Crowd supports Weir, Hughes, and Hadwin bright and early at Canadian Open
Mike Weir didn’t expect to have much of a gallery on a rainy Thursday morning at St. George’s Golf and Country Club.
But there were dozens of fans waiting for him and fellow Canadians Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Hadwin at the 10th tee as play began in the first round of the RBC Canadian Open. Weir said he appreciated the support from a crowd that swelled to hundreds by the time he’d played all 18 holes.
“Especially at 7 in the morning when it’s raining, it’s nice to see so many people here early,” said Weir. “When you get some momentum, you can feed off the crowd.”
The 52-year-old Weir, from Brights Grove, Ont., shot a 2-over 72. He has the second most professional golf wins for any Canadian with eight, second only to Brooke Henderson.
Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., was the low Canadian on the morning. He finished his round tied with Americans Tony Finau and Lee Hodges as well as defending champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland. Hughes said it was “awesome” to have such a large crowd following the trio around the course and attributed it to Weir’s enduring popularity.
“Everyone was out early even though we were off at 7 a.m.,” said Hughes. “I thought there wouldn’t be too many people out that early with the weather. It was fantastic and I felt it all the way around.”
Hadwin, from Abbotsford, B.C., shot a 1-under 69. He said that having the crowd spurred the group on to a strong start. He had a pair of birdies in the group’s first six holes and Weir had two to start the day.
“There was a lot of fun there those first four or five holes. We were all playing pretty well and making birdies,” said Hadwin. “So we got into a nice rhythm as a group.
“Obviously, two great guys that I’m very familiar with, so it was a very comfortable pairing today.”
The Canadian Open is the third oldest continually running national golf championship in the world, behind only the British and U.S. Opens. But the event hasn’t been held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. George’s in Toronto’s west end was originally scheduled to host in 2020 but it was cancelled twice as travel and health regulations were insurmountable hurdles to getting out a competitive PGA Tour field.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, at least to Weir. He said Canadian players and fans alike were eager to see the Canadian Open held again.
“It’s been a couple years since we’ve been playing. I think everybody’s excited to see all the guys and see the players,” said Weir, who will be grouped with Hughes and Hadwin again on Friday.
“It was great to see the crowd support, and we’re going to have a great day tomorrow. It should be even better tomorrow.”
One member of the crowd was Lorie Kane, who is in Canada’s Golf Hall of Fame with Weir following her four wins on the LPGA Tour. The Charlottetown native said she was pleased to see such a large turnout supporting the Canadians.
Nick Taylor, also from Abbotsford, had an even par 70 in the first round.
Top ranked Canadian Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., was tied with Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., after 1-over 71 rounds. Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., was a shot back of them.
Max Sekulic of Rycroft, Alta., shot a 5 over, Callum Davison of Duncan, B.C., had a 6 over, and amateur Brendan Leonard of Cambridge, Ont., was 8 over.
Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., Calgary’s Wes Heffernan, Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald, Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., amateur A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., amateur Johnny Travale of Hamilton, Toronto’s Albin Choi and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., went out in the afternoon wave.
Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., withdrew midway through the morning wave.
Defending champion McIlroy, trio of Canadians ready for the celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open
20 Canadians in the field as round one looms at RBC Canadian Open
TORONTO (June 8, 2022) – Rory McIlroy will begin his title defence on Thursday, as 156 players get set to tee it off in the opening round of the 2022 RBC Canadian Open at St George’s Golf & Country Club.
McIlroy’s attempt at defending his title comes after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 20-time PGA TOUR winner will join a feature pairing for the opening two rounds with Justin Thomas and Corey Conners, and will follow the Canadian trio of Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes and Mike Weir in the early morning groupings.
PAIRINGS ANNOUNCED FOR FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF THE RBC CANADIAN OPEN
Pairings and start times for the opening two rounds of the 111th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship on Thursday, June 9 and Friday, June 10 are now available online here.
SATURDAY SELLOUT
Tickets for Saturday’s third round, followed by Maroon 5 at the RBCxMusic Concert Series have officially sold out.
RORY’S LUCKY LOONIE
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it; that’s the motto Rory McIlroy is honouring this week at St George’s Golf & Country Club as he turns back the dials to an old tradition. The defending RBC Canadian Open Champion’s pockets will be ‘loaded with loonies’ this week as ball markers, a tactic he used on route to his title win in 2019. Read more here.
PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPTS
The following player transcripts from Wednesday’s press conferences in the Media Centre onsite at St. George’s Golf & Country Club are available online here:
Justin Thomas
2022 MEDIA GUIDE AND PLAYER PERFORMANCE BOOK:
Media can also download the 2022 RBC Canadian Open Media Guide for complete stats, records and historical information. Media can also download the 2019 RBC Canadian Open Player Performance Book which details individual player statistics from 1904-2019. Tournament notes can be found on the PGA TOUR virtual media centre here.
BROADCAST COVERAGE:
The following are broadcast times for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open:
Thursday, June 9th 3:00pm – 6:00pm (TSN1/4/5; RDS; GOLF)
Friday, June 10th 3:00pm – 6:00pm (TSN1/3; RDS; GOLF)
Saturday, June 11th 1:00pm – 3:00pm (GOLF) | 3:00pm – 6:00pm (CTV; TSN1; RDS; CBS)
Sunday, June 12th 1:00pm – 3:00pm (GOLF) | 3:00pm – 6:00pm (CTV; TSN1; RDS; CBS)
MOBILE APP EXPERIENCE
Experience the RBC Canadian Open like never before by downloading the Golf Canada Mobile App on your iOS or Android device. Essential features include a live map, mobile ordering, leaderboard & pairings, tickets, breaking news and special events. Plus, use the Golf Canada Mobile App to enhance your experience while playing! Find golf courses, track your game, set up matches against friends, access GPS yardages and more. Click here to download.
THE OPEN QUALIFYING
The 2022 RBC Canadian Open is also part of The Open Championship Qualifying Series. The top-2 finishers at the RBC Canadian Open (not otherwise exempt) earn a spot in the field of The 150th Open Championship, July 10-17, 2022, at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland.
McIlroy ‘loaded with loonies’ as he prepares to defend his RBC Canadian Open title, and more
Rory’s Lucky Loonie
Defending RBC Canadian Open Champion Rory McIlroy doesn’t need luck on his side when it comes to his golf game. The Northern-Ireland native has notched five top 10 finishes this season – including a second-place finish at The Masters – bringing his total PGA TOUR career victories to 20. However, some would argue that a little extra luck never hurts.
During the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, McIlroy tried on a Canuck superstition when marking his ball for the week – the lucky loonie. Shooting 22-under-par 258 in 2019 (the lowest 72-hole score ever carded at the event), it’s a superstition he’s keeping as he chases back-to-back RBC Canadian Open titles for the 111th playing of the historic tournament.
“I turned up to the locker and there was already one in my locker,” said McIlroy. “And then one of my pro-am partners give me one this morning on the first green as well. So I’m loaded with loonies this week. Yeah, so, yes, I will use it, for sure.”
The lucky loonie tradition became famous during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City when the one-dollar coin was embedded into centre ice by a Canadian maintenance crew to bring luck to the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams. After both squads claimed gold medals, the tradition became a sensation for Canadian sports pursuits across the country and has been going strong ever since.
It comes as no surprise that McIlroy, a self-professed fan of history, would partake in the now-iconic tradition.
“One of the great things about our game is you can in some way compare yourself to historical figures. Figures that I’ve never met before, but I look at a trophy that my name’s on and Walter Hagan’s name is on there or Gene Sarazen or Byron Nelson or Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer or whoever it is,” said McIlroy. “And I think that’s one of the coolest things about our sport that not a lot of other sports can sort of tap into. As a golf historian and traditionalist, I like that stuff. I like sitting down with the Claret Jug at home and looking at the names on the trophy. Like that is so cool. And you look at the Canadian Open trophy and you look at the names that are on that. You’re putting your name in history by winning these national championships.”
Rory will seek to defend his title as the first round of the tournament commences tomorrow.
Corey’s Canadian Coffee
Corey Conners needed a taste of home, and he got it – literally. There’s nothing that yells ‘Canada’ quite like Tim Horton’s and there are few people on TOUR who know that better than the Listowel, Ont. native. The Canadian honoured his citizenship with a visit to the renown coffee shop as soon as his plane touched down in Toronto and, suddenly, he was home again.
“That reminds me I’m home. I think that’s the first stop every time I get back to Canada. Don’t know what it is about it, but that makes me feel like I’m at home,” Conners said.
His order: one cream, one sugar. “Don’t mind an apple fritter [either],” he added.
Mac’s Caddie Shack
Before Mackenzie Hughes played in the RBC Canadian Open Championship Pro-Am, he caddied in it – or at least tried to. Mike Weir served as the ultimate distraction for the 13-year-old Hughes who he walked alongside down the fairways of Glen Abbey Golf Course at the 2004 Pro-Am event. Unfortunately for Hughes, the fairway wasn’t where he needed to be.
“I just did a horrendous job caddying that day because I was so intrigued by just being close to Mike and trying to ask him a question here and there,” said Hughes. “Then my player would be over here in the rough and I’m like, ‘Oh, sorry,’ just nowhere near him.”
Luckily for Hughes, his playing skills make up for his lackluster caddying.
Full press release transcripts here.
Flavin, Thornberry, Adamonis, Kang secure final spots at 2022 RBC Canadian Open
TORONTO – Patrick Flavin beat the rush hour traffic but Braden Thornberry, Brad Adamonis and Jeff Kang got caught in the thick of things at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on Monday. Thankfully for them, the highway to St George’s Golf and Country Club opened up quickly.
Thornberry, Adamonis and Kang survived a 4-for-3 playoff at Oakdale Golf & Country Club to secure three of the final four spots at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12, at St George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ont.
The trio of Americans, who registered rounds of two-under par 69 in regulation, made their pars on the second playoff hole to settle a four-way tie. Piercen Hunt did not make it through.
Flavin carded a three-under par 68 earlier in the day to dodge the madness and punch his ticket to the National Open Championship.
The Chicago, Illinois native was one-over after the front nine but turned things around down the stretch to fire the low round of the day.
“You’re never as far out of it as you think,” he said. “There’s been a couple shockers this year where it’s not as low as you think, especially with this course being so hard. I figured anything under par was going to be a really good score, so three-under when I finished, I felt really good about.”
Flavin is no stranger to Monday qualifiers. The 18-hole stroke play tournament in Toronto, Ont. marks his fourth entry into a tournament via the final qualifier this season, and his sixth total PGA TOUR event in 2022.
“When you Monday in it’s kind of a little bit of a whirlwind because there’s so much to get done, but I think I’ve developed a good formula for what is going to allow me to play well and have a lot of energy on the weekend,” said the 26-year-old.
Adamonis found the greenside bunker on the second playoff hole but for him, that was just as good as hitting the green.
“Long ago, I had a bunker in my yard and I’m like, ‘I’ve hit these a million times, this is an easy shot,’” Adamonis told himself. “I felt comfortable, I didn’t even think about it, and I hit a good shot,” added the 49-year-old journeyman.
The RBC Canadian Open will be Adamonis’ first start on TOUR since the 2021 Valspar Championship.
Thornberry was rolling at Oakdale, sitting at four-under par thru 14 holes but bogeys on No. 16 and 17 forced him down into a T2 position and into the thick of things on the leaderboard but the former Ole Miss Rebel was able to collect himself and prevail.
“I think I had the best round going through 14 holes […] I feel like I was playing really good but kind of didn’t play well coming in, so it was nice to still get through and not have that cost me at all,” said Thornberry.
Thornberry’s first trip to Canada has already been memorable and the Germantown, Tennessee native will look to add to the memories when he tees it up on Thursday.
Flavin, Thornberry, Adamonis and Kang complete the starting field of 156 that will compete for the $8.7 million purse at St George’s Golf and Country Club. Click here for the full list of competitors.
Click here for full results of the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier.
For tickets to the 2022 RBC Canadian Open click here.
Final field released for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open
Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field vying for the US$8.7 million purse at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in partnership with nearby Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility.
After a wait of 1,093 days and two years of cancellation due to the global pandemic, 2019 champion and world no. 7 Rory McIlroy returns to Canada looking to defend his title against a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars led by world no. 1 and 2022 Master champion Scottie Scheffler, world no. 3 and 2022 The Players champion Cam Smith, world no. 4 and 2022 PGA champion Justin Thomas and world no. 9 Sam Burns, a 3-time PGA TOUR winner in 2022.
Other notable additions to the field for the 111th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include world no. 15 Matthew Fitzpatrick, world no. 16 Tony Finau, world no. 23 Tyrell Hatton and big-hitter Cameron Champ along with past Major winners, Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, Jason Dufner and Danny Willet.
Team RBC will be represented at St. George’s by a collection of international and Canadian talents including world no. 38 Harold Varner III and 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion Brandt Snedeker along with world no. 34 Corey Conners and fellow Canadian PGA TOUR players Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Roger Sloan, Michael Gligic, Adam Svensson, and Taylor Pendrith.
The field for the celebrated return of the 2022 RBC Canadian Open includes five of the top-10 players in the world (Scheffler, Smith, Thomas, McIlroy, and Burns) and the top-four players on the current FedEx Cup ranking. Seven major championship winners (accounting for 11 titles) will compete along with eight 2021-22 PGA TOUR in-year winners, six past champions of the RBC Canadian Open, and 21 Canadians.
“We are extremely pleased with the field of world-class competitors that make their way to Canada to join us in the celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open and challenge for the 111th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “Led by our defending champion Rory McIlroy, this year’s championship features a strong mix of stars from all around the world and the deepest field of Canadian talent ever to challenge for our National Men’s Open title. Along with great golf, fans will be treated to an incredible festival environment with terrific on-site activities including the Recipe Unlimited Fareway food and beverage experience and the RBCxMusic Concert series featuring Flo Rida (June 10) and Maroon 5 (June 11). It is the return that Canadian golf fans deserve as we get set to kick off summer.”
In total, 156 players will compete for the US$8.7 million purse next week in Toronto when the RBC Canadian Open returns to the storied Stanley Thompson design for the sixth time and first since 2010.
Due to current Government of Canada travel restrictions extending beyond June 1, Team RBC ambassadors Webb Simpson and Matt Kuchar are not able to participate in the championship and have officially withdrawn from the 2022 RBC Canadian Open. Golf Canada and RBC look forward welcoming Simpson and Kuchar back to Canada for the 2023 RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf & Country Club.
Click here for a full field list for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.
PGA TOUR Season Winners…
A total of eight in-year PGA TOUR winners accounting for 14 PGA TOUR titles in 2021-22 will compete at St. George’s led by 4-time winner Scottie Scheffler, 3-time winner Sam Burns, and 2-time winner Cam Smith. Other in-year PGA TOUR winners in the field include Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Luke List, JJ Spaun, and Chad Ramey.
Past Champions…
Six past RBC Canadian Open champions will compete at St. George’s including Chez Reavie (2008), Sean O’Hair (2011), Scott Piercy (2012) Brandt Snedeker (2013), Jhonattan Vegas (2016-17) and defending champion Rory McIlroy (2019).
Twenty-one Canadians to compete for their National Men’s Open Title…
Current PGA TOUR players Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Adam Svensson, Michael Gligic, Taylor Pendrith and Roger Sloan will lead a talented roster of 21 Canadians competing in the RBC Canadian Open. The 2022 event welcomes home a legend as 8-time PGA TOUR and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir will make his 29th start in the RBC Canadian Open. Other Canadians competing on exemption include David Hearn, Aaron Cockerill, Stuart MacDonald, Albin Choi, Myles Creighton, Jared du Toit, Brendan Leonard, Wes Heffernan, Callum Davison, and Max Sekulic along with Team Canada amateurs AJ Ewart and Johnny Travale.
Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…
The final four exemptions into the field for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Monday Qualifier on Monday June 6, to be played at Oakdale Golf and Country in Toronto, host site of the 2023 and 2026 RBC Canadian Open.
Click here for the full current list of competitors competing in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in partnership with nearby Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility.
Tickets for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open are available here.
Mike Weir to compete in 29th RBC Canadian Open
Golf Canada and RBC confirmed today that 8-time PGA TOUR winner and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir has accepted an exemption to compete in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
With the appearance, Weir, the 2003 Master champion and past winner on PGA TOUR Champions who recently finished T4 at the 2022 Senior PGA Championship, will be making his 29th start in the RBC Canadian Open, third-most in tournament history behind fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famers George Cumming (32) and Gordon Brydson (30).
Also accepting an exemption to compete in the 111th playing of the Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship are PGA TOUR veteran David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. as well as Winnipeg, Man. native Aaron Cockerill who currently sits 40th on the DP World Tour ranking. Hearn will be competing in his 18th RBC Canadian Open while Cockerill will make his first appearance.
A pair of Canadians currently competing on the Korn Ferry Tour – Stuart MacDonald of Vancouver and Albin Choi of Toronto – have also been extended exemption to compete at St. George’s. Choi, who is currently ranked no. 93 on the Korn Ferry Tour money list will compete in his sixth RBC Canadian while MacDonald, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad who is currently ranked no. 111 on the Korn Ferry money list will play in his first RBC Canadian Open.
Two other members of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad – Miles Creighton of Digby, N.S. and Jared du Toit of Kimberly, B.C. – have also been extended exemptions. Creighton will make his first-ever start in Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship while du Toit, who made a magical run in 2016 to finish T9 as an amateur, will make his fourth appearance.
Team Canada Amateur Squad member AJ Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. will also compete in his first RBC Canadian Open. The 23-year-old sophomore at Barry University has earned seven career NCAA Division II victories including four this season. Ewart’s Team Canada teammate, 21-year-old Johnny Travale of Stoney Creek, Ont., has also accepted an exemption.
A third member of the Team Canada Amateur Squad—Max Sekulic of Rycroft, Alta. will also compete in his first RBC Canadian Open, an exemption he earned by winning the 2021 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. Sekulic will compete in the RBC Canadian Open as a professional.
Calgary native Wes Heffernan will compete in his seventh RBC Canadian Open, earning his exemption as the top finisher of on the 2021 PGA of Canada player rankings.
Canadian Callum Davison of Duncan, B.C. (2021 PGA TOUR Canada season winner) will compete on an exemption previously earned through PGA TOUR Canada and will be joined by Delta, B.C. resident Yi Cao (2020 Canada Life Series winner).
Brendan Leonard of Cambridge, Ont. recently earned a spot in the field by winning the RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. The next 20 finishers from the Ontario Reginal Qualifier will join 11 players from the Quebec Qualifier (May 9 at Club do Golf Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Que.) nine players from the BC Qualifier (May 17 at Meadow Gardens Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C.), and six from the Alberta Qualifier (May 30 at Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.) in the Final Monday Qualifier on June 6 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club. Four exemptions from the Final Qualifier on Monday, June 6 will be available into the field of the RBC Canadian Open.
A full Canadian contingent will also celebrate the return of the RBC Canadian Open led by world no. 34 Corey Conners, past PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson, Michael Gligic and Roger Sloan.
Tickets for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open are available here.
Four amateurs, two others advance to RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier
CALGARY, Alta. – Brady McKinlay of Lacombe, Alta., was the lone golfer to shoot even-par or better on a unforgiving day at Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.
The amateur, who plays his collegiate golf at Utah Valley University, rolled in birdies on holes no. 1, 5 and 16 to offset a bogey on no. 3 and a double bogey on no. 11 for an even-par 72 and medallist honours at the fourth and final RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier in Alberta.
As there were less than 100 competitors at the Regional Qualifier, McKinlay did not earn a direct exemption into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open but will be vying for a spot in the tournament at the Final Qualifier at Oakdale Golf & Country Club on June 6.
Five others in the starting field of 54 added their names to the tee sheet at the Final Qualifier next Monday in Toronto, Ont.:
- Jeffrey Kang (Anaheim, California)
- Carter Code (Calgary, Alta.)
- David Durbeniuk (Calgary, Alta.)
- Carter Lewis (Calgary, Alta.)
- Dane Thorogood (Calgary, Alta.)
Kang’s 1-over par 73 placed him alone in second. The American pencilled not one, not two but three eagles to his scorecard after starting the day +4 through the first three holes.
Code and Durbeniuk each had eagles of their own on holes no. 4 and no. 9, respectively, en route to a 2-over par 74. The amateur duo finished T3 and will be travelling east later this week to compete for a chance to play in Canada’s National Open.
It was a grind to the finish line for Lewis, but the Calgary, Alta. native prevailed. After 11 holes, Lewis was 3-under par and atop the leaderboard, but four bogeys and a double coming in pushed him back to T5 in the standings – a result that stood up for the former college player.
Joining him to round out the top-five was Dane Thorogood who, opposite to Lewis, struggled out of the gates before ending his round in style. The former South Alabama Jaguar recorded birdies on holes no. 15 and no. 18 to make the cut on the number and book his spot into the final stage of qualifying.
A minimum of four players from the 18-hole stroke play Final Qualifier at Oakdale Golf & Country Club will gain entry into the RBC Canadian Open field.
For the full leaderboard click here.
For past 2022 results of RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier: Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.
Tickets to the RBC Canadian Open are available at www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.
2022 PGA Champion Justin Thomas commits to RBC Canadian Open
Fresh off a captivating playoff victory this past weekend at the PGA Championship, Justin Thomas has confirmed his intention to compete in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.
Thomas is a 15-time winner on the PGA TOUR and 2-time major champion, having previously won the PGA Championship in 2017. Currently no. 5 on the Official World Golf Ranking, Thomas will be competing in his second RBC Canadian Open when the stars of the PGA TOUR descend on St. George’s Golf & Country Club along with nearby Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Toronto to celebrate the return of the RBC Canadian Open. I enjoyed myself in 2019 and was really impressed by the energy of Canadian golf fans getting behind their National Open Championship.”
Justin Thomas
A celebrated amateur and college star at Alabama, the 29-year-old returns north to challenge for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship after finishing T20 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2019 in his first-ever start at the event.
One of the brightest stars in professional golf, Thomas has competed in the past two Ryder Cups, the past two President’s Cups and also represented the United States at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last summer.
Through a solid start to the 2021-22 PGA TOUR season, Thomas has eight top-10 finishes in 13 events played and is currently no. 4 on the FedExCup Ranking. Five of his 15 PGA TOUR wins came during a breakout season in 2016-17.
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic the RBC Canadian Open is set to return June 6-12 in Toronto with Thomas joining an exciting field led by defending champion and world no. 7 Rory McIlroy; world no. 1 and reigning Master champion Scottie Scheffler; The Players 2022 champion and world no. 3 Cameron Smith; world no. 13 and Team RBC ambassador Dustin Johnson; world No. 15 Matthew Fitzpatrick; and world no. 21 Tony Finau.
Canadian PGA TOUR players looking forward to the celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open include Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Roger Sloan, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson, and Michael Gligic.
More field announcements including additional Canadian player exemptions are set for the coming weeks as golf and festival fans look ahead to the 111th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. Tickets for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open are available here.
Facts about the RBC Canadian Open Trophy
“It weighs 35 pounds, except when you’re lifting it,” is an ode to the hoisting of the Stanley Cup but is also speaks to the difficulty of winning any championship and the ease of hoisting the hardware thereafter.
Trophies are a longstanding symbolic representation of achievement and the history that lives within them is no less. What makes them special are their unique characteristics and designs that represent the championship they stand for, and the RBC Canadian Open Trophy is no exception – every part of Canada is represented on the silverware symbolizing the National Open.
The RBC Canadian Open is the third oldest continuously running tournament on the PGA TOUR and, accordingly, has a rich history of hardware to show for. From the inaugural winner in 1904 to the latest champion in 2019, golf’s legacy is imprinted all over the Canadian Open trophies shelved in the archives of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at Glen Abbey Golf Course in Oakville, Ont.
Here are 11 facts about the RBC Canadian Open Trophy for your next trivia night:
1. The first time a trophy was awarded to the winner of the Canadian Open was in 1920. In the years prior and starting with the first tournament in 1904, the RCGA (commonly known as Golf Canada) awarded the winner with a gold medal.
2. At one point, the trophy came in the form of a one-of-a-kind soapstone carving.
3. U.K. native James Douglas Edgar would be the first recipient of the trophy (what was then called The Rivermead Challenge Cup) in 1920. He received $300 in prize money for the first-place finish. In comparison, the winner’s share for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open is $1.57 million.
4. The current trophy in use was made in 1994 in Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia by a silversmith. The trophy consists of three parts: the lid, the bowl, and the base.
5. If you look closely, a map of Canada is engraved on the lid of the trophy. The flags from the provinces and territories are also represented along the lip of the bowl.
6. The base of the trophy is made of Canadian maple with silver bands to accommodate the engraved names. In 2015, an additional tier was added to accommodate the newest generation of champions. There are 86 different names (110 total) engraved into the current trophy.
7. The name that appears the most on the trophy is Leo Diegel who won the championship a record four times. Tommy Armour, Sam Snead and Lee Travino are each represented three times.
8. The Canadian Open was cancelled from 1915-1918 because of World War I, 1943-1944 for World War II, and 2020-2021 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. For these eight occasions the trophy reads “No Championship”.
9. The tournament winner receives a miniature version of the trophy to take home and keep.
10. The trophy is the only silverware to be presented in Canada at a PGA TOUR event this year with the RBC Canadian Open being the sole PGA TOUR stop north of the border.
11. Though it may feel as light as feathers after a 72-hole victory on the PGA TOUR, the RBC Canadian Open Trophy weighs in at 22 pounds (10 kilograms).
THE CANADIAN OPEN GOLD MEDAL (1904 – 1919)
THE SEAGRAM GOLD CUP (1936 – 1970)
THE DU MAURIER TROPHY (1971 – 1993)
RBC CANADIAN OPEN TROPHY (1994 – current)
Brendan Leonard outlasts Li Sheman in playoff, earns a spot in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open
CALEDON, Ont. – Before the pandemic started, Brendan Leonard was ready to call it quits on golf. Missed cuts and failed attempts at Q-school and the Mackenzie Tour lead the 30-year-old to lean towards pursuing a career in teaching. Now, some two and a half years later, he finds himself preparing to play in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.
A two-foot putt for par on the fourth playoff hole booked the Cambridge, Ont. native’s ticket to the RBC Canadian Open at St George’s Golf & Country Club on June 6-12, after a marathon-like battle with David Li Sheman.
Twenty others, excluding Li Sheman, also earned spots at the Final Qualifier on June 6 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club. Among the group are Michael Gonko, who finished at 5 under, and Ben MacLean, Chris Wilson, Phil Arci and Victor Ciesielski, who each carded rounds of 4-under-par 68.
A frost delay pushed back tee times on Wednesday morning and darkness suspended play in the evening, but 25 hours, 1 minute and 24 seconds after the originally planned start time, a champion was crowned at the RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier (Ontario) at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont.
Leonard and Sheman, both owners of rounds of 6-under-par 66 on Wednesday, teed off on the first playoff hole with little daylight to spare, but neither were willing to give in. A pair of birdies on the first playoff hole, coupled with two pars on the second was all the shine the setting sun had to offer.
A look back into the sunset, a nod and a handshake wrapped up play on Wednesday as the player’s agreed it was too dark to continue.
“It was nerve wracking waiting around, that’s probably the worst part,” said Leonard, whose alarm clock was set for 4 a.m. Thursday morning. “Going into today, I told myself, ‘You’re the best player in the field, let’s just try and get it done.”
Get it done, he did.
On Wednesday morning, the players returned to the tee on No. 18 and went toe-to-toe.
On the first playoff hole of the day – and third of the tournament – Li Sheman’s approach shot found the water, forcing the Aurora, Ont., native to drop. The penalty stroke did not seem to faze him, however, as he was able to regather himself and get up-and-down to save par.
On the ensuing playoff hole, it was Leonard’s composure that sealed the deal for him. A perfectly executed tee shot and layup left him with a short chip and a nervy two-foot putt for par to win, and he made no mistake. At first, a subtle fist pump and a sigh of relief was all the reaction to show for it, but there was no holding back the smile that lit up Leonard’s face moments later.
“I’ve been dreaming of this since I picked up a club at age 14,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to play in the [RBC] Canadian Open, so I’m happy to now have the chance to do it.”
Leonard’s patience has been tested, not only on Wednesday and Thursday this week, but everyday since the 30-year-old dedicated his life to golf. Safe to say now, the patience has paid off.
“I was kind of struggling [before the pandemic] but a few people told me to just keep going and I’ve played really well the past two years, so now I’m feeling pretty good about my game,” said Leonard.
“I get up, practice, play and go back and do the same thing seven days a week,” added Leonard, who is a PGA of Canada professional at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont.
It was all or nothing for the former University of Detroit Mercy Titan coming into Wednesday’s round. Earning a spot in the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on June 6 meant little to nothing for Leonard, who will be competing in the U.S. Open Final Qualifier that same day, so he knew he had to win to get in.
Despite making consecutive birdies on hole Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11, it wasn’t until a 45-foot putt for birdie on No. 16 that Leonard – who admittedly looked at the leaderboard prior to his round – thought he had a legitimate chance at winning the qualifier.
“I wanted to get to 7 under. Obviously, that didn’t happen, but I still got the job done,” he said. “I’ve had a few good years lately, but I think this one takes the cake,” added Leonard, alluding to Thursday’s win being the best moment in his golf career.
Leonard says he’s never played at St George’s Golf and Country Club before but plans on visiting before teeing it up the week of June 6-12. As for his goal for that week, it’s simple:
“Every tournament I play, I try to win, so I am going to take it hole-by-hole and try to birdie as many as I can.”
Leonard says he’s got many phone calls to make, but the first went out to his parents.
“They’re my biggest supporters; they’ve done a lot for me [and] helped me out a lot so they’re going to be pretty happy,” he laughed.
Despite being six days shy of his 31st birthday, Leonard plans on celebrating early.
“We’re going to have fun tonight,” he joked, with a wry smile.
The 18-hole qualifier at TPC Toronto was the third of four regional qualifiers taking place across the country. The fourth, and final, regional qualifier is scheduled for Monday, May 30at Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta, rounding up the field for the Final Qualifier.
For the full leaderboard click here.
For past results of the 2022 regional qualifiers: Quebec and British Columbia