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 90^th 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.

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.

 

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Always been a dream of mine to play the @rbccanadianopen. Extremely excited to tee it up at @hamiltongolfandcountryclub in a few weeks!! Thanks to @thegolfcanada @tpc_toronto for all the help today

A post shared by Michael Blair (@mblair416) on May 16, 2019 at 5:00pm PDT

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.

The first RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier at Kings Links by the Sea in Delta, B.C. saw James Allenby shoot 7-under par 65 to earn medallist honours and advance to the final qualifying event.

A third regional qualifier will take place on May 27 at Elm Ridge Country Club in L’Île Bizard, Que.

Full results can be found here.

Tickets to the RBC Canadian Open are available at https://rbccanadianopen.com/tickets2019/

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.

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.

Click here to purchase tickets.

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 3^rd 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 71^s.

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.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL SCORING FROM
2019 RBC CANADIAN OPEN REGINAL QUALIFYING AT KINGS LINKS BY THE SEA

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.

Tickets to the RBC Canadian Open are available at www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.

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

Tickets for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open are on sale at rbccanadianopen.com/tickets2019/.

PARINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE.

FOLLOW SCORING ONLINE AS PLAYERS COMPLETE THEIR ROUNDS BY CLICKING HERE.

DELTA, B.C. – RBC Canadian Open regional qualifying tees off Monday, May 6 at Kings Links by the Sea in Delta, B.C. Forty-four players are vying for seven spots in the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont. on Monday, June 3.

The 18-hole qualifier at Kings Links is the first of three regional qualifiers taking place across the country. The second qualifier takes place at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. on Thursday, May 16 and the third regional qualifier is at Elm Ridge Country Club in L’île Bizard, Que. on Monday, May 27.

The top 15% of finishers at each regional qualifier are eligible to compete at Final Qualifying on June 3. Should there be more than 100 competitors at any of the regional sites, the low qualifier at said site will receive an exemption directly into the RBC Canadian Open field.

The regional qualification process allows amateurs and professionals from across Canada and the world a 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.

About Kings Links by the Sea

A seaside course located adjacent to Boundary Bay in Delta, B.C., Kings Links is a traditional par 72 links-style course, which models itself to resemble Scottish golf courses found in the British Isles. Originally a private course, Kings Links is now public.

Tickets to the RBC Canadian Open are available at: https://rbccanadianopen.com/tickets2019/

The RBC Canadian Open will be providing exemptions to a wide range of competitors for the 2019 championship, being conducted June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Exemptions have long been an important and unique facet in bringing together a field of competitors for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.

Exemptions for 2019 will be formalized over the coming weeks leading into the event, with the final four spots awarded on the Monday of tournament week following the Monday Qualifier at Heron Point Golf Links.

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open champion earns the $1,368,000 winner’s share of the US$7.6 million total prize purse along with 500 FedExCup points, two-year exempt status on the PGA TOUR, exemptions into the 2019 Open Championship and 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions, and an invitation to the 2020 Masters Tournament and Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open is also part of the Open Championship Qualifying Series. The top-3 finishes (not otherwise exempt) earn a spot in the field of The Open Championship in July at Royal Portrush.

For RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford, the new June date of the RBC Canadian Open as well as strong performances by Canadian professional and amateur competitors on the global stage has made decisions related to RBC Canadian Open exemptions more difficult than ever.

“What we’re seeing in 2019, especially with our new date on the PGA TOUR schedule, is tremendous interest from European Tour players looking for the opportunity to compete in the RBC Canadian Open,” said Crawford. “Similarly, it’s exciting to have such a deep roster of talented Canadians performing well on tours around the globe as it’s important to provide playing opportunities for our Canadian players. All are positive considerations, and while it makes for tougher decisions against certain categories, the end result is a talented and deserving field of competitors challenging for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.”

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open field is limited to 156 participants with both professionals and amateurs eligible to participate, and a total of 24 exemptions are available into the RBC Canadian Open in various categories.

Following the conclusion of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, Golf Canada will review and evaluate the full slate of exemption categories.

EXEMPTION CATEGORIES

Category A – 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur & Mid-Amateur Champions [2 positions]: 

Both 2018 champions receive playing positions in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, provided they remain amateur. Two-time reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur champion Zachary Bauchou of Forest, VA will be joined by 2018 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Joseph Deraney of Belden, MS.

Category B – Regional & Final Qualifying [7 positions]:

Three (3) Regional Qualifying competitions will be conducted May 6 at Kings Lakes by the Sea in Delta, British Columbia, May 16 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North) in Caledon, Ontario and May 27 at Elm Ridge Country Club (North) in L’Ile Bizard, Quebec. The low qualifier at each regional competition receives an exemption directly into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, provided a minimum of 100 competitors participate at each regional site, and up to the next 15% of the field will be eligible to compete in Final Qualifying. Amateurs must have a handicap not exceeding 0.

Final Qualifying – conducted Monday June 3 at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ontario — will be available to those exempt or who have qualified through regional qualifying, non-exempt PGA TOUR members and others, with four (4) spots directly into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open. Qualifying is open to all professionals and amateurs. Amateurs must have a handicap not exceeding 2.0.

Category C – PGA TOUR Member [2 positions]:

Two spots into the field of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open are allocated to members of the PGA TOUR who are not otherwise exempt into the field.  

Category D – Web.com Graduate [2 positions]:

Two 2018 Web.com Tour graduates who earned their PGA TOUR cards for the 2018-2019 season, and who are not otherwise exempt. 

Category E – PGA of Canada [1 position]:

One spot into the field of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open is awarded to the PGA of Canada’s Order of Merit leader as of June 1, 2019.

Category F – Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada [3 positions]:

One spot will be awarded to the highest ranked Mackenzie Tour alumni on the 2019 Web.com Tour Money List through the Evans Scholar Invitational, as of May 26, 2019, and that played a minimum of six (6) Mackenzie Tour events in 2018.

One spot will be awarded to each of the winners of the first two tournaments on the 2019 Mackenzie Tour schedule—the Canada Life Open (May 23-26 at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, British Columbia) and the Bayview Place DC Bank Open (May 30 to June 2 at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia). 

Category H – At Large [7 positions]:

These exemptions will be allocated to players at the discretion of Golf Canada based on performances from Tours worldwide. Players can be Canadian or foreign, amateur or professional to be considered.   

Professionals finishing in the top-10 at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, and not otherwise exempt, can enter into the next regular-field event on the PGA TOUR schedule (Travelers Championship).

If an amateur wins:

The player would not receive the champion’s prize money or the 500 FedEx Cup points, but they would earn the invitations to the other tournaments.

• With respect to exempt status, if the player chooses to stay an amateur, they can play out of the winner’s category through 2020-21, but would be limited to non-member regulations (i.e., a maximum of 12 PGA TOUR starts for the season). If they turn pro after the win, they still would not receive the prize money or FedEx Cup points but would be fully exempt and have all the benefits of being a member.

HAMILTON (Golf Canada) – The RBC Canadian Open has partnered with Tourism Hamilton and several of the city’s pre-eminent restaurants to deliver a unique culinary experience to fans attending one of Canada’s premier sporting events this June.

The Hamilton Fare Way is a new on-site food initiative taking place at this year’s RBC Canadian Open, being held June 3-9, 2019 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. The gastro-experience will highlight the city’s vibrant culinary scene through an exciting partnership with Tourism Hamilton.

“World class golf, food and music is what the new RBC Canadian Open is all about,” said Bryan Crawford, RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director. “Our championship has always been synonymous with terrific golf. Earlier this year, we announced the addition of the RBCxMusic Concert Series onsite featuring Florida Georgia Line and the Glorious Sons on Friday and Saturday of tournament week. Now we’re thrilled to bring together talented chefs from Hamilton’s exploding food scene as a dynamic addition to the RBC Canadian Open.”

Eight restaurants will be featured June 6th to 9th of tournament week as part of The Hamilton Fare Way, which will be located between holes 17 and 18 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

“Having these wonderful restaurants featured at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open is an absolutely terrific opportunity for the City of Hamilton,” says Sharon Murphy, Manager Tourism & Events at the City of Hamilton. “There is so much momentum behind the dining and arts scenes in our city and this is an exciting opportunity for golf and music fans to experience what our city has to offer.”

The Hamilton Fare Way will celebrate some of the arts & culture that make Hamilton so unique, and will include musical performances, interactive installations and more programming from some of the city’s dynamic artists.

One of the most storied events on the PGA TOUR schedule, the 2019 RBC Canadian Open returns to Hamilton Golf and Country Club for the first time since 2012.

The field includes RBC ambassadors like world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, major champion Webb Simpson, and Canadian PGA TOUR winners Adam Hadwin and Corey Conners. Multi-time major champion and world No. 4 Rory McIlroy will also make his RBC Canadian Open debut this June.

More information about the 2019 RBC Canadian Open including tickets, corporate hospitality and volunteer information is available at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

Restaurants participating the The Hamilton Fare Way at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open include:

Berkley North (31 King William St.)
Featuring a young and passionate culinary team with a changing menu that reflects seasonal, responsibly sourced ingredients.

Bread Bar (258 Locke St. South)
Offering handcrafted food made with the finest ingredients and an ‘earth to table’ philosophy for people who want a better quality meal.

The Brux House (137 Locke St. South)
Inspired by the European beer belt, it uses quality, local ingredients that cater to those looking for refined but approachable dishes.

Hambrgr (207 Ottawa St. North)
A simple approach: make the best damn burger its customers have ever eaten.

Mezcal (150 James St. South)
A Mexican-inspired eatery, mixing ingredients from Mexico, Latin America, and locally in Hamilton for its chefs to cook “with a conscience.”

Nique (30 Vine St.)
Food that is inherently Canadian, with a cultural mosaic of a menu.

Radius (151 James St. South)
A local-first eatery with a menu chalk full of items, where possible, from the produce and fine meats of its very own farmers, and from its own farm in Carlisle.

Rousseau House (375 Wilson St. East)
Our restaurant is a local casual upscale experience with a great patio. Under Construction to transform into a state of the art Micro Brewery.

Hamilton, Ont. (April 18, 2019) – A generation of Hamilton youth will soon experience the lasting impact of the RBC Canadian Open’s proud return to the Hamilton Golf Country Club.

Golf Canada, in partnership with RBC, the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Golf and Country Club Foundation, along with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton Catholic District School Board, announced today a number of youth initiatives that will make the 2019 RBC Canadian Open more junior-accessible than ever before, while creating a meaningful golf legacy in the Hamilton Wentworth region.

Beginning with the 2019 event, which runs from June 3-9, the RBC Canadian Open Youth Initiative will span a five-year period through to the Open’s return to Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2023.

One element of the new Youth Initiative will see golf programming introduced into schools across the Hamilton Wentworth region, with a goal to deliver programming to nearly 100 schools over the next five years. The Hamilton Golf and Country Club Foundation will lead the school fundraising efforts in 2019, working closely with Golf Canada Foundation, the official charity of the RBC Canadian Open.

For the first time ever, RBC Canadian Open School Days will take place during early week practice rounds on Monday and Wednesday of tournament week. Participating schools from the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board will visit on Monday, June 3 while Hamilton Catholic District School Board schools will visit on Wednesday, June 5.

With free admission for participating students and teachers, the School Days experience is credited to the RBC Canadian Open’s new June date on the PGA TOUR schedule. In addition to watching world-class golf, students will get a behind the scenes tour of Canada’s National Open Championship, including visits to The Rink, a tour of the CBS TV broadcast operation, pictures with the iconic RBC Canadian Open trophy, autograph sessions and a variety of junior golf activities.

Golf Canada will also work collaboratively with the City of Hamilton’s three 18-hole municipal golf courses (King’s Forest Golf Course along with the 36-hole Chedoke Golf Club – Beddoe Course and Martin Course) as well as the Hamilton Fore Golf program to engage youth golfers at the RBC Canadian Open. Each of the three courses will have juniors participate in Golf Canada’s Walk with a Pro event during the Wednesday Pro-Am.

“When we announced that Hamilton Golf and Country Club would host a pair of RBC Canadian Opens, we worked with officials from the City of Hamilton and the Club to develop a robust youth initiative that could have a lasting impact in the community,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “Introducing more youth to the game through the school system, connecting with the city’s municipal courses and bringing juniors out to the golf course to watch the world’s best players compete will be really special for kids across the region.”

Golf Canada will work with various stakeholders to secure funding for the RBC Canadian Open Youth Initiative. The Hamilton Golf and Country Club Foundation will be the main source of funding in year one with other community partnerships to be explored in the years when the tournament is not hosted in the Hamilton area.

“Creating a community legacy was an important element to our Foundation getting behind the RBC Canadian Open Youth Initiative in 2019 and 2023,” said Al Scott, Vice President of the Hamilton Golf and Country Club Foundation. “Our goal with Golf Canada was to create a junior golf legacy around the RBC Canadian Open’s return to the Hamilton Wentworth region and give back to the community where we live, work and play.”

Golf Canada also offers a Student Volunteer Program to encourage juniors to earn their community volunteer hours as part of the RBC Canadian Open (or CP Women’s Open). Juniors looking to participate will pay a reduced fee of $40 which includes a uniform and weeklong volunteer badge.

The RBC Canadian Open is also pleased to offer FREE admission to children aged 12-and-under. Juniors aged 13 to 17 can also take advantage of a reduced priced Youth Ticket.