Shane Lowry to support RBC’s long-standing commitment to golf through multi-year sponsorship

TORONTO, ON — RBC announced professional golfer Shane Lowry as its newest Team RBC brand ambassador, joining a world-class roster that embodies excellence, leadership and community. Lowry will wear the RBC shield for the first time today at the TGL Golf match in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He will also join the field for the 2026 RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open.  

Lowry is one of the world’s best golfers, with a 13-year career on the PGA TOUR that includes 33 top-ten finishes, three PGA TOUR wins and a standout achievement as the 2019 Open Championship winner. He also represented Europe at the Ryder Cup in 2021, 2023 and 2025, and Ireland at the Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“RBC’s reputation as a top, global financial institution and their unwavering commitment to golf is something I deeply admire,” said Shane Lowry, Team RBC ambassador. “Throughout my career on the PGA TOUR, I’ve seen how their insight and expertise makes them a partner I can trust as I establish and grow my legacy for me and my family. I’m thrilled to be the newest member of Team RBC and am proud to represent their brand on TOUR.”

Team RBC is comprised of elite touring professionals on the PGA TOUR and LPGA TOUR, including Adam Hadwin, Alena Sharp, Brooke Henderson, Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Nick Taylor, Sahith Theegala, Sam Burns and Taylor Pendrith. RBC is the title sponsor of two PGA TOUR events, the RBC Canadian Open and the RBC Heritage, and is a partner of the CPKC Women’s Open on the LPGA TOUR.

“From supporting dozens of professional golfers through Team RBC, to introducing over 108,000 young people to the sport through RBC Community Junior Golf, RBC is proud to champion golf at all levels,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “Our Team RBC ambassadors represent the highest calibre of talent and inspire the next generation, making their platform an important part of RBC’s long-standing dedication to helping attract new audiences to the game. As a fan-favourite player with an impressive career on the PGA TOUR, Shane Lowry is an exceptional addition, and we’re thrilled to partner with him in the years to come.”

RBC’s commitment to golf also extends to helping grow the game at the amateur and grassroots levels, as well as benefiting community organizations. Through its title tournaments, RBC has helped Golf Canada and the Heritage Classic Foundation raise more than $56 million for local charities across North America. In partnership with Golf Canada, RBC Community Junior Golf, has introduced young people across Canada to the sport through First Tee – Canada and Youth on Course programming. RBC is also a proud partner of Golf Canada’s National Team program and the Golf Canada Foundation.

The 2026 RBC Canadian Open will take place June 10-14 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit rbccanadianopen.com.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – The R&A has announced the qualification pathways for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, taking place July 12-19, 2026.

Once again, the RBC Canadian Open will be part of The Open’s qualification series, with three (3) places being awarded to the leading three players who are not already exempt and make the cut. The 2026 RBC Canadian Open will be taking place at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) from June 10-14, 2026.

Each year, international pathways are provided for players to qualify for golf’s original championship through prestigious professional tour events played around the world.

The Open Qualifying Series will begin in October and players will be able to qualify for The 154th Open through 15 events in 13 countries being played on the PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour, KPGA Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Sunshine Tour and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

On the PGA TOUR, places will be available via the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, the RBC Canadian Open, while the Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro in South America will also offer a spot.

Please click here to view the full list of exemptions for The 154th Open.

Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and its global nature is reflected in the number of outstanding opportunities we offer to golfers to qualify for the Championship through our exemptions and professional tour events held internationally each year.

“The Open Qualifying Series generates great excitement and intrigue each year as players compete to earn a coveted place in the Championship and so we look forward to seeing what stories emerge in the months ahead and the field coming together as we get closer to staging another memorable Open at Royal Birkdale next July.”

Regional and Final Qualifying events, which are open to professional and amateur golfers worldwide who meet the entry criteria, will take place at venues around Great Britain and Ireland in June ahead of the Championship.

A new Last-Chance Qualifier will be played at Royal Birkdale on Monday, 13 July. The field of 12 players competing for the final place in the Championship will be determined using an approach which complements the existing qualification criteria for The Open.

The Open is golf’s original championship. Played since 1860 on iconic links golf courses, it is the sport’s most international major championship with qualifying events on every continent. For one week each year, the pursuit of the famous Claret Jug trophy is the focus of the sporting world, followed globally by millions of fans.

Please click here to view the full schedule of events.

RBC to continue sponsorship of PGA TOUR Signature Event and golf’s third-oldest national championship in multi-year agreement

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida and TORONTO, Canada – The PGA TOUR and RBC, in partnership with the Heritage Classic Foundation and Golf Canada, today announced a multi-year extension of the bank’s title sponsorship of the RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open. RBC is a long-standing supporter of golf at the professional and amateur levels and has been the title sponsor of the RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open since 2012 and 2008, respectively.

The 2026 RBC Heritage, a PGA TOUR Signature Event, begins Thursday, April 16 at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and the 2026 RBC Canadian Open, Canada’s National Open, will return to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ontario, on Thursday, June 11.

“As the title sponsor of two events on the PGA TOUR schedule, RBC plays an essential role in golf, providing both critical development at the amateur level and life-changing moments for the world’s greatest players,” said PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rolapp. “We are grateful to extend our relationship with RBC, Canada’s national championship at the RBC Canadian Open, as well as the RBC Heritage, the Signature Event culminating across the marina from Harbour Town’s iconic lighthouse.”

Since joining as title sponsor of the RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open, RBC has helped contribute to communities in the U.S. and Canada by increasing access to the game and supporting charities in areas such as youth, education, the arts and more. RBC also supports a roster of Team RBC ambassadors on the PGA and LPGA TOUR.

“We are pleased to extend our long-standing relationship with the PGA TOUR, and to continue working with our partners to elevate the RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open for players and fans,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “The unforgettable moments these events create bring our communities together and inspire golfers at every level, from grassroots to our Team RBC professionals. These world-class tournaments are also becoming powerful drivers of economic and social impact, with more than $56 million raised for local charities across North America, and nearly $250 million of economic impact generated in 2024 alone. We look forward to building on that momentum and continuing to support the lasting impact these events create both on and off the course.”

The RBC Heritage, which made its debut in 1969, ranks annually among the most-attended professional sporting events in the Carolinas. The Heritage Classic Foundation is the host organization of the RBC Heritage and donates tournament proceeds to charitable organizations in the Lowcountry. Recent champions include Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jordan Spieth.

“We are thrilled that RBC has extended our partnership, as their continued commitment strengthens our world-class PGA TOUR event on Hilton Head Island and fuels its profound impact across South Carolina,” said Steve Wilmot, Heritage Classic Foundation President and RBC Heritage Tournament Director. “The RBC Heritage is a major economic driver for our state and a powerful force for good. Having a steadfast partner like RBC allows us to grow our mission and deepen our reach, and we look forward to this exciting next chapter together.”

Dating to 1904, the RBC Canadian Open is the third-oldest national championship. Previous champions include Team RBC ambassador Nick Taylor and Rory McIlroy. In partnership with Golf Canada, RBC is committed to growing the game through RBC Community Junior Golf, which has introduced over 55,000 young people across Canada to the sport through First Tee – Canada and Youth on Course programming. RBC is also a proud supporter of Golf Canada’s National Team program, the Golf Canada Foundation, the CPKC Women’s Open and the She Plays Golf Festival.

“Golf Canada is extremely proud to celebrate the extension of a tremendous partnership with our friends at RBC as well as the PGA TOUR,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “From investing in access for the next generation of young golfers to supporting pros, RBC is the most committed, invested and engaged partner in Canadian golf, and the driving force behind the incredible growth of Canada’s historic National Open Championship.”

The 2026 RBC Heritage and 2026 RBC Canadian Open will be broadcast on CBS/Paramount+, GOLF Channel, PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+, Sirius XM and distributed internationally via the TOUR’s World Feed.

Kevin Yu, Matt McCarty and Cameron Young have secured their spots in the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush following strong performances at the RBC Canadian Open.

Yu earned the first qualifying place with a third-place finish at 17-under 263, just behind already exempt players Sam Burns and Ryan Fox. McCarty and Young, both tied for fourth at 16-under 264, claimed the remaining two qualifying positions.

The next event in The Open Qualifying Series is the Italian Open, set for June 26–29 at Argentario Golf Club.

10 February 2025, St Andrews, Scotland: The R&A has announced the qualification pathways for The 153^rd Open at Royal Portrush, taking place July 13-20, 2025.

The Open is one of the world’s greatest sporting events and attracts the best men’s golfers from leading professional tours and amateur championships to compete for the famous Claret Jug. Each year, the exemption categories are reviewed to ensure that pathways are available into the Championship for golfers around the world.

On the PGA TOUR, places will be available via the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, the RBC Canadian Open and the Genesis Scottish Open, which is co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour.

Please click here to view the full list of exemptions for The 153^rd Open.

Mark Darbon, Chief Executive at The R&A, said, “The Open is a global championship for the best men’s golfers and each year we review our exemptions to ensure that we offer pathways into the Championship based on results achieved on the leading professional tours.

“We are proud to offer a wide range of opportunities to qualify globally and look forward to seeing which golfers will emerge to take their place at Royal Portrush in July.”

The R&A has also announced the schedule for the Open Qualifying Series in 2025 with 15 events in 11 countries offering places in golf’s original championship.

Please click here to view the full schedule of events.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR announced the 2025 FedExCup Regular Season and FedExCup Playoffs schedule, a 39-event slate that marks Year 2 of the TOUR’s new competitive model. A combination of Full-Field and Signature Events offers heightened drama and consequence for fans — plus life-changing moments for the game’s biggest and newest stars — each week across the FedExCup Season.

The 36-event FedExCup Regular Season schedule features the 51st playing of THE PLAYERS Championship in March, the four major championships, eight Signature Events, 18 Full-Field Events and five Additional Events. The three-event FedExCup Playoffs follow during the month of August, with the FedExCup Champion crowned once again at the TOUR Championship. The 2025 FedExCup Fall, which will finalize eligibility for the 2026 season, will be announced at a later date.

Continuing on past success, the TOUR schedule will be fully sponsored — which includes the recently announced partnership with Truist — a seven-year agreement with the PGA TOUR’s Charlotte-based event, now known as the Truist Championship.

“The new schedule and competitive changes introduced in 2024 were significant steps toward creating the best version of the PGA TOUR for our fans and players,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Fields were significantly stronger across the board, while the Signature Events provided fans more opportunities to see the PGA TOUR’s best competing head-to-head. As we enter the second year of this reimagined schedule, one thing remains a constant — winning on the PGA TOUR continues to rank among the most difficult and rewarding accomplishments in sport. We are grateful to the entire membership, especially our Player Directors and Player Advisory Council, as well as our tournaments and partners.”

The 2025 FedExCup Regular Season and Playoffs include events contested in the United States across 18 states as well as Mexico, Canada, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

The PGA TOUR season will be televised domestically on NBC/Golf Channel/Peacock, CBS/Paramount+ and PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+, with SiriusXM handling live radio coverage. Internationally, PGA TOUR coverage is available in more than 200 countries and territories in 30 languages.

Signature Events

Contested at a number of the world’s most historic and recognizable courses, Signature Events complement THE PLAYERS Championship, the four majors and the FedExCup Playoffs. These events feature limited fields comprised of the world’s best competing head-to-head on a regular cadence throughout the season.

The eight Signature Events, which offer increased FedExCup points (700 points to the winner), are as follows:

• The Sentry (Dec. 30-Jan. 5)
• AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Jan. 27-Feb. 2)
• The Genesis Invitational (Feb. 10-16)
• Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 3-9)
• RBC Heritage (April 14-20)
• Truist Championship (May 5-11)
• the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (May 26-June 1)
• Travelers Championship (June 16-22)

Following The Sentry, eligibility for the remaining seven Signature Events (field sizes with a minimum of 72 players) includes the top 50 players from the 2024 FedExCup standings. Additional eligibility pathways are available throughout the season, connecting the entire PGA TOUR schedule from start to finish. These pathways include:

• Fifteen members who can play their way in through the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5;
• Current season tournament winners (excluding Additional Events);
• PGA TOUR members inside the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking;
• Four sponsor exemptions earmarked for PGA TOUR members;
• The three player-hosted events each have one tournament host exemption, not restricted to PGA TOUR members.

The Aon Next 10 represents the top 10 players, not already exempt, from the FedExCup standings, while the Aon Swing 5 includes the top five FedExCup points earners, not already exempt, from a collection of Full-Field Events leading up to each Signature Event. In 2024, 48 different PGA TOUR players who did not finish in the top 50 of the previous year’s FedExCup Playoffs and Eligibility Points List made at least one Signature Event start via the Aon Next 10 or Aon Swing 5.

2025 FedExCup Regular Season Highlights

January-February

• The 2025 FedExCup Regular Season begins in Hawaii with the “Opening Drive” at The Sentry (Dec. 30-Jan. 5) at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui and the Sony Open in Hawaii (Jan. 6-12) at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. With the start of the season, all players reset to zero FedExCup points as they begin their journey toward the FedExCup Playoffs. The Sentry, the season’s first Signature Event, includes PGA TOUR winners from the previous calendar year as well as the top 50 members from the 2024 FedExCup standings.
• Following the two Hawaii events, The American Express (Jan. 13-19), played across three courses in La Quinta, California, returns after a historic finish in 2024 where Nick Dunlap became the first amateur to win on the PGA TOUR since 1991. Dunlap went on to win the Barracuda Championship, becoming the first player in TOUR history to win as an amateur and a professional in the same season.
• The Farmers Insurance Open (Jan. 20-25), played at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California, will feature a Saturday primetime finish on CBS/Paramount+ for the fourth consecutive season. The sixth APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational will be played Jan. 25-26 at Torrey Pines, with final-round coverage on GOLF Channel.
• The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Jan. 27-Feb. 2), to be played at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California, is the second Signature Event of 2025 and features amateurs competing alongside professionals (80 players) over the first two rounds, with the competition limited to professionals only for the final two rounds at Pebble Beach. AT&T is the TOUR’s longest continuous title sponsor dating, back to 1986.
• The WM Phoenix Open (Feb. 3-9) in Scottsdale, Arizona, will once again be contested the same week as Super Bowl LIX (played in New Orleans). In 2024, Nick Taylor captured the trophy at TPC Scottsdale a year after finishing runner-up to Scottie Scheffler.
• The first of three player-hosted Signature Events, 82-time PGA TOUR winner Tiger Woods will host The Genesis Invitational (Feb. 10-16) at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. The three player-hosted Signature Events will once again have a 36-hole cut to the top 50 and ties and any player within 10 shots of the lead, as well as a special exemption in addition to the four sponsor exemptions reserved for TOUR members.
• Mexico’s national open,the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld (Feb. 17-23), became an official PGA TOUR event in 2022. In 2024, rookie Jake Knapp earned his maiden PGA TOUR title at VidantaWorld in Vallarta, Mexico.
• Rounding out the month of February will be the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches (February 24-March 2), kicking off the traditional Florida swing at The Champion Course at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

March-April

• Staying in Florida, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 3-9) — backed by more than 20 years of support from Mastercard — will be contested at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando. The tournament’s namesake — the late Arnold Palmer — was one of the founding members of the PGA TOUR in 1968 and is considered golf’s greatest ambassador. The Puerto Rico Open will be played concurrently at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Puerto Rico.
• With support from Proud Partners Comcast Business, Optum and Morgan Stanley, the PGA TOUR’s flagship event, THE PLAYERS Championship (March 10-16), returns to THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. In 2024, world No. 1 and FedExCup leader Scottie Scheffler became the first player to successfully defend a title at THE PLAYERS, edging Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman by one shot.
• One week later, the Valspar Championship (March 17-23) returns to Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida, a favorite venue among PGA TOUR members. Peter Malnati captured his second career PGA TOUR title on the Copperhead Course in 2024.
• Two weeks in Texas lead the run-up to the Masters Tournament (April 7-13). The first stop is the Texas Children’s Houston Open (March 24-30) at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston. The 2025 season will mark the second consecutive year of the Houston event being played in the spring. The following week, the Valero Texas Open (March 31-April 6) is set for TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course, where Akshay Bhatia captured the 2024 title in wire-to-wire fashion, earning the final exemption into the Masters.
• The week after the Masters, the fifth Signature Event of 2025, the RBC Heritage (April 14-20), returns to the Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. That same week, the Corales Puntacana Championship, an Additional Event in the Dominican Republic, returns to Puntacana Resort & Club’s Corales Golf Course.
• The PGA TOUR’s only official team event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (April 21-27), features two-player teams competing in both Foursomes and Four-Ball competition over 72 holes. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry emerged victorious at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana, in 2024.

May-July

• In CJ Group’s second year as title sponsor, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson (April 28-May 4) — named in honor of the legendary Texan who captured 52 career PGA TOUR titles — will be held at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
• Truist was announced on Aug. 6 as title sponsor of the TOUR’s traditional stop at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. With Quail Hollow Club set to host the 2025 PGA Championship (May 12-18), the Truist Championship (May 5-11) will be contested at The Philadelphia Cricket Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That same week, the second edition of the Myrtle Beach Classic at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, will be played.
• The Charles Schwab Challenge (May 19-25) returns to Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, the longest-running host venue on the PGA TOUR (outside of the majors), where Davis Riley held off world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in 2024 to earn his second PGA TOUR title.
• Hosted by golf’s greatest sportsman, Jack Nicklaus, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (May 26-June 1) returns to its traditional position on the TOUR’s calendar following Memorial Day. The Signature Event will be played at Nicklaus’ masterpiece, Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.
• The RBC Canadian Open (June 2-8) will make its debut at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course), just the eighth facility to host Canada’s national men’s open golf championship since 1977. The event returns to its traditional date the week prior to the U.S. Open.
• Following the U.S. Open (June 9-15) at Oakmont Country Club outside Pittsburgh, the TOUR heads 475 miles northeast to Cromwell, Connecticut, for the final Signature Event of 2025, the Travelers Championship (June 16-22). In 2024, Scottie Scheffler won his fourth Signature Event of the season at TPC River Highlands and sixth Regular Season event before going on to claim the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
• A pair of TPC Network courses that host PGA TOUR events will celebrate 25th anniversaries in 2025: TPC Deere Run, site of the John Deere Classic (June 30-July 6), and the Arnold Palmer-designed TPC Twin Cities, which has hosted the 3M Open (July 21-27) since 2019. In addition, the Rocket Mortgage Classic (June 23-29), played near downtown Detroit at Detroit Golf Club, makes up the TOUR’s Midwest presence in Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan, respectively.
• For the fourth consecutive season, three tournaments will be part of both the FedExCup and the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai. In 2024, Robert MacIntyre became the first Scottish player in 25 years to win the Genesis Scottish Open (July 7-13), which is co-sanctioned by both Tours, while the ISCO Championship (July 7-13) and Barracuda Championship (July 14-20) each allow access to 50 DP World Tour members. As previously announced, the ISCO Championship will move to Hurstbourne Country Club (Championship Course) in Louisville, Kentucky.
• The Open Championship (July 14-20) returns to Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Northern Ireland, for the first time since 2019 when Ireland’s Shane Lowry won his first major title.
• The Wyndham Championship (July 28-Aug. 3) concludes the FedExCup Regular Season and finalizes the 70-player field for the first FedExCup Playoffs event.

2025 FedExCup Playoffs

The 19th edition of the FedExCup Playoffs follows, with the top 70 players in the FedExCup standings qualifying for the first FedExCup Playoffs event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship (Aug. 4-10) at TPC Southwind, in Memphis, Tennessee. Those players are also exempt for Full-Field Events and THE PLAYERS in 2026.

From there, the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings advance to the BMW Championship (Aug. 11-17), contested at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland, for the second time. In 2021, Patrick Cantlay won in a six-hole playoff en route to winning the FedExCup. Players who advance to the BMW Championship are fully exempt for the following season and qualify for all Signature Events in 2026.

Following the BMW Championship, the top 30 will move on to the season-ending TOUR Championship (Aug. 18-24). With support from Proud Partners Accenture, The Coca-Cola Company and Southern Company, the FedExCup Playoffs finale at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, will crown the FedExCup Champion and award a $25 million bonus.

FedExCup Fall

After the TOUR Championship, the 2025 FedExCup Fall will finalize top 125 eligibility for the 2026 season, as well as starts in THE PLAYERS. While players in the top 50 will continue to be eligible for FedExCup Fall events, players ranked No. 51 and beyond carry over their FedExCup points from the Regular Season and FedEx St. Jude Championship and will continue to accumulate points through the FedExCup Fall toward their eligibility status for 2026.

HAMILTON, Ontario — Ryan Fox closed with a 14-foot birdie putt late Friday afternoon for a 6-under 64 and a share of the second-round lead with Robert MacIntyre in the RBC Canadian Open.

Finishing on the front nine at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, Fox birdied the par-5 fourth and par-4 fifth, then rebounded from a bogey on the par-3 sixth with the birdie on the par-4 ninth. The 37-year-old New Zealander is winless in 47 career PGA Tour starts.

“I drove it great, I hit may irons really well and had a few more putts drop today,” said Fox, the the son of former New Zealand rugby star Grant Fox. “It could have been really silly, but I still had a lot of good putts.”

MacIntyre had a 66 in the morning for his second straight bogey-free round. The 27-year-old Scottish left-hander is winless in 44 career PGA Tour starts.

“When I missed the green I’ve had a good short game,” MacIntyre said. “To be honest, I think I’ve missed it in the right spots. I miss it fat side of the green, not short-sided and we can kind of run it. If not, we fly it over it.”

The leaders were at 10-under 130 on the traditional layout.

“Golf course kind of suits my eye,” Fox said. “Similar grass to what we play at home. Similar kind of old style, tree-lined golf course, which is what I grew up on.”

Joel Dahmen was third, two strokes back after a 65.

“I believe I should be here. It’s where I’m supposed to be, so I’m excited to hit golf shots under the gun on the weekend,” Dahmen said. “I haven’t done that in a long time, so I’m excited for that.”

Canadian Mackenzie Hughes had two eagles — and two closing bogeys — in a 64 to join first-round leader David Skinns and Andrew Novak at 7 under.

“I’ve had a few minutes to process the round and kind of the whole day, and while the finish was disappointing, I look at the whole body of work,” Hughes said. “If you told me I was going to shoot 64, I would have taken it. It gets me into contention for the weekend and that’s all I can ask for.”

Defending champion Nick Taylor missed the cut with rounds of 72 and 71. Last year at Oakdale in Toronto, he made an 80-foot eagle putt in a playoff to become the first Canadian to win the event since 1954.

Two-time Canadian Open champion Rory McIlroy, was 2 under, following a 66 on Thursday with a 72 playing alongside Taylor. McIlroy won in 2019 the last time the tournament was in Hamilton and again in 2022 at St. George’s in Toronto.

Skinns followed his opening 62 with a 71.

“I just couldn’t get a putt to go in, that’s really the story,” Skinns said. “It wasn’t that much different. It looks a lot different on the scorecard, but it wasn’t that much different.”

Novak shot 67.

If golf was a game of who has the biggest gallery, Nick Taylor, Taylor Pendrith, and Rory McIlroy would be the runaway leaders at the RBC Canadian Open.

England’s David Skinns had a one-shot lead after the first round of the national men’s golf championship on Thursday thanks to an 8-under 62 round in the afternoon. 

His final few holes were witnessed by a fraction of the number of fans who had shown up early in the day to follow the marquee grouping of Taylor, Pendrith, and McIlroy, even as they shot higher scores at Hamilton Golf and Country Club than Skinns or early leaders Sam Burns and Sean O’Hair, who were second after the first round at 7 under.

“Usually the morning round for me on a Thursday there’s not that many people there,” said Taylor, who is from Abbotsford, B.C. “The energy was high, which was great, gets the adrenalin going, which is fun that early in the morning, gets you focused on what you need to do. 

“Unfortunately, it didn’t go my way, but the crowds have been amazing.”

Skinns and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre climbed the leaderboard in the afternoon to reel in Burns and O’Hair, who had a three-stroke lead after the round’s first wave. MacIntyre shot a 6-under 64 to take sole possession of fourth after 18 holes.

Even as Skinns and MacIntyre fired bogey-free rounds, the gallery following them was relatively small as many fans had left following the morning start of Taylor, Pendrith and McIlroy.

Taylor and Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., are the top two Canadians on the PGA Tour, ranked 32 and 33 on the FedEx Cup standings respectively. Taylor is also very much the face of the event after he became the first Canadian to win the men’s national golf championship in nearly seven decades at last year’s tournament.

“There was definitely more people watching us than last time I played (in Hamilton) or last time I played the Canadian Open,” said Pendrith. “We had fun. Rory played, scored, really nicely. It was fun to play with Nick. 

“It was a comfortable pairing and it was fun to have the support of the home crowd and should be good tomorrow.”

McIlroy, who won the Canadian Open in 2019 the last time it was in Hamilton and again in Toronto in 2022, did the best of the marquee trio. He finished the day tied for fourth at 4-under 66. 

The Northern Irishman, fourth on the FedEx Cup rankings, said he was impressed with all the spectators who were at the 10th tee when his group teed off at 7:40 a.m.

“The Canadian fans came out to support them,” said McIlroy of Taylor and Pendrith. “One of the main reasons I love coming back here is because of that atmosphere that’s created when we’re out there to play, and playing with two Canadians today was, it was exactly what I expected.”

Pendrith had a 1-under 69 round to finish the day tied for 33rd. 

Taylor finished his day at 2-over 72, good for 96th. He took heart from the fact that he opened last year’s Canadian Open at Toronto’s Oakdale Golf and Country Club with a 3-over 75 round, made the cut, and went on to win in a thrilling four-hole playoff.

“I guess I beat last year by three, so I got that going for me,” said Taylor. “Obviously not out of it. I know that but personally, I would have liked to have got off to a better start. 

“Again, the score is out there, the greens are soft, they’re receptive, just need to be a little sharper.”

O’Hair played bogey-free golf with five birdies and an eagle and Burns had a bogey, four birdies, and two eagles as they built a three-shot lead in the morning.

“I think with all the rain we had early in the week the greens are still pretty receptive,” said Burns after coming off the course at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. “It makes a big difference on par-5s when you have a long iron or a wood coming in there to be able to stop the ball pretty quick.”

Despite drawing the big crowds, Taylor and Pendrith weren’t even the low Canadians.

Forty-four-year-old David Hearn from nearby Brantford, Ont., was the low Canadian. He was tied for 11th at 3-under 67. Fifty-four-year-old Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., was a shot behind Hearn to sit in a group tied for 20th.

“Hey, how about that? Maybe experience still has something,” said Hearn. “That’s great. I didn’t know that was the case. I saw Weirsy was off to a great start today, so that was good to see.

“Obviously Weirsy and I, that’s a great start. We’ve got three more rounds to follow it up with, so we’ll see what we can do.”

The road to The 152^nd Open Championship will stop in Canada once again, as the 2024 RBC Canadian Open contested May 30 to June 2 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. will be among 16 events in 11 countries to make up The Open Qualifying Series for 2024.

The 2024 RBC Canadian Open will offer up three qualifying places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut at the 113^th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship.

The race to qualify for The 152^nd Open at Royal Troon gets under way this week with three places on offer through the Joburg Open in South Africa.

The Joburg Open is the first event in The Open Qualifying Series for 2024 which offers golfers around the world opportunities to book their place in golf’s original championship.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said: “The race to qualify for The 152^nd Open at Royal Troon is now under way and offers golfers all over the world a range of opportunities to secure a coveted place in the Championship.

“We look forward to seeing the drama unfold in the coming months as golfers emerge from tour events or Final Qualifying to book their place at Royal Troon next year.”

The ISPS HANDA Australian Open, which is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour and being played at The Lakes and The Australian from 30 November – 3 December, will offer three places.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, the RBC Canadian Open and the John Deere Classic will offer golfers on the PGA Tour opportunities to qualify.

On the DP World Tour, places will be awarded at the KLM Open, Italian Open and Genesis Scottish Open, which is co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour.

Three events in Asia will be added to The Open Qualifying Series after the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and KPGA Korean Tour have announced their schedules for 2024.

Final Qualifying events will be held at Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire on 2 July with a minimum of 16 places available. This will follow 14 Regional Qualifying events taking place on 24 June. Fulford and Bearwood Lakes have been added to the list of venues hosting Regional Qualifying.

Where any golfer who earns a qualifying place through an Open Qualifying Series event before the closing date for entries then becomes exempt under one or more other categories, that qualifying place will be awarded to the next best placed non-exempt golfer at that qualifying event.

The R&A will confirm the exemptions for The 152^nd Open at Royal Troon early in the new year.

The 152^nd Open will be played at Royal Troon from 18-21 July 2024.

The Open Qualifying Series will offer the following qualification places in The 152^nd Open:
 

NB. Three events in Asia will also be added to the Open Qualifying Series after the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and KPGA Korean Tour have announced their schedules for 2024.

Eight Hamilton charities and community organizations are the beneficiaries of a total of $257,000 that was handed out recently by the Hamilton Golf and Country Club Foundation.

Hamilton Golf and Country Club will play host to the 2024 RBC Canadian Open May 28-June 2.

Local organizations including the Eva Rothwell Centre, Ancaster Community Services, St. Joe’s Youth and Wellness Centre, the Bob Kemp Hospice, CityKidz, Hamilton YWCA, the HGCC Foundation Bursary program and the Muscular Dystrophy Association each received support ranging from $20,000 to $70,000.

The funds were raised throughout 2023 primarily through the 51^st Annual Dick Borthwick Memorial Golf Tournament and the Women’s Section Par for a Cause event, as well as individual HGCC member donations. The partnerships with the charities are all member sponsored.

The Eva Rothwell Centre has received a total of $120,000 in support from the HGCC Foundation over the past three years.

“On behalf of the army of children who benefit from our programs including the Larry Paikin Literacy Express train I would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the support over the last three years. It makes a meaningful difference in the lives of so many youngsters who struggle to learn to read and write in our community,” says Program Manager Jordan Bailey, who has worked at the centre for the past nine years. He noted that children in the north end Hamilton community can be two and three years behind in their reading and writing skills from the grade they are in.

“I have watched a lot of these kids grow up from being young children into their teens and the progress many of them have made is incredible. It takes a village to make this impact and your support is invaluable. I want you to know we are changing the lives of kids for the better. It’s my favourite part of my job,” Bailey shared.

Members and guests at the cheque presentation heard similar impact stories and words of thanks.

The largest single payout went to the YWCA Hamilton building fund with a record amount of $70,000 raised by the Women’s Section through the Par for A Cause golf tournament organized by co-chairs Karen Llewellyn, Melanie Oster and Victoria Walzak Mosca.

Ancaster Community Services received $20,000 to purchase food for its foodbank. The Bob Kemp Hospice received $40,000 to assist with a building campaign for a new 10-bed pediatric hospice with construction set to start in the new year.

The HGCC Foundation is close to announcing 10 new member sponsored charity partners for three-year terms including 2024, 2025 and 2026. Over that time period, Foundation President Alan Scott anticipated the foundation will donate over $1 million to those charities.