World No. 1 Brooks Koepka, World No. 2 Dustin Johnson, World No. 4 Rory McIlroy and World No. 6 Justin Thomas along with past Major champions Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Zach Johnson and Henrik Stenson headline exciting field for Canada’s National Open Championship
Canadian tournament exemptions include 2019 Web.com Tour winner Michael Gligic; European Tour player Austin Connelly; PGA TOUR China winner Richard Jung; PGA TOUR Latinoamerica winner Drew Nesbitt; and Team Canada members Joey Savoie, Josh Whalen, and Chris Crisologo
Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Ben Silverman, Roger Sloan, Adam Svensson, and Mike Weir headline list of 20 Canadians set to compete at Hamilton Golf and Country Club from June 3-9.
HAMILTON (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field vying for the US$7.6 million purse at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
World no. 2 and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson will try to defend his title against a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars led by World No. 1 and 2019 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka. World No. 4 Rory McIlroy along with World No. 6 Justin Thomas will make their RBC Canadian Open debut and will be joined at Hamilton by former Masters champions Sergio Garcia, Danny Willet and Bubba Watson.
Other notable additions to the field for the 110th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include FedExCup leader Matt Kuchar, Major champions Zach Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Jason Dufner, Padraig Harrington, Keegan Bradley and Jimmy Walker, along with former world No. 1 Luke Donald.
Johnson, a 20-time winner on the PGA TOUR, and Kuchar, a nine-time PGA TOUR winner will lead a roster of Team RBC players at Hamilton Golf and Country. Team RBC has seen unprecedented success in 2019 as Ryan Palmer, Graeme McDowell, Canadian Corey Conners, Johnson, and Kuchar have all won on the PGA TOUR.
Other Team RBC players competing including world no. 19 Webb Simpson, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion Brandt Snedeker; Jim Furyk, a 17-time winner and two-time RBC Canadian Open champion, including at Hamilton in 2006; along with fellow Canadian Team RBC players Adam Hadwin, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Ben Silverman, and Roger Sloan round out the contingent.
“The field is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory and we’re ready to welcome the best players in the world teeing it up at the 110th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship,” said Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “This year’s championship features a great mix of stars from all around the world, more than 30 combined Major titles and the deepest field of Canadian talent ever to challenge for our National Men’s Open title. Along with great golf, we’ll be offering fans so many great on-site experiences from our key partners, a new food initiative to try some of Hamilton’s best restaurants, and thanks to the RBCxMusic Concert series, fans can take in music from Florida Georgia Line and The Glorious Sons on Friday and Saturday.”
In total, 156 players will compete for the US$7.6 million purse next week in Hamilton when the RBC Canadian Open returns to the storied club for the first time since 2012 and sixth time ever.
Click here for a full field list for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open
PGA TOUR Season Winners… A total of 11 in-year PGA TOUR winners (accounting for 13 PGA TOUR titles in 2018-19) will compete at Hamilton Golf and Country Club led by two-time winners Brooks Koepka (THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, PGA Championship) and Matt Kuchar (Mayakoba Golf Classic and Sony Open). Other 2018-19 season winners include Kevin Tway (Safeway Open), Adam Long (Desert Classic), Martin Trainer (Puerto Rico Open), Dustin Johnson (WGC-Mexico Championship), Rory McIlroy (THE PLAYERS Championship), Graeme McDowell (Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship), Corey Conners (Valero Texas Open), Ryan Palmer (partnered with Jon Rahm at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans), and Sung Kang (AT&T Byron Nelson).
Past Champions… Two past winners at Hamilton Golf and Country Club will be returning to familiar territory this year as 2006 winner Jim Furyk and 2012 winner Scott Piercy are in the field this year. Furyk also won the 2007 Canadian Open. Two other past RBC Canadian Open winners in the field at Hamilton are Brandt Snedeker (2013) and Dustin Johnson (2018).
The 2003 RBC Canadian Open was contested at Hamilton and won by Bob Tway. His son, Kevin Tway, will be in the field.
Twenty Canadians to compete for the National Men’s Open Title… Leading the Canadian contingent at Hamilton will be Abbotsford, B.C. native and world No. 77 Adam Hadwin, who will return to Hamilton to play in his 10th RBC Canadian Open. Other confirmed Canadians include past PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes of nearby Dundas, Ont., Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C. round out Canada’s PGA TOUR contingent along with Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir, making his 28th start at the Canadian Open.
Canadians receiving exemptions into this year’s RBC Canadian Open include Ryan Yip of Calgary along with Toronto natives Richard Jung and Drew Nesbitt.
Three members of Canada’s National Men’s Team—Joey Savoie of LaPrairie, Que., Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C. and Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ont.—have also received exemptions.
Dual-citizen and European Tour player Austin Connelly of Claire, N.S., who was recently announced as one of Canada’s representative for the upcoming Pan-Am Games in Lima, Peru, will play his third RBC Canadian Open.
Burlington’s Michael Gligic, a winner on the Web.com Tour in 2019, has earned a spot in the field as the highest-ranked golfer on the Web.com Tour’s season-long points list who played on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada in 2018.
Marc-Etienne Bussieres of Quebec earned a place in this year’s RBC Canadian Open after finishing No. 1 on the PGA of Canada’s Order of Merit in 2018.
Local resident Michael Blair of Ancaster, Ont. won the Ontario Regional Qualifier to earn his spot in the field and amateur Matt Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. earned his spot by winning the Quebec Regional Qualifier.
Each of the 21 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.
Two-time reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur Zach Bauchou of Forest, Virginia along with 2018 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Joseph Deraney of Lexington, Kentucky will also compete at Hamilton.
Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named… Following the Bayview Place DCBank Open presented by Times Colonist on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, the winner will earn an exemption to play in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.
The final four exemptions into the field for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Monday Qualifier on June 3, to be played at Heron Point Golf Links near Ancaster, Ont.
Tickets for available rounds of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open can be purchased at www.rbccanadianopen.com.
Golf Canada and Audi Canada partner to drive excellence in Canadian golf
RBC Canadian Open
Toronto, Ontario– Golf Canada and Audi Canada announced today a multi-year integrated partnership that will see the luxury automotive brand become the exclusive Premier Automotive Partner for Canada’s National Open Championships—the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open—as well as the Official Automotive Partner of Golf Canada’s National Team Program.
“We are thrilled to welcome Audi Canada as a fully integrated Premier Partner with Golf Canada’s National Open Championships and Team Canada,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “Audi is an iconic brand, synonymous for driving excellence and premium craftsmanship. Our robust partnership touches virtually every level of Canadian golf and we look forward to integrating their progressive brand across Golf Canada’s signature properties as well as our community of member clubs and golfers.”
Through the multi-year partnership, Audi will work alongside Golf Canada to drive excellence in Canadian golf. As the Premier Automotive Partner for the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open, Audi will deliver a premium vehicle experience at Canada’s National Men’s and Women’s Open Championships. Audi owners will also be treated to an elevated event experience when they visit the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open, while fans onsite can enter to win hospitality upgrades and exclusive Audi Driving Experiences.
“Audi has been successfully involved in golf globally for more than two decades,” said Giorgio Delucchi, President of Audi Canada. “Technology, design and sportiness are values that characterize every Audi and which also contribute to the special fascination found in golf.”
Audi Canada’s multi-platform investment in Canadian golf will also benefit the athletes, coaches and sport science team that comprise Golf Canada’s National Team Program including the Team Canada Junior, Amateur and Young Pro Squads. Audi Canada’s partnership will also deliver an enhanced experience across Golf Canada’s digital network of web, social and golfer engagement platforms. The partnership will create a deepened community connection between Golf Canada Member Clubs and the Audi Canada dealer network across Canada.
As the National Sport Federation, Golf Canada operates the RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, as well as the CP Women’s Open which takes place August 19-25 at the Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont.
Canadian amateur Matthew Anderson wins Québec regional qualifier to advance to RBC Canadian Open
RBC Canadian Open
ÎLE-BIZARD, Qué. – Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. showed composure beyond his years on a chilly day Monday at Elm Ridge Country Club just west of Montréal. The 19-year-old amateur earned low qualifier honours in dramatic fashion at the final regional qualifier for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.
Since there were more than 100 players at the event, Anderson, by topping the field, gained direct entry into the RBC Canadian Open field.
“This is one of the best golfing days of my life, so far,” said Anderson who turned 19 in April. “To play a PGA TOUR event, that’s something I’ve been dreaming of. It’s unbelievable that it’s actually happening.”
Anderson, who had one of the last tee times of the day, chased down St-Jérôme, Qué. native Tim Alarie. Alarie had built what looked to be an insurmountable lead after carding a 4-under-par 68.
Anderson bogeyed his first hole, but then went on a tear, knocking in five birdies and walking up to the 17th tee tied with Alarie atop the leaderboard.
The University of San Francisco freshman birdied the par-5 17th, then made par on the 18th hole to card a 5-under 67 and secure an exemption into his country’s national open.
“I thought the lead may have been five-or six-under,” said Anderson, who didn’t know he was leading walking up to the 18th green. “I wasn’t quite sure, but I knew if I got a par or birdie on 18, I had a chance.”
Anderson started three events with the University of San Francisco Dons this past season. He finished second at the 2018 Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship.
Alarie was atop the leaderboard for most of the day following a 4-under-par 68. The 28-year-old was strong on the front nine, notching four birdies to put himself temporarily in the low qualifier spot.
Étienne Brault, an amateur from Mercier, Qué., also put together a solid round, finishing at 3-under-69.
Alarie and Brault are among the 18 golfers advancing to the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier, which takes place Monday, June 3 at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.
The Québec regional qualifier was the third and final regional qualifying event. The first regional qualifier took place on May 6 at Kings Links by the Sea in Delta, B.C. and saw 10 golfers earn spots in the final qualifier.
Final RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier goes Monday at Elm Ridge
RBC Canadian Open
L’Île-Bizard, Que. – The final RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier takes place Monday, May 27 at Elm Ridge Country Club. One-hundred and eleven players are vying for 17 spots in the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont. on Monday, June 3.
The top 15% of finishers at each regional qualifier are eligible to compete at Final Qualifying on June 3. As there are more than 100 competitors in the field at Elm Ridge, the low qualifier will receive an exemption directly into the RBC Canadian Open field.
The regional qualification process allows amateurs and professionals from across Canada and world the chance to qualify for the RBC Canadian Open.
The qualifying competitions are open to members in good standing with the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers with a current Handicap Factor not exceeding 2.0 who are members of Golf Canada or in good standing with their respective associations, as well as other golf professionals.
St. George’s Golf and Country Club to host RBC Canadian Open in 2020 and 2024
RBC Canadian Open
Islington Golf Club will host the official practice facility for both years of the RBC Canadian Open
TORONTO (May 24, 2019) – Golf Canada and title sponsor RBC today announced that the historic St. George’s Golf and Country Club will host the RBC Canadian Open in 2020 and 2024, with Islington Golf Club hosting the official practice facility for the tournament
The RBC Canadian Open’s return to St. George’s (June 8-14, 2020) will mark the sixth time that the celebrated Stanley Thompson classic course has played host to Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship, most recently in 2010. Islington Golf Club, also a Stanley Thompson design, will proudly play host to the tournament practice facility for both years of the event’s return to the city of Toronto, as it did in 2010.
“Together with our partners at RBC and the PGA TOUR, we are very proud to bring the 2020 and 2024 RBC Canadian Open back to the historic St. George’s Golf and Country Club,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada. “We are delighted by the overwhelmingly positive response from the membership at both Islington Golf Club and St. George’s in partnering with us to welcome our National Men’s Open Championship back to the heart of Toronto.”
“The RBC Canadian Open is one of the most prestigious stops on the PGA TOUR, and we are pleased to host it at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, one of Canada’s premier courses,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “There is so much momentum leading into this year’s tournament, and as we look to 2020 and beyond, we are excited by the prospect of continuing to grow the fan base for this great sport.”
St. George’s Golf and Country Club has previously hosted five Canadian Opens, with the first taking place in 1933 (won by Joe Kirkwood), when the club was previously named Royal York Golf Club. Other past Canadian Open winners at St. George’s include Dutch Harrison (1949), Art Wall Jr. (1960), Bob Charles (1968) and Carl Pettersen who won in 2010.
“Our membership is incredibly proud to host the 2020 and 2024 RBC Canadian Open,” said Jason Clarke, Chief Operating Officer. “The exciting enhancements to the event, the change in tournament date, and the meaningful commitment St. George’s has made to support The Golf Canada Foundation garnered overwhelming support from our members. As our Club celebrates its 90th year, we look forward to further developing St. George’s commitment to golf in Canada through this seven-year partnership with RBC and Golf Canada and sharing our iconic Stanley Thompson course with the world by continuing the legacy of hosting Canada’s National Men’s Championship.”
The 2020 and 2024 RBC Canadian Open will once again involve an important partnership with nearby Islington Golf Club, which will be the official practice facility of the tournament. Islington’s involvement is part of a long-term partnership with Golf Canada that will see the National Sport Federation bring additional events and golf championships to the club.
“We are so appreciative to have the Islington Golf Club play a meaningful role in the RBC Canadian Open,” added Applebaum. “The membership has expressed a strong commitment in their support of the championship, and we look forward to building on that partnership in the years to come.”
“We are pleased to welcome the RBC Canadian Open along with the stars of the PGA TOUR to the great city of Toronto in 2020,” said City of Toronto Councillor Stephen Holyday. “The PGA TOUR is an international event that will showcase the city of Toronto’s world-class hosting experience to a global audience. We are proud to be collaborating with Golf Canada, as our collective teams are working towards a viable operational plan that will ensure a truly successful event.”
The 2020 RBC Canadian Open will take place from June 8-14, 2020, immediately following The Memorial Championship in Ohio and leading into the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York.
This year’s RBC Canadian Open will be contested at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club from June 3-9, 2019. Ticket, volunteering, sponsorship and corporate hospitality information is available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com.
Michael Blair advances to RBC Canadian Open from Ontario Regional Qualifier
RBC Canadian Open
TORONTO – There’s nothing like home cooking, and Michael Blair will get plenty of it during the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.
The Ancaster, Ont. native, who plays at Hidden Lake Golf Club in Burlington, Ont., was the low finisher at the second RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier at TPC Toronto, Thursday. The 27-year-old shot an 8-under-par 64, earning an exemption into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, which is being held at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
Blair put together a spectacular round, sinking two eagles on two par-fives on the back nine. Coupled with five front-nine birdies, Blair found himself two strokes ahead of the competition at the conclusion of play.
Trailing Blair was another Hamilton-area competitor in Christopher Ross. A Hamilton Golf and Country Club player, Ross birdied his final two holes to finish at 6 under.
Tied with Ross was Jae Kim of Toronto. Kim was bogey-free on the day, and an eagle on the eighth hole helped him to a T2 finish.
Ross, Kim and 20 other competitors, excluding Blair, advance to the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier taking place on June 3 at Heron Point Golf Links in Hamilton, Ont.
Whodunit? The murder of RBC Canadian Open champion James Douglas Edgar
RBC Canadian Open
By Brent Long
He won the 1919 Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club by a record-setting 19 strokes on July 29 & 30.
He won the 1920 Canadian Open at the Rivermead Golf Club near Ottawa on August 26 & 27 in a three-way, 18-hole playoff over Tommy Armour and Charles Murray.
He was found alone, outside his home, near death, face-down in a dark pool of blood, by the curb of West Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia, moments before midnight on August 8, 1921.
James Douglas Edgar died on the spot, in the arms of a friend before an ambulance arrived. Despite a coroner’s inquest in the days that followed, and the determined efforts of a newspaperman who found him on the street, the cause of death was never determined and remains unsolved today.
“I’m so thrilled I was able to go back in time and shed some light on this character. He is one of the greatest unknown golfers of all time,” says journalist and fellow Georgian, Steve Eubanks, who chronicled the transplanted Englishman’s untimely death in his 2010 book, To Win and Die in Dixie – The Birth of the Modern Golf Swing and the Mysterious Death of Its Creator.
“The investigators didn’t dive into the back- ground at that point and time. In the 1920s they didn’t have forensic science the way we see in television shows today. A lot of the problem was created at the scene when the accident was misinterpreted as a hit and run,” Eubanks says, noting the cause of death was most like a stabbing. Why would anyone think that someone wanted to murder a harmless, happy go-lucky golf pro?
After finishing 19 shots off the pace in the 1919 US Open at Brae Burn Country Club outside Boston, Massachusetts, Douglas Edgar headed to Ancaster where he teed it up in a field of 88 players that included his star pupil, 17-year-old Bobby Jones, who was playing in the Canadian Open for the first time.
With no Open Championship being played in Great Britain or France, the field was strong, but Eubanks writes that that Head Golf Professional from Druid Hills Golf Club was an afterthought. “He (Doug) was even hard to find before the tournament. It turned out he was in the pubs, partaking of the nectar he so sorely missed in America” during prohibition.
Edgar stole the show shooting rounds of 72-71-69-66-278 over two days to win by an astounding 16 strokes – a record that has stood the test of time and equalled only twice on the PGA Tour in 1924 and 1948. Tiger Woods has the largest margin of victory since 1950 with a 15-stroke win that the 2000 US Open. Jones led after the first round with a 71, while HGCC Head Professional, Nicol Thompson was in the mix with a 73. Edgar finished the afternoon with a 71 and a six-shot lead over James Barnes and Jones, who never played in a Canadian Open again.
“It’s an unbelievable record. It’s still the oldest unbroken record in golf. It was the first time Bobby Jones finished second in a national championship and it was the largest margin of defeat he ever suffered,” Eubanks says.
Edgar, the 1914 French Open champion tied the course record with a 69 in the third round for a nine-shot lead. It was time for the fourth and final round. Despite two bogeys, Doug shot an incredible 32 on the front nine. “He kept the great play going on the back nine, starting out with two consecutive fours, a great three, followed by a par on the 205-yard par three thirteenth, and a birdie on the 375th fourteenth. He played the remaining holes on an average of fours, for a closing round of 66, the most impressive golf that had ever been played in North America,” Eubanks wrote. “The crowd roared its approval when Edgar tapped in. Those in attendance know that they had stood witness to history, and they showed their appreciation with a level of cheering never before heard at a sporting event in Canada.”
Eubanks also noted a quote from famed golfer Harry Vardon who in 1920 said, “Edgar, well I will tell you: I believe this is a man who will one day be the greatest of us all.” Eubanks says, Vardon wasn’t prone to PR spin, but speaking the plain truth.
In 1920, Doug finished T20 at the US Open and made it to the 36-hole final of the PGA Championship at Flossmoor CC in Chicago where he lost to US Open runner-up Jock Hutchinson, while his wife Meg, who was visiting from England, remained in steamy Atlanta with their two children, Rhoda and Douglas Jr. At Rivermead in the Canadian Open, Doug shot opening rounds of 76-75 to find himself two shots behind another of his students, amateur Tommy Armour. On the second day, Doug improved with rounds of 74-73 and found himself in a tie with Charles Murray and Armour, who cracked in the final round with a 76 leading to a three-way playoff. The following day, Edgar won the 18-hole playoff becoming the first person to successfully defend the Canadian Open title. He pocketed $200 and a gold medal for the first victory and $300 for the second.
You should know that another one of Edgar’s students at Druid Hills was Alexa Sterling Fraser who won the 1920 Canadian Ladies’ Open Championship at HGCC. She also won US Women’s Amateur titles in 1916, 1919 and 1920. In 1921, at River- mead, the club where Doug won his second Canadian Open title, she met Dr. Wilbert Crieve Fraser, who she would marry in 1925 in Atlanta before moving to Ottawa to raise a family.
Edgar would go on to write a book, The Gate to Golf and developed a swing aid to go with it – hoping to make it rich! With his second Canadian Open victory in hand, he was in the spotlight and in demand, but Eubanks says Edgar’s homelife and marriage suffered. Doug had a “Tiger Woods problem.”
Eubanks also shares a story of Doug contacting his regular bookie in October 1920 and wagering $700 on himself that he would be the next Southern Open champion. This time Jones finished only two shots behind and well on his way to becoming a star as Edgar collected the $1,000 first- place prize money. In November 6, 1920 Meg Edgar and the children boarded RMS Celtic, a steamship bound for Liverpool from New York, while Doug remained in Atlanta. He followed in December.
The following spring Doug returned to his job at Druid Hills Golf Club, but Meg never returned – she was never coming back to North America. Surprisingly, he failed to register to play in the Canadian Open that was scheduled to be played on August 1-2 at The Toronto Golf Club. Instead, he turned up dead on August 8 at the age of 35.
Eubanks weaves together witness reports from a coroner’s inquest and while some people said it was a car that hit Edgar, no proof was given, nor did anyone hear or see an automobile in the streets when horses were still a popular means of transportation. There were no bumps and bruises on his body that might come from being hit by a car, but what was found was a puncture wound to the femoral artery in the thigh of one of his legs. There was a suggestion that the ladies’ man was having an affair, and when the woman’s husband learned of it, Doug was murdered, but that tale went to the grave with Edgar.
One last vignette that Eubanks leaves us with is an interview he had with Edgar’s grandson, Douglas III, a golf professional who owned the Wheathampstead Golf Club outside London. “In February 2008, the clubhouse at Wheathampstead was broken into by thieves who made off with thousands of dollars of equipment and one priceless heirloom, a Waltham watch presented to Doug upon winning the 1919 Canadian Open.
“I couldn’t insure it as it was impossible to value,” Douglas said. “Twenty years ago, I turned down an offer of $35,000. I just can’t believe it. It was the only time I had ever left my briefcase with the watch inside in the club. The rest of the stolen equipment is insured, but the watch is irreplaceable.”
100 years later, the time has come for a new champion to be crowned at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open. It remains to be seen if they will one day become the greatest of them all.
Rory McIlroy ready to take on Hamilton at the RBC Canadian Open
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 05: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the sixth tee during the final round of the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club on May 05, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
RBC Canadian Open
By: Rob Gavarkovs
HAMILTON – Media day for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open Media Day took place May 6 and there is lots to look forward to coming out of beautiful Hamilton Golf and Country Club. The week of June 3 marks the arrival of the PGA TOUR’s best descending on Hamilton’s sloping fairways and pristine greens, and with that comes the official opening of summer for Canadian golf fans.
One of the most notable stories from this year’s event is the players themselves, world No. 4, Rory McIlroy, recently committing his attendance. There is no doubt that McIlroy is excited to play in Canada, a country he is excited to see, and he is especially excited to make his first ever debut in the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
“National Opens are always important, golf is all about tradition, and the Canadian Open being 115 years old making it one of the oldest events on TOUR, makes it pretty prestigious,” said McIlroy. “Hamilton is one of the best venues in the country, and I really enjoy parkland courses that are tree lined and traditional, it forces you to think and shape shots, I wish we would play more courses like it on TOUR.”
McIlroy is a strong player no matter the venue, but with his penchant for driving accuracy and strong ball striking, Hamilton sets up right in his wheelhouse. Don’t count out the fact the RBC Canadian Open is one of the only national opens that McIlroy has not won. Winner of The Open Championship, the Irish Open, the Australian Open, and the U.S. Open, Rory would “love to add this one to that list.”
McIlroy will have some stiff competition, however, as three-time major winner Brooks Koepka and two-time major winner Bubba Watson have given their intention to play this year as well. This is in addition to Team RBC members Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson, Ryan Palmer, and Canadian duo of Adam Hadwin and Corey Conners.
There are really two ways to play Hamilton: the bomb and gouge and the patient plotter. The longer straighter players like Koepka, McIlroy and Dustin Johnson, might elect to hit driver everywhere so they can to give themselves the shortest shot into the green and take their chances with the ankle-deep rough of the short par 4s. Or there is the Webb Simpson approach of hitting fairways and greens, methodically leaving comfortable wedge yardages from the middle of the fairway. Neither of these camps has a distinct advantage over the other, as Hamilton presents its players with few great equalizers. The severe elevation changes first and foremost make any shot a tough shot, no matter the yardage, the putting surfaces are challenging beyond belief. With leaving the ball below the hole paramount, and the fact that this par-70 layout has only two reachable par-5s, par-4 birdie conversion will play a significant impact. This delicate combination is exactly what the PGA TOUR’s best are looking for in a golf course. Like McIlroy claims, it is interesting, it is thoughtful, and it is a true test where the best player will win.
The world’s best players will certainly be here as well, with three of the top-four ranked golfers competing. It’s going to give golf fans a lot of reasons to get excited about the RBC Canadian Open. This was all made in part to the recent schedule change that the PGA TOUR undertook for this 2019 season. It saw the shift of the RBC Canadian Open from directly after a major, to right before one, and that sends a completely different message of priority to players. On this, McIlroy says, “June was a quiet time for me, but I wanted to play more and be more competitive this year so added the RBC Canadian Open. I also wanted to play the week before the U.S. Open this year. More guys want to play the week before majors so the schedule switch will benefit the Canadian Open for a long time to come.” Defending U.S. Open Champion, Brooks Koepka, agrees, “I’ve heard really great things about the course, and for me, it’s an opportunity to play well and build momentum leading into the U.S. Open.” Talk about a star-studded field, and with the Hamilton Golf and Country Club staff working tirelessly on the course and event setup, we are in for one amazing tournament.
ALLENBY WINS MEDALLIST HONOURS AT RBC CANADIAN OPEN REGIONAL QUALIFIER IN B.C.
RBC Canadian Open
DELTA, B.C. – James Allenby of Langley, B.C., shot a bogey-free 7-under par 65 on Monday to earn medallist honours at Kings Links by the Sea, host of the first of three RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying events of 2019.
Allenby started the day off strong with birdies on holes 1, 5, and 7 before making the turn. He’d add four birdies on the back-nine, including holes 11, 13, 14 and 17.
Allenby was one of 10 golfers to earn a spot in the field for final RBC Canadian Open Qualifying, taking place June 3rd at Heron Points Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.
Austin Hughes of Delta, B.C., carded a 4-under 68, while Raoul Menard of Ange-Gardien, Que., rounded out the top-three after firing a 3-under 69.
Calgary’s Wes Heffernan and amateur Mitchell Thiessen of Chilliwack, B.C., shot matching 1-under 71s.
Five players all recorded even-par rounds of 72 to punch their tickets to the final stage. They were amateur Thierry Martine of Victoria, B.C.; Noah Lee of Langley, B.C.; Mewail Kidane of Vancouver; Bradford Curren of Hammonds Plains, N.S.; and Eric Banks of Truro, N.S.
In total, there are three regional qualifying events, each consisting of 18 holes of stroke play. Provided that there are 100 or more players in the field, the low qualifier receives an exemption directly into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont.
Otherwise, the top 15 percent of finishers at each qualifier become eligible to compete at the final qualifying event.
A minimum of four players from the 18-hole stroke play Final Qualifier at Heron Point will gain entry into the RBC Canadian Open field.
There are two more regional qualifying events before the final qualifier:
May 16 – TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley
May 27 – Elm Ridge Country Club (North)
Additional information regarding the 2019 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier at Kings Links by the Sea can be found here.
Major champions Brooks Koepka and Bubba Watson to return to RBC Canadian Open
RBC Canadian Open
Two-time defending U.S. Open champion Koepka will play Hamilton Golf & Country Club looking to build momentum leading into the defence of his U.S. Open title;
Watson, a two-time Masters champion and 12-time PGA TOUR winner, joins star-studded field competing for Canada’s National Open Championship
HAMILTON – Today, RBC and Golf Canada announced that world ranked No. 3 Brooks Koepka and world ranked No. 18 Bubba Watson will compete in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
Koepka, the reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year, has claimed three major championship titles including the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open championships as well as the 2018 PGA Championship. The 28-year old star has already notched one PGA TOUR victory in 2019, and is coming off a recent T2 finish at The Masters.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Canada to compete in the RBC Canadian Open,” said Koepka, who has played the tournament in 2015 and 2018. “I’ve heard really great things about the course [Hamilton Golf and Country Club] and for me, it’s an opportunity to play well and build momentum leading into the U.S. Open.”
Watson, 40, is a two-time major champion with wins coming at The Masters Tournament in 2012 and 2014. The popular, big-hitting lefty from Bagdad, Florida has two top-5s this season on the PGA TOUR, with a pair of T4 finishes coming at the Valspar Championship and Waste Management Phoenix Open. Watson has a deep connection to Canada as his wife, Angie, is from just outside Toronto.
“Winning a National Open, one that is part of my family now, would be a big deal,” Watson explained. “We’ve got two flags up at our house, so it’s a big deal. It would be a great honour.”
The pair join a world-class field of players including world no. 1, defending champion and Team RBC Ambassador Dustin Johnson, world No. 4 Rory McIlroy, and Team RBC members including Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson, Ryan Palmer, Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker, Adam Hadwin and recent first-time PGA TOUR winner, Corey Conners.
“Having Brooks Koepka and Bubba Watson, both big hitters and Major winners, competing at Hamilton Golf and Country Club this summer is really exciting,” said Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “Three of the top-four world ranked golfers are now competing in our Open, so it’s going to be one to watch, and will give golf fans another reason to get excited about the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.”
“We have a strong field competing at the RBC Canadian Open this June, and we’re excited to welcome Brooks and Bubba back to Canada,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “Adding the pair to an impressive roster that includes Rory McIlroy, our Team RBC ambassadors including our defending champion Dustin Johnson, and a growing list of Canadian talent will make it a memorable week.”
Koepka and Watson’s commitment to the 2019 RBC Canadian Open builds on an earlier announcement that introduced a two-night RBCxMusic Concert Series at the tournament. The concerts will feature Grammy nominated and internationally acclaimed duo Florida Georgia Line on Friday, June 7, and JUNO award-winning homegrown rock band The Glorious Sons on Saturday, June 8.
In the coming weeks, additional players, including Canadians and tournament exemptions will be announced. PGA TOUR players have until Friday, May 31 to commit to the field of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.
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Brooks Koepka’s results include:
Three-time Major Champion (U.S. Open 2017 & 2018; PGA Championship 2018)
Five-time PGA TOUR winner
One-time European Tour winner (Turkish Airlines Open, 2014)
2018 PGA TOUR Player of the Year
Former World No.1-ranked golfer
Bubba Watson’s results include:
Two-time Major Champion (The Masters Tournament, 2012 & 2014)
12-time PGA TOUR winner including 3 in 2018 (Genesis Open, World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, Travelers Championship)
Four-time Ryder Cup Team USA member (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018)
Represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics, finishing T8