot in late July to June 3-9, leading into the U.S. Open. Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ontario, will host the event for the first time since 2012.
• The FedExCup Playoffs will feature three events, instead of four: THE NORTHERN TRUST, August 5-11 (125-player field); the BMW Championship, August 12-18 (70 players); and the TOUR Championship August 19-25 (30 players). TPC Boston will continue as a Playoffs site every other year, rotating with the New York City area as host of THE NORTHERN TRUST starting in 2020.
• As previously announced, two new tournaments have been added, though now the dates have been confirmed: the Rocket Mortgage Classic June 24-30, the first PGA TOUR tournament to be held in the city of Detroit; and the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities July 1-7, which becomes the first PGA TOUR Champions tournament to transition to the PGA TOUR.
• The Puerto Rico Open returns to the schedule following its cancellation this year due to the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Puerto Rico is slotted for February 18-24, the same week as the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship.
• As previously announced, THE PLAYERS Championship moves from May to March (11-17) and the PGA Championship moves from August to May (13-19).
• Also announced previously is the final World Golf Championships event of the season, until now staged in Akron, Ohio, will be held July 22-28 at TPC Southwind in Memphis as the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational (replacing the FedEx St. Jude Classic).
• The Houston Open and A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier are moving to the fall and will be played next as part of the 2019-20 schedule.

“We are extremely pleased with the way the schedule has come together, particularly with the number of changes that were involved and the strength of the partnerships required to achieve this new look,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “It’s been our stated objective for several years to create better sequencing of our tournaments that golf fans around the world can engage in from start to finish.  And by concluding at the end of August, the FedExCup Playoffs no longer have the challenge of sharing the stage with college and professional football. This will enhance the visibility of the FedExCup Playoffs and overall fan engagement with the PGA TOUR and the game as a whole.”

Monahan credited FedEx, umbrella sponsor of the FedExCup, title sponsors and host organizations for their crucial role with the revamped schedule.

“Beginning with our 10-year extension with FedEx last May and continuing with many recent, long-term title sponsor commitments, as well as new sponsors and host organizations joining the PGA TOUR, our key constituents have validated our vision and the direction for our future,” he said. “Our thanks to these tremendous partners for their flexibility and support during this process. We feel strongly that together, we have created a schedule that will heighten interest in all tournaments while further elevating the FedExCup Playoffs.”

The season also features venue rotations for several tournaments, including the first two FedExCup Playoffs events. THE NORTHERN TRUST returns to Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey, where it was last held in 2013, while the BMW Championship returns to Medinah Country Club near Chicago for the first time since 1966.

The three rotating major championships add historical notes to the schedule. Coinciding with the PGA Championship’s first May dates since 1949 will be its debut at Bethpage Black on New York’s Long Island. The Open Championship, meanwhile, will be held at Royal Portrush July 15-21, marking its return to Northern Ireland after nearly 70 years. And the U.S. Open (June 10-16), last held at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2010, returns next year when the club celebrates its 100^th anniversary.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada, in partnership with RBC, is pleased to announce that golf legend Lee Trevino will be taking part in the RBC Hall of Fame Day celebration on Tuesday, July 24^th, beginning at 11 a.m. ET, as part of the 2018 RBC Canadian Open.

A three-time RBC Canadian Open champion (1971, 1977, 1979) and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Trevino will join 20 honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at a free outdoor public event to officially celebrate the newest inductees—former LPGA Tour player and broadcaster Gail Graham along with the late renowned golf course architect Arthur Vernon (A.V.) Macan as the 80^th and 81^st honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Over the course of his professional career, Trevino won six major golf championships and 29 PGA TOUR events. Trevino’s victory at the 1971 Canadian Open at Club de golf de la Vallée du Richelieu in Sainte-Julie, Que, earned him golf’s Triple Crown, awarded to a golfer who wins The Open Championship, the U.S. Open and the RBC Canadian Open in the same year. Tiger Woods is the only other player to accomplish the feat (2000). Trevino’s win in 1977 is also remembered as the first Canadian Open conducted at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

Trevino will also be awarded a keepsake Triple Crown trophy during the outdoor celebration, which will take place in Spectator Village at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

“We are absolutely honoured to welcome golf legend Lee Trevino back to Canada to help celebrate RBC Hall of Fame Day at the RBC Canadian Open,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum.” As a three-time Canadian Open winner and one of only two golfers ever to win the illusive Triple Crown trophy, we are extremely proud to have Mr. Trevino participate in RBC Hall of Fame Day and celebrate his unique and meaningful connection to Canada’s National Open Championship.”

RBC Hall of Fame Day will be hosted by Canadian golf legend Sandra Post, an honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Chair of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

Following the free public outdoor induction ceremony, Trevino and attending members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame will participate in a gala luncheon—the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Induction Celebration presented by Emerick Construction—taking place inside the clubhouse at Glen Abbey. Individual tickets can be purchased by clicking here and full tables are also available by contacting cghf@golfcanada.ca. In addition, a silent auction—open online to the public—will be taking place in conjunction with the RBC Hall of Fame Day celebration with all proceeds going to the Golf Canada Foundation in support of Canadian golf heritage.

Media interested in attending the outdoor RBC Hall of Fame Day celebration on Tuesday, July 24 at 11:00 a.m. must register for media credentials prior to July 13, 2018.

Spectators interested in attending the FREE onsite celebration and induction ceremony on Tuesday of RBC Canadian Open week can find directions and parking here.

Tickets, volunteer or corporate hospitality opportunities are available at www.rbccanadianopen.com