2018

RBC Canadian Open earns PGA TOUR’s “Best Of” award

OAKVILLE, ON - JUL 27, 2018 RBC Canadian Open Round 2. The Rink (Photo by Justin Naro)

“The Rink” fan experience named “Best in Class Element” in 2018

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The RBC Canadian Open was recently honoured at the PGA TOUR’s Tournament Meetings thanks to the success of its fan experience “The Rink”, earning a TOUR award for “Best in Class Element.”

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to congratulate the RBC Canadian Open for this special recognition,” said PGA TOUR Chief Tournaments and Competitions Officer Andy Pazder. “The tournament committee should be extremely proud of its hard work and innovation in making the tournament the best among its peers on TOUR.”

For the past two years, the RBC Canadian Open transformed the par-3 seventh hole at Glen Abbey Golf Club into “The Rink,” a fan experience combining Canada’s most popular pastimes – golf and hockey. The area was modelled after an ice hockey rink, complete with hockey boards lining the hole, upgraded bleachers and viewing decks, while featuring marshals dressed as referees. A net, puck and sticks were available for PGA TOUR players to test their hockey skills as part of Wednesday’s Championship Pro-Am. In addition, several Team RBC Olympians and NHL players also made visits to “The Rink” throughout tournament week to greet fans, take photos and sign autographs.

“From the beginning we felt integrating ‘The Rink’ into our Canadian-themed activation made a lot of sense and was a perfect extension of the fan experience at the RBC Canadian Open,” said Matt McGlynn, Vice-President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “This recognition by the PGA TOUR is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved with the RBC Canadian Open, including fans, players, event volunteers, organizers and partners. Thanks to Golf Canada and the PGA TOUR for working with us to bring this Canadian tribute to life.”

Golf Canada, organizers of the RBC Canadian Open, credited the award to RBC and the collaboration between all event stakeholders.

“Feedback on ‘The Rink’ has been overwhelmingly positive and we are extremely proud that it’s been embraced as an institutional centrepoint for fan, player and partner engagement at the RBC Canadian Open,” said Bryan Crawford, RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director. “Our partners, led by RBC, Steam Whistle, Levelwear and Golf Town, have brought the area to life and we’ve got great momentum heading to Hamilton Golf & Country Club in 2019 with this signature activation.”

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open, headlined by defending champion and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson, will be held at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, June 3-9.

The new early June date begins an exciting new chapter for Canada’s National Open Championship. Fans attending will witness unforgettable golf, top-notch activities for all ages including ‘The Rink’, hip local food and patio experiences, plus new event features soon to be announced.

Get your tickets today to kick-off summer at one of Canada’s premier sporting experiences – www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.

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To view all winners announced during the PGA TOUR Tournament Meetings, click here.

2018

RBC Canadian Open added to The Open Qualifying Series for 2019

St Andrews, Scotland – The road to Royal Portrush will include a stop in Hamilton, Ont.

The R&A announced today that next years RBC Canadian Open will be one of 16 events in 11 countries that will make up The Open Qualifying Series for 2019.

The Emirates Australian Open, which is being played from 15-18 November at The Lakes in Sydney, will be the first opportunity for players to secure their place at Royal Portrush next year. The leading three players, who finish in the top ten and ties and who are not already exempt, will qualify for The Open.

A total of 46 places in The Open are available through the Series, which provides golfers with opportunities to qualify at events around the world on the PGA TOUR, the European Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour, the Korean Tour, the Japan Golf Tour and the Sunshine Tour.

“The race to qualify for The Open at Royal Portrush has well and truly begun and we are eagerly anticipating an exciting series of events as golfers around the world aim to book their place at the Championship,” said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A. “We know that there is real excitement at the prospect of The Open returning to Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 70 years and it will undoubtedly act as an extra incentive for those players who are hopeful of teeing it up at the famous Dunluce links in July.”

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open will take place June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf & Country CLub, offering up three qualifying places into The 148th Open.

Regional Qualifying and Final Qualifying events will take place at venues throughout Great Britain and Ireland.


The Open Qualifying Series (TOQS) will offer the following qualification places in The 148th Open:

The Open Qualifying Series Event No of Places Detail
TOQS-Australia Emirates Australian Open

15-18 November 2018

The Lakes, Sydney

3 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
TOQS-South Africa South African Open hosted by The City of Joburg

6-9 December 2018

Randpark, Johannesburg

3 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
TOQS-Singapore SMBC Singapore Open

17-20 January

Sentosa, Singapore

4 4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties
TOQS-USA Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

7-10 March

Bay Hill, Orlando

3 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
TOQS-Japan The Mizuno Open

30 May-2 June

The Royal, Ibaraki

4 4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties
TOQS-Canada RBC Canadian Open

6-9 June

Hamilton, Ancaster

3 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
TOQS-Korea KOLON Korea Open 

TBC

Woo Jeong Hills, Cheonan

2 2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties
TOQS-Spain Andalucía Valderrama Masters

27-30 June

Real Club Valderrama, Sotogrande

3 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
TOQS-USA Rocket Mortgage Classic

27-30 June

Detroit Golf Club, Michigan

2 2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties
TOQS-Final Qualifying 2 July

Fairmont St Andrews

Notts (Hollinwell)

Prince’s

St Annes Old Links

12 3 places to the leading three players at each venue.
TOQS-Ireland Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

4-7 July

Lahinch, Co. Clare

3 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
TOQS-Scotland Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open

11-14 July

The Renaissance Club, East Lothian

3 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
TOQS-USA John Deere Classic

11-14 July

TPC Deere Run, Illinois

1 One place to the leading player (not otherwise exempt) who finishes in the top five and ties
    46

NB: Any player who has qualified through The Open Qualifying Series is deemed an exempt player. In the event that that player subsequently fulfils other exemption categories those places in the starting field will be subject to Section F of The Open Entry Form.