2024 RBC Canadian Open nominated for three PGA TOUR Tournament Awards
Mike Masaro
PONTE VEDRE, FLA. – The PGA TOUR has released its nominees for their 2023-24 PGA TOUR Tournament Awards, with the 2024 RBC Canadian Open receiving three award nominations.
The 2024 RBC Canadian Open was won by Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre who finished at 16-under, to edge Ben Griffin by one at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. in June. It was the Scotsman’s first PGA TOUR victory, having previously won twice on the DP World Tour, the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown and the 2022 Italian Open. One month later, McIntyre went on to win the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open for his fifth professional tournament win. The 28-year-old was also part of Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup winning team. Equally as special as earning his first PGA TOUR victory, MacIntyre did so with his father Dougie on the bag, caddying his son in Hamilton.
“We are appreciative and honoured to be nominated for three prestigious PGA TOUR Tournament Awards following the 2024 RBC Canadian Open,” said Ryan Paul, Tournament Director, RBC Canadian Open. “These nominations reflect the hard work, dedication and passion of our team, RBC and all of our proud partners, our proud host club, our incredible volunteers and our fans. Together we are continually driven to deliver an exceptional experience for everyone involved in our National Open Championship. We are incredibly grateful to be nominated again this year.”
The 2024 RBC Canadian Open picked up nominations in the following three categories:
Best In Class Element: This award recognizes a ‘Best in Class’ element at the tournament or associated with the tournament. It is to highlight a service, an event, a venue, a campaign, a program, an activity, an operation procedure or anything would represent a ‘Best in Class’ element that others should consider following or incorporating into their own events.
Best Marketing Initiative: Criteria include the development and execution of a marketing campaign designed to increase ticket sales and attendance.
Best Volunteer Program: Conducts effective volunteer recruitment outreach, training and onboarding programs. Meets and/or exceeds the standard committee numbers required, promotes year-round engagement, communication and feedback. Showcases an outstanding element of their volunteer program, diverse and inclusive culture, embraces the Volunteer Excellent Program and implements appreciation programs leading to higher retention.
Winners will be announced at the 2024 PGA TOUR Tournament Awards Celebration, which take place Wednesday, December 11 in Orlando, Fla.
The 2025 RBC Canadian Open will be held June 3 – 8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont.
Ryan Paul appointed new Tournament Director of the RBC Canadian Open
Mike Masaro
Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Ryan Paul of Ancaster, Ont. has been appointed Tournament Director of the RBC Canadian Open.
Paul has served the past seven years with Golf Canada as Tournament Director of the CPKC Women’s Open, Canada’s lone stop on the LPGA Tour. During Paul’s tenure as CPKC Women’s Open Tournament Director, the National Open Championship has been hosted in four provinces and has become a signature women’s sporting event in Canada, having earned back-to-back LPGA Tournament of the Year honours in 2022 and 2023. In addition, the tournament has won a number of awards including, Best Sponsor Activation (2023, 2022 and 2019), Best Charity and Community Engagement (2022, 2019 and 2017), Best Volunteer Appreciation (2023) and has seen the largest build on the LPGA Tour (2023, 2022).
A member of Golf Canada’s Senior Leadership Team, Paul has led Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship to record levels of commercial and operational success since taking over as Tournament Director in 2017. Last month’s CPKC Women’s Open – hosted for the first time ever at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, Alta. set a new tournament record with 73,290 fans attending the event.
“Ryan Paul has done a tremendous job in growing every aspect of the CPKC Women’s Open and he will now take that stellar record into continuing to grow the RBC Canadian Open and maintain the amazing trajectory of this award-winning PGA TOUR event,” said Laurence Applebaum, Chief Executive Officer, Golf Canada. “Ryan comes from a lineage of great tournament directors with his father Bill occupying a similar role for many years. Ryan is just the right leader and growth mindset to be the ideal new leader of this great national championship.”
A collaborative and experienced golf industry leader, Paul has been a key contributor to Golf Canada’s professional championships team and the success of Canada’s National Open Championships dating back to 2007. Prior to being named Tournament Director of the CPKC Women’s Open, Paul worked as Golf Canada’s Manager, Professional Championships and Assistant Tournament Director, supporting both of Canada’s National Open Championships – the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open.
Paul honed his executive management skills with Wasserman from 2011-2016 as an account manager on the agency’s key golf accounts for RBC, CN, Shaw, Manulife, and CPKC where he managed operations, experiential activities, and player relations.
For Paul, taking on the leadership position of Canada’s lone stop on the PGA TOUR begins a new chapter stewarding a signature Canadian sporting event that has long been a part of his life.
“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to take on the role of Tournament Director for the RBC Canadian Open. The RBC Canadian Open has always been a big part of my life having grown up with it and is one I am very passionate about. For Golf Canada and RBC to have the confidence in me to play a lead role in our National Men’s Open Championship is truly an honour. I am excited to dive right into preparations for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. The RBC Canadian Open is a world-class event and I look forward to continuing to build upon the growth and success it has achieved,” said Ryan Paul, Tournament Director, RBC Canadian Open. “I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to CPKC, the LPGA Tour’s players, caddies, staff and key stakeholders for an incredible seven years working to elevate the CPKC Women’s Open and women’s golf in Canada. I am beyond proud of what we’ve collectively accomplished highlighted by back-to-back Tournament of the Year honours. I look forward to remaining part of the CPKC Women’s Open team in a supporting role and watching the tournament continue to succeed.”
Paul takes over the role of RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director from Bryan Crawford who left Golf Canada in June to become Commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League.
Paul and his wife Samantha are parents to three young children.
The 2025 RBC Canadian Open will be conducted June 3-8 for the first time ever at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. The 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will be played August 18-24 at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.
Golf Canada has already begun the search for a new CPKC Women’s Open Tournament Director.
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.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre holds off Griffin, wins RBC Canadian Open
(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
John Chidley-Hill
HAMILTON, Ontario — Robert MacIntyre, with father Dougie at his side as his caddie, held on to win the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title.
Four strokes ahead entering the final round at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, MacIntyre shot a 2-under 68 to beat playing partner Ben Griffin by a stroke. On the par-4 18th, the 27-year-old Scottish left-hander two-putted for par from 12 feet, holing out from 1 1/2 feet.
“Goose bumps. It’s incredible,” MacIntyre said. “It’s a dream of mine to play golf for a living. It’s been a dream of mine to win on the PGA Tour. … I just can’t believe I done it with my dad on the bag. The guy’s taught me the way I play golf.”
MacIntyre finished at 16-under 264 for the breakthrough victory in his 45th career PGA Tour start. The former McNeese State player was a member of Europe’s winning 2023 Ryder Cup team and has two European tour victories, the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown and 2022 Italian Open.
“I was in a dog fight there,” MacIntyre said. “Obviously, Ben made it difficult coming in the stretch. He played well. It’s just incredible to do this with my dad on the bag and have my girlfriend here and I’m sure there’s a party going on back home in Oban.”
Griffin had a 65. He parred the 18th after birdieing the previous three holes.
“I fought hard,” Griffin said. “It felt like there was a lid on the cup for most of the day for me. I hit so many pretty good putts, I wouldn’t say like striped putts, but pretty good putts and just kept burning edges. A couple bad putts, but stayed patient.”
Victor Perez of France was third at 14 under after his second straight 64.
Two-time Canadian Open champion Rory McIlroy also shot 64 to tie for fourth with Tom Kim (64) at 13 under. McIlroy won in 2019 the last time the tournament was in Hamilton and again in 2022 at St. George’s in Toronto.
“Three really good rounds of golf, one not so good one,” McIlroy said. “Felt a little out of sorts on Friday. Did a good range session and sort of rectified it.”
Corey Conners was the top Canadian, shooting a 65 to reach 12 under.
“Definitely something to be proud of,” Conners said. “Yeah, obviously disappointing to not win the big trophy, but, yeah, it’s a cool honor.
Fellow Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, tied for second entering the day, was another shot back after a 70.
Last year at Oakdale in Toronto, Nick Taylor made a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth hole of a playoff against Tommy Fleetwood to become the first Canadian to win the event since 1954.
Mackenzie Hughes ‘gutted’ after falling short at RBC Canadian Open
(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
John Chidley-Hill
Mackenzie Hughes had the dream scenario of winning the RBC Canadian Open in his hometown within reach but then it all slipped away.
Hughes started the final round of the men’s national golf championship tied for second, four shots back of Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre. Hughes had three birdies on his first four holes and MacIntyre bogeyed No. 1 to lift the Canadian to the top of the leaderboard.
The final 10 holes were tough on Hughes, with three bogeys dropping him back down as MacIntyre found his rhythm and surged to his first PGA Tour victory.
“Pretty gutted,” said Hughes, pausing to collect himself. “Yeah, I wanted this one pretty badly.
“I don’t know. This one will sting for awhile. I obviously got off to the start I needed to get off to but I just didn’t.”
Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., ended a 69-year drought for Canadians at their national championship last year after a thrilling four-hole playoff at Toronto’s Oakdale Golf and Country Club. It has been 110 years since Canadians won it in consecutive years, with Albert Murray (1913) and Karl Keffer (1914) the last to accomplish the feat.
Hughes spoke all week about trying to stay mentally present and shelve any pressure he might feel. Not just because he was aware of the importance of keeping the championship in Canada, but because this year’s event at Hamilton Golf and Country Club was essentially in his hometown.
Billed from Dundas, Ont., just eight kilometres away from the course in Ancaster, Ont., — both towns were amalgamated into the city of Hamilton in 2000 and 2001 respectively — Hughes allowed that the pressure of the final round did weigh on him.
“Today I felt sort of the enormity of a few of the putts I had and a few of the shots,” he said. “Kind of felt like I was running out of holes at times and that I needed to make something happen.
“In this game you can’t really force things or feel like you need to start pressing, it’s kind of a hard game to be pressing.”
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., actually leapfrogged Hughes on the final leaderboard to win the Rivermead Cup, the trophy for lowest scoring Canadian at the men’s national championship. Conners shot 5-under 65 on the day to finish 12 under in sole possession of sixth.
“I guess it’s a nice consolation prize,” said Conners, who also won it in 2022. “Definitely something to be proud of but obviously disappointing to not win the big trophy. It’s a cool honour.”
There was a small silver lining for Hughes. His performance earned him a spot in the upcoming British Open at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland.
“It’s a great, I guess, bonus after not getting what you want, but kind of hard to think about that at the moment,” said Hughes. “It’s always great to get a major start under your belt and to play at Troon.
“I’ve played there before, so it’s a really fun golf course and looking forward to getting there in July.”
Taylor Pendrith (69) of Richmond Hill, Ont., tied for 21st at 7 under. He is projected to move three spots up to 30th on the FedEx Cup standings, making him the highest ranked Canadian on the PGA Tour.
“A good step in the right direction,” said Pendrith, who went to Kent State University with Hughes and Conners. “I felt like I did a lot of good things, I putted awesome today, saved me a lot.”
Ben Silverman (68) of Thornhill, Ont., tied for 35th, Adam Svensson (70) of Surrey, B.C., tied for 51st. Myles Creighton (70) of Digby, N.S., tied for 57th. Edmonton’s Will Bateman (74) tied for 62nd, and David Hearn (76) of Brantford, Ont., finished 69th in his 20th Canadian Open appearance.
Ben Griffin, Mackenzie Hughes and Maverick McNealy qualify for the 152nd Open through the RBC Canadian Open
The RBC Canadian Open was the was the sixth event in the Open Qualifying Series and was played at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Toronto.
Griffin finished in second place on 15-under-par, one shot behind Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who won his first PGA TOUR title.
Hughes and McNealy finished in tie for seventh place on ten-under-par alongside Ryan Fox, who was already exempt for The Open.
The next event in the Open Qualifying Series is the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, which is taking place at Muirfield Village, Ohio from 6-9 June.
The Open Qualifying Series will offer the following qualification places in The 152nd Open:
Date
Event
South Africa
23-26 Nov 2023
Joburg Open Houghton, Johannesburg
3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt as of the closing date, who make the cut
Australia
30 Nov-3 Dec 2023
ISPS HANDA Australian Open The Lakes & The Australian, Sydney
3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt as of the closing date, who make the cut
USA
7-10 March 2024
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Bay Hill, Florida
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt as of the closing date, who makes the cut
Canada
30 May-2 June 2024
RBC Canadian Open Hamilton Golf & Country Club, Toronto
3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut
USA
6–9 June 2024
the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday Muirfield Village, Ohio
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut
Netherlands
20-23 June 2024
KLM Open The International, Amsterdam
2 places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut
Regional Qualifying
24 June 2024
Various
Italy
27 June-30 June 2024
Italian Open Adriatic Golf Club, Cervia
2 places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut
Final Qualifying
2 July 2024
Burnham & Berrow Dundonald Links Royal Cinque Ports West Lancashire
Minimum of 16 places
USA
4-7 July 2024
John Deere Classic TPC Deere Run, Illinois
2 places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut
Scotland
11-14 July 2024
Genesis Scottish Open The Renaissance Club, East Lothian
3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut
About The Open:
The 152nd Open will be played at Royal Troon from 18-21, July 2024.
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.
Staged by The R&A, The Open delivers an annual economic benefit of around £100 million to its host region, while the Championship’s commercial success supports the development of the game, worldwide.
C.T. Pan uses four caddies, including fan, in fourth round of RBC Canadian Open
(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
John Chidley-Hill
Al Riddell was going to go have a quiet Sunday afternoon coffee with his family when his dad asked if he had heard that Mike (Fluff) Cowan, C.T. Pan’s caddie, had slipped during the fourth round of the RBC Canadian Open and that a fan had started carrying his bag for him.
Riddell put his own caddie gear back on and headed back to Hamilton Golf and Country Club to see if Pan, an old friend of his from the Mackenzie Tour, needed some help.
“I don’t live too far. I’m from here. I live 15 minutes away. So we just got changed, got ready,” said Riddell. “I just went over to see him and if he was OK, if he needed someone and I jumped in for the back nine.”
Riddell usually caddies for Paul Barjon, who missed the cut on Friday, and so he was available to be the last of Pan’s four caddies in the final round of the Canadian Open. Pan shot a respectable 1-under 69 in the rain.
Cowan, Pan’s regular caddie, went down in the middle of the third hole. Paul Emerson, a fan watching the tournament, stepped inside the ropes to carry Pan’s clubs through the fourth hole.
The Taiwanese golfer birdied No. 3 but bogeyed No. 4.
Mike Campbell, who works in caddie services at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, took over for holes five through nine. That pairing grabbed birdies on the eighth and ninth holes.
Riddell and Pan’s wife Michelle — who has caddied for him before — were waiting to spell Campbell at the 10th hole. Pan ultimately chose Riddell for the final nine holes of the round.
“I just brought my yardage book and if he needed info, I had info,” said Riddell. “And if he didn’t, he just wanted me to be quiet which most people do. I just was quiet. So it worked out.”
Pan eagled the par 4 No. 12 hole, but also bogeyed Nos. 11 and 16.
The 76-year-old Cowan was not seriously injured after the fall.
MacIntyre pulls ahead of the pack at RBC Canadian Open; Canada’s Hughes tied for 2nd
Mackenzie Hughes (Bernard Brault/ Golf Canada)
John Chidley-Hill
Mackenzie Hughes is having fun, he really is. He’s just trying to stay focused as he chases the RBC Canadian Open title.
Shouts of “atta boy Mac!,” “Let’s go Canada!” and “We got you, Mac!” rang across Hamilton Golf and Country Club on Saturday as Hughes shot a 3-under 67 to sit in a tie for second with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and American Ben Griffin. All three are trying to catch Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who shot a 4-under 66 to build a four-shot lead heading into the final round of Canada’s men’s golf championship.
“I never get cheered for like this really ever, because when I’m playing in the U.S., I’m pretty much a nobody,” said Hughes, who is from Dundas, Ont., just eight kilometres away from the course. “Being here at home you feel like they’re really pulling you across the line.
“I made a putt on 10 and it was just like, it was like chills. The putt went in, the crowd went nuts, and just some of those moments and things I felt I’ll remember for a long time.”
If Hughes can catch MacIntyre in the final round it will be the first time in 110 years that Canadians have won the men’s national golf championship in back-to-back years.
Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., ended a 69-year drought at the home open at Toronto’s Oakdale Golf and Country Club in 2023.
As long a wait as it was for a Canadian to win the national title — Pat Fletcher was the last to do it in 1954 — it has been even longer since Canadians won it in consecutive years. Albert Murray (1913) and Karl Keffer (1914) were the last homegrown back-to-back champs.
Hughes has said all week that he’s trying to shelve any pressure to keep the title in Canada and just stay present when he’s on the course, even as the crowd is very vocally in his corner.
“For me, it’s about not trying too hard, not forcing things,” he said. “For the most part I would say I did a pretty good job.
“There were a few things I would like to do over again, but, yeah, for the most part playing near the lead in your National Open I felt like I did a pretty good job handling everything and kept myself within distance for tomorrow.”
At the hockey-themed No. 13 hole, dubbed The Rink because of the hockey boards surrounding the tee box, Hughes did allow himself to get personal. For a second time at the tournament he pulled on the hockey jersey of family friend Bill Bath, who died April 23.
“I just feel like he was a huge part of my life and my journey to this point,” said Hughes of Bath, who caddied for him in 2019 when the Canadian Open was last in Hamilton. “We walked these hills the last time I was here and it’s just nice to kind of keep him out there with me, if you will.
“I know we’re in the midst of a lot of chaos and competitiveness on that Rink hole and it’s actually a super hard shot with like a 6-iron or 5-iron, but there are bigger things than golf and he was a really close friend of mine and I’m thinking about him a lot.”
MacIntyre was 1 over on the day through 13 holes, allowing Hughes to briefly take the lead, but he reeled off three consecutive birdies and eagled No. 17 to pull way ahead of the field.
“I didn’t have it great at the start, but I feel like whenever I dropped a shot I bounced back with maybe two good shots into the green, and I would pick up a shot back,” said MacIntyre. “It never got away from me.
“A bit of luck, a bit of myself staying in the moment, staying calm. I got my reward with the putter in the end.”
Two-time Canadian Open champion Rory McIlroy remained an obvious fan favourite on Saturday. Roars could be heard every time he made a birdie putt as he fired a 5-under round to bounce back from a disappointing 2-over struggle on Friday. That lifted him into a four-way tie for 11th at 7-under overall.
“I feel like an honorary Canadian at this point and the support I get here is amazing,” said McIlroy, who won his first Canadian Open on the same course in 2019. “I keep saying it, but just a pleasure to play in an atmosphere like that.
“The crowds are so good, they’re so supportive, so enthusiastic, looking forward to one more day of it.”
Corey Conners (67) of Listowel, Ont., was in that group with McIlroy. Taylor Pendrith (66) of Richmond Hill, Ont., was a shot back in a five-way tie for 15th.
Hughes, Conners, and Pendrith were all on Kent State University’s men’s golf team together.
Fox, MacIntyre second-round leaders at RBC Canadian Open; Hughes low Canadian
Mackenzie Hughes (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
RBC Canadian Open
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.”
David Hearn makes cut at RBC Canadian Open after long PGA Tour layoff
David Hearn (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
John Chidley-Hill
It’s been six long months since David Hearn played in a PGA Tour event. It’s been even longer since the 44-year-old Canadian made a cut.
But he will tee it up in the third round of the RBC Canadian Open on Saturday.
Hearn was the low Canadian on Thursday after a 3-under 67 round but then he laboured to a 3-over score on Friday to make the even-par cut and return to the third round of a PGA Tour event.
“It certainly wasn’t what I was looking for but with as much time as I’ve had off from tournament golf, I certainly was fighting through a few things today,” said Hearn before he knew for sure he’d make the cut. “I certainly hope that I’m around for two more days. I’d like two more cracks at it.”
Hearn last played in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in November 2023 but missed the cut. He didn’t see the weekend at the five other PGA Tour events he played in that season, either.
“A little bit scrappy today, even yesterday. But I feel like it’s closer than it has been,” said Hearn, who is considered a veteran member of the PGA Tour having made more than 150 cuts over the course of his career. “There’s no reason I can’t go and compete and try to get on some of these events.
“There’s been a lot of changes to the PGA Tour in the last year or two and it’s affected guys in my category a lot. Hopefully I can get a few more starts and try to do something.”
Hearn was granted an exemption to play in the Canadian Open, the national men’s golf championship, on May 22. It’s his 20th appearance in the tournament and he has now made the cut in half of those.
“It means so much for me to play in our national championship, to do it here at Hamilton so close to home,” said Hearn. “I had my wife and my kids follow me around, my parents, all my family.
“It was a pretty special week and I get two more days to have a chance to make a few more birdies.”
Mackenzie Hughes (64) of Dundas, Ont., is the low Canadian after two rounds, sitting in a tie for fourth at 7 under. Corey Conners (67) of Listowel, Ont., and Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (66) were tied for 13th at 4 under.
“I knew I was right there,” said Hughes. “I did a great job for most of the day. The finish wasn’t what I planned for, but I’m happy with the result.”
Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., complicated his life by scoring back-to-back 69s to enter a tie for 30th at 2 under.
His caddie Mitchell Theoret is in a wedding party this weekend and won’t be able to carry his bag on Saturday. Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Strome was supposed to sub in for Theoret but he’s attending the same wedding and with Pendrith’s later tee time in the third round he’s also not available, leaving Theoret to find a second substitute.
“I didn’t really play great today, I hit a couple squirrelly shots, but short game was good and I had a couple of wedges to a couple feet late in the round so that it’s always helpful,” said Pendrith before heading to the driving range. “I’ve got to straighten it out a little bit for the weekend but I’m excited.”
Ben Silverman (71) of Thornhill, Ont., and Myles Creighton (68) of Digby, N.S., were tied for 42nd at 1 under. Adam Svensson (68) of Surrey, B.C., finished Friday tied with Hearn at even par and made the cut.
A modern-era record of 28 Canadians were in the field at this week’s home open, with 20 missing the cut.
“It’s a testament to Golf Canada and what they’ve done to help grow the game,” said Pendrith. “All the hard work that they’ve put into the amateur programs, young pro squad, and there’s some other guys who didn’t go through that program who are playing great.”
Reigning Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was the biggest name to miss the cut. He ended a 69-year drought for Canadians at the national championship last year at Toronto’s Oakdale Golf and Country Club.
Canadian golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., Hamilton’s Michael Blair, Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., Toronto’s Richard T. Lee, Cam Kellett of London, Ont., Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont., Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., Etienne Papineau of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., Kevin Stinson of Mission, B.C., Vancouver’s Jake Lane, Max Sear of Stouffville, Ont., Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald and Marc-Olivier Plasse of Mercier, Que., all missed the cut.
Amateurs Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont., and Jakob Chicoyne of Calgary also had their tournaments end on Friday.