PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR announced today that Rory McIlroy has been named the 2019 PGA TOUR Player of the Year as voted by the TOUR’s membership for the 2018-19 season. McIlroy will receive the Jack Nicklaus Award for winning PGA TOUR Player of the Year for the third time in his career (2012, 2014, 2019).

Sungjae Im was voted 2019 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year and will receive the Arnold Palmer Award, renamed in 2019 as a tribute to its namesake’s influence on countless young players and a fitting honor for its recipients, who will shape the game and the PGA TOUR for generations to come.

PGA TOUR members who played at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2018-19 season were eligible to vote. The balloting process ended on September 6.

McIlroy, 30, of Holywood, Northern Ireland, won the FedExCup for the second time (2016, 2019), becoming just the second player to win the season-long race multiple times (Tiger Woods), and the first player to win THE PLAYERS Championship and the FedExCup in the same season. With three wins on the season (THE PLAYERS, RBC Canadian Open, TOUR Championship), McIlroy matched Brooks Koepka for the most on TOUR, and marked the third time he collected three or more victories in a single season. McIlroy also won the Byron Nelson Award for Adjusted Scoring Average (69.057) for the third time in his career and led the PGA TOUR in Top-10s (14) and Strokes Gained: Total (2.551).

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, my congratulations to Rory McIlroy on being voted the 2019 PGA TOUR Player of the Year by the TOUR’s membership,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “While there are a number of honors one can receive in this game, PGA TOUR Player of the Year has to be among the most satisfying as it comes directly from his peers. Rory’s season was a model of consistency punctuated by milestone victories and ultimately the FedExCup in Atlanta.”

One heck of a year, champ! Congrats to @McIlroyRory on being named the #PGATOUR’s 2018-19 Player of the Year! ????#LiveUnderPar #Golf_Canada_Network_Leaderboard_BigBox pic.twitter.com/mluGMjWGId

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) September 11, 2019

After one start in the fall of 2018 (World Golf Championships/HSBC Champions), McIlroy opened the 2019 calendar year with top-sixes in his first five starts before winning THE PLAYERS for his 15th career PGA TOUR victory. He became only the third player to win THE PLAYERS, a major, the FedExCup and a World Golf Championships event in a career, joining Tiger Woods and Henrik Stenson.

Six starts later, McIlroy made his tournament debut at the RBC Canadian Open, where he set the tournament record and won by seven shots, the largest winning margin of the season.

Three of McIlroy’s 14 top-10 finishes came at World Golf Championships events: Mexico Championship/2, Dell Technologies Match Play/T9 and FedEx St. Jude Invitational/T4.

McIlroy ended the PGA TOUR Regular Season at No. 2 in the FedExCup standings, claiming second place in the inaugural Wyndham Rewards Top 10, a $10 million bonus pool split among the top-10 finishers in the FedExCup Regular Season.

McIlroy entered the TOUR Championship at No. 5 in the FedExCup standings, beginning the FedExCup Playoffs finale at 5-under, based on the new FedExCup Starting Strokes system. With rounds of 66-67-68-66, McIlroy won the TOUR Championship and hoisted the FedExCup for the second time in his career.

McIlroy was selected for the honor over (alphabetically) Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar and Xander Schauffele.

Im, a 21-year-old native of Jeju, South Korea, was the only rookie to advance to the TOUR Championship and finished the season tied for 19th in the FedExCup standings. With his Rookie of the Year honors, Im joins Stewart Cink (1996-97) as the only players to be named the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year and PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year in consecutive seasons.

For the season, Im made 26 cuts in 35 starts, becoming the first rookie in the FedExCup era to play 35 or more events. He recorded seven top-10s, highlighted by three top-fives, with his best finish of the season coming at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, where he tied for third.

“Congratulations to Sungjae on being voted 2019 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year,” said Monahan. “His ‘Ironman’ season was remarkably consistent from start-to-finish, and his fellow players raved about his all-around game throughout the year. Like so many Korn Ferry Tour graduates, he arrived on the PGA TOUR prepared to compete with the world’s best, and his season was a reflection of a maturity beyond his 21 years.”

Im was selected for the honor over (alphabetically) Cameron Champ, Adam Long, Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR today announced an expanded 2019-20 Season schedule of 49 FedExCup tournaments, featuring a dramatically changed opening segment and several late-season adjustments to accommodate the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The schedule reflects a net increase of three tournaments over the current season. Eleven of the 46 Regular Season events will be conducted in the opening portion of the schedule between September-November. This segment includes two new tournaments in The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP in Japan and the Bermuda Championship, plus the return of A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier and the Houston Open following one-year absences due to their transition from 2018 mid-season dates.

The RBC Canadian Open will be held from June 8-14 at the historic St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ont. The return to St. George’s will mark the sixth time that the celebrated Stanley Thompson classic course has played host to Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship, most recently in 2010. Islington Golf Club, also a Stanley Thompson design, will proudly play host to the tournament practice facility for both years of the event’s return to the city of Toronto, as it did in 2010.

Later in the season, the TOUR will have an open week during the men’s Olympic competition (week of July 27-August 2) before resuming with the Wyndham Championship and three FedExCup Playoffs events. Several changes also have been made leading up to the Olympics, most notably: the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit moving one month earlier to late May; and the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational and Barracuda Championship shifting from late July to the first week of the month, exchanging dates with the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota.

“After a very successful first year with our new schedule, we are thrilled to expand the number of events to 49 while maintaining a great flow from start-to-finish, allowing our fans to better engage and follow the TOUR throughout the season,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “For the second year, we’re excited about kicking off the Season of Championships with THE PLAYERS in March, bookended by the FedExCup Playoffs in August, and the return of the Olympics in that window. As for the early-season portion of the schedule, our players grasp the importance of a strong start in the Race for the FedExCup and this has translated into growth and momentum for the events played in the fall.”

With the PGA TOUR season now ending in August at the TOUR Championship, the 2019-20 season will open the week of September 9-15 with A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier. The Sanderson Farms Championship follows with its first-ever standalone date (September 16-22), before the TOUR moves on to the Safeway Open, Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and Houston Open.

The TOUR then embarks on a three-tournament Asian swing, beginning October 14-20 with THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES at Jeju Island, Korea. The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP debuts at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba Prefecture October 21-27, followed by the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, the week of October 28-November 3, which also marks the debut of the Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Club in Southampton.

Following a week off, the TOUR continues the 2019 segment at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (November 11-17) before concluding with The RSM Classic. While that marks the end of FedExCup competition until the first week of January 2020, the 13^thPresidents Cup returns to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia the week of December 9-15. It was there that the International Team claimed its lone victory over the U.S. Team in 1998.

Once the TOUR resumes in January in Hawaii, the scheduling sequence remains unchanged from the current season until the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s move from the last week of June to May 25-31. The next four weeks remain the same before the move of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational and Barracuda Championship to June-29-July 5 and the 3M Open to July 20-26, the week before the Olympic competition.

Following the Olympic Games, the Regular Season wraps up at the Wyndham Championship (August 3-9), where not only the FedExCup Playoffs field will be finalized, but the added drama of the season-long Wyndham Rewards Top 10 will be determined. Introduced this season, the $10 million competition caps the Regular Season by rewarding the 10 leaders in FedExCup points, with $2 million going to the winner.

Due to the off week for the Olympics, the FedExCup Playoffs will begin one week later and conclude the final week of August: THE NORTHERN TRUST August 10-16; BMW Championship August 17-23; and the TOUR Championship August 24-30.

The FedExCup Playoffs wrap up the Season of Championships, which begins with THE PLAYERS Championship (March 9-15) and continues through the Masters Tournament (April 6-12); PGA Championship (May 11-17); U.S. Open (June 15-21); and The Open Championship (July 13-19).

Several new or familiar venues are included during this stretch, beginning with the PGA Championship visiting TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, the U.S. Open returning to Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, and The Open Championship going to Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England.

Additionally, THE NORTHERN TRUST will be held for the first time in the Boston market at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts, while the BMW Championship will visit Olympia Fields Country Club in suburban Chicago.

By: Rob Gavarkovs

Summer is officially open golf fans!

Although it didn’t feel like summer as the players started to stream into the immaculately groomed grounds of Hamilton Golf and Country Club as a mix of sun and breeze kept the sweaters on, the fans know that summer is here, and the RBC Canadian Open is heating up.

Summer means a lot of things to a lot of people, but for the thousands of fans spread across Hamilton’s acreage, summer means golf. There were veteran police officer volunteers, running security detail on errant balls finding the heavy rough; there were young kids lining up on the range for autographs, proudly telling the players that their Dad let them skip school to come to watch the game they loved; and there was a swarm of media members, the tented structure abuzz with talk of the game’s biggest names, Rory, DJ, Brooks and others in attendance this week.

The best way to spend a Monday of Championship level golf is to get to know the course, and how the players intend on playing it. So at 9 a.m., I picked up the group of Hank Lebioda, and Tyler Duncan, leaving the range on their way to the first tee.

Greeting their crowd of spectators with smiles from both players, we were off, and the fun of watching two of the game’s best up-and-coming was plentiful. It is a Monday after all, and the two players, never having seen the course before, were using all their instrumentation to try and dissect the unique challenge that the beautiful Hamilton Golf & Country Club presents.

Quickly, the two professionals in their craft figured out that the rough is a double-bogey maker. The thick, wet, “healthy” rough as Duncan said, is closer to what you’d expect at the Open that takes place south of our border than its Canadian counterpart. “You guys sure know how to grow grass up here,” Duncan said as he chunk-and-runned one up to par-4 ninth hole to an echo of the crowds’ laughter.

After their nine-hole match completed, I had the chance to step aside with Hank Lebioda of No Laying Up fame. He said, “I mean this course is tough but you can score here, someone could go really low this week if they hit all the fairways.” Live Under Par indeed Hank, and from what I saw on the course, it could be him, why not right? “I absolutely love the course,” continued Lebioda, “It’s such a cool, classic design and the layout is amazing. I wish we played way more courses like this on TOUR.”

Hamilton has already been receiving a ton of praise from the TOURs top players, and it shows in the strength of the field. Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, Justin Thomas and more are showing up in Hamilton this week, even Florida Georgia Line and The Glorious Sons are coming to the party, and Canada has come to bear witness.

More news from the ropeline coming soon, stay tuned.

By: Rob Gavarkovs

HAMILTON – Media day for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open Media Day took place May 6 and there is lots to look forward to coming out of beautiful Hamilton Golf and Country Club. The week of June 3 marks the arrival of the PGA TOUR’s best descending on Hamilton’s sloping fairways and pristine greens, and with that comes the official opening of summer for Canadian golf fans.

One of the most notable stories from this year’s event is the players themselves, world No. 4, Rory McIlroy, recently committing his attendance. There is no doubt that McIlroy is excited to play in Canada, a country he is excited to see, and he is especially excited to make his first ever debut in the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

“National Opens are always important, golf is all about tradition, and the Canadian Open being 115 years old making it one of the oldest events on TOUR, makes it pretty prestigious,” said McIlroy. “Hamilton is one of the best venues in the country, and I really enjoy parkland courses that are tree lined and traditional, it forces you to think and shape shots, I wish we would play more courses like it on TOUR.”

McIlroy is a strong player no matter the venue, but with his penchant for driving accuracy and strong ball striking, Hamilton sets up right in his wheelhouse. Don’t count out the fact the RBC Canadian Open is one of the only national opens that McIlroy has not won. Winner of The Open Championship, the Irish Open, the Australian Open, and the U.S. Open, Rory would “love to add this one to that list.”

McIlroy will have some stiff competition, however, as three-time major winner Brooks Koepka and two-time major winner Bubba Watson have given their intention to play this year as well. This is in addition to Team RBC members Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson, Ryan Palmer, and Canadian duo of Adam Hadwin and Corey Conners.

There are really two ways to play Hamilton: the bomb and gouge and the patient plotter. The longer straighter players like Koepka, McIlroy and Dustin Johnson, might elect to hit driver everywhere so they can to give themselves the shortest shot into the green and take their chances with the ankle-deep rough of the short par 4s. Or there is the Webb Simpson approach of hitting fairways and greens, methodically leaving comfortable wedge yardages from the middle of the fairway. Neither of these camps has a distinct advantage over the other, as Hamilton presents its players with few great equalizers. The severe elevation changes first and foremost make any shot a tough shot, no matter the yardage, the putting surfaces are challenging beyond belief. With leaving the ball below the hole paramount, and the fact that this par-70 layout has only two reachable par-5s, par-4 birdie conversion will play a significant impact. This delicate combination is exactly what the PGA TOUR’s best are looking for in a golf course. Like McIlroy claims, it is interesting, it is thoughtful, and it is a true test where the best player will win.

The world’s best players will certainly be here as well, with three of the top-four ranked golfers competing. It’s going to give golf fans a lot of reasons to get excited about the RBC Canadian Open. This was all made in part to the recent schedule change that the PGA TOUR undertook for this 2019 season. It saw the shift of the RBC Canadian Open from directly after a major, to right before one, and that sends a completely different message of priority to players. On this, McIlroy says, “June was a quiet time for me, but I wanted to play more and be more competitive this year so added the RBC Canadian Open. I also wanted to play the week before the U.S. Open this year. More guys want to play the week before majors so the schedule switch will benefit the Canadian Open for a long time to come.” Defending U.S. Open Champion, Brooks Koepka, agrees, “I’ve heard really great things about the course, and for me, it’s an opportunity to play well and build momentum leading into the U.S. Open.” Talk about a star-studded field, and with the Hamilton Golf and Country Club staff working tirelessly on the course and event setup, we are in for one amazing tournament.

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DELTA, B.C. – James Allenby of Langley, B.C., shot a bogey-free 7-under par 65 on Monday to earn medallist honours at Kings Links by the Sea, host of the first of three RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying events of 2019.

Allenby started the day off strong with birdies on holes 1, 5, and 7 before making the turn. He’d add four birdies on the back-nine, including holes 11, 13, 14 and 17.

Allenby was one of 10 golfers to earn a spot in the field for final RBC Canadian Open Qualifying, taking place June 3^rd at Heron Points Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

Austin Hughes of Delta, B.C., carded a 4-under 68, while Raoul Menard of Ange-Gardien, Que., rounded out the top-three after firing a 3-under 69.

Calgary’s Wes Heffernan and amateur Mitchell Thiessen of Chilliwack, B.C., shot matching 1-under 71^s.

Five players all recorded even-par rounds of 72 to punch their tickets to the final stage. They were amateur Thierry Martine of Victoria, B.C.; Noah Lee of Langley, B.C.; Mewail Kidane of Vancouver; Bradford Curren of Hammonds Plains, N.S.; and Eric Banks of Truro, N.S.

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

In total, there are three regional qualifying events, each consisting of 18 holes of stroke play. Provided that there are 100 or more players in the field, the low qualifier receives an exemption directly into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont.

Otherwise, the top 15 percent of finishers at each qualifier become eligible to compete at the final qualifying event.

A minimum of four players from the 18-hole stroke play Final Qualifier at Heron Point will gain entry into the RBC Canadian Open field.

There are two more regional qualifying events before the final qualifier:

• May 16 – TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley
• May 27 – Elm Ridge Country Club (North)

Additional information regarding the 2019 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier at Kings Links by the Sea can be found here.

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

Two-time defending U.S. Open champion Koepka will play Hamilton Golf & Country Club looking to build momentum leading into the defence of his U.S. Open title;

Watson, a two-time Masters champion and 12-time PGA TOUR winner, joins star-studded field competing for Canada’s National Open Championship

HAMILTON – Today, RBC and Golf Canada announced that world ranked No. 3 Brooks Koepka and world ranked No. 18 Bubba Watson will compete in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Koepka, the reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year, has claimed three major championship titles including the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open championships as well as the 2018 PGA Championship. The 28-year old star has already notched one PGA TOUR victory in 2019, and is coming off a recent T2 finish at The Masters.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to Canada to compete in the RBC Canadian Open,” said Koepka, who has played the tournament in 2015 and 2018. “I’ve heard really great things about the course [Hamilton Golf and Country Club] and for me, it’s an opportunity to play well and build momentum leading into the U.S. Open.”

Watson, 40, is a two-time major champion with wins coming at The Masters Tournament in 2012 and 2014. The popular, big-hitting lefty from Bagdad, Florida has two top-5s this season on the PGA TOUR, with a pair of T4 finishes coming at the Valspar Championship and Waste Management Phoenix Open. Watson has a deep connection to Canada as his wife, Angie, is from just outside Toronto.

“Winning a National Open, one that is part of my family now, would be a big deal,” Watson explained. “We’ve got two flags up at our house, so it’s a big deal. It would be a great honour.”

The pair join a world-class field of players including world no. 1, defending champion and Team RBC Ambassador Dustin Johnson, world No. 4 Rory McIlroy, and Team RBC members including Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson, Ryan Palmer, Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker, Adam Hadwin and recent first-time PGA TOUR winner, Corey Conners.

“Having Brooks Koepka and Bubba Watson, both big hitters and Major winners, competing at Hamilton Golf and Country Club this summer is really exciting,” said Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “Three of the top-four world ranked golfers are now competing in our Open, so it’s going to be one to watch, and will give golf fans another reason to get excited about the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.”

“We have a strong field competing at the RBC Canadian Open this June, and we’re excited to welcome Brooks and Bubba back to Canada,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “Adding the pair to an impressive roster that includes Rory McIlroy, our Team RBC ambassadors including our defending champion Dustin Johnson, and a growing list of Canadian talent will make it a memorable week.”

Koepka and Watson’s commitment to the 2019 RBC Canadian Open builds on an earlier announcement that introduced a two-night RBCxMusic Concert Series at the tournament. The concerts will feature Grammy nominated and internationally acclaimed duo Florida Georgia Line on Friday, June 7, and JUNO award-winning homegrown rock band The Glorious Sons on Saturday, June 8.

In the coming weeks, additional players, including Canadians and tournament exemptions will be announced. PGA TOUR players have until Friday, May 31 to commit to the field of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.

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Brooks Koepka’s results include:

• Three-time Major Champion (U.S. Open 2017 & 2018; PGA Championship 2018)
• Five-time PGA TOUR winner
• One-time European Tour winner (Turkish Airlines Open, 2014)
• 2018 PGA TOUR Player of the Year
• Former World No.1-ranked golfer

Bubba Watson’s results include:

• Two-time Major Champion (The Masters Tournament, 2012 & 2014)
• 12-time PGA TOUR winner including 3 in 2018 (Genesis Open, World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, Travelers Championship)
• Four-time Ryder Cup Team USA member (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018)
• Represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics, finishing T8

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

PARINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE.

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

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

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

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

The regional qualification process allows amateurs and professionals from across Canada and the world a chance to qualify for the RBC Canadian Open.

The qualifying competitions are open to members in good standing with the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers with a current Handicap Factor not exceeding 2.0 who are members of Golf Canada or in good standing with their respective associations, as well as other golf professionals.

About Kings Links by the Sea

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EXEMPTION CATEGORIES

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

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

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

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

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

Category C – PGA TOUR Member [2 positions]:

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

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

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

Category E – PGA of Canada [1 position]:

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

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

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

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

Category H – At Large [7 positions]:

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

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

If an amateur wins:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OAKVILLE, ON (Golf Canada) – Today, RBC and Golf Canada announced that world ranked No. 4 – Rory McIlroy – will compete in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Fresh off an impressive victory at the 2019 PLAYERS Championship, McIlroy joins an already strong field of players, including world No. 1 and Team RBC Ambassador Dustin Johnson, alongside team members Jim Furyk, Adam Hadwin, Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker.

“I‘m really excited to play in my first  RBC Canadian Open,” said McIlroy. “There continues to be a lot of momentum around this historic tournament, with a new date, new location and now a new concert series. I’ve had the opportunity to see the passion that Canada has for our sport and I look forward to seeing the energy of Canadian golf fans first hand. I’m also looking forward to squaring off with DJ, Adam and the rest of Team RBC for Canada’s National Open Championship.”

The 29-year old international superstar from Northern Ireland currently holds the No. 1 spot on the 2019 FedEx Cup Ranking. His results also include:

• Four-time Major Champion (US Open 2011, PGA Championship 2012, 2014, and The Open Championship 2014)
• Two-time WGC Champion (2014, 2015) and 2019 The PLAYERS Champion
• 15-time PGA TOUR Winner including 2016 FedEx Cup Champion, 24 worldwide wins overall
• Five appearances (four Team Europe wins) in the biennial Ryder Cup
• Two-time PGA TOUR Player of the Year (2012 and 2014)
• Three-time Race to Dubai Champion (2012, 2014 and 2015)
• Held world #1 in Official World Golf Ranking for 95 weeks over his career

“Rory is one of the game’s most accomplished and iconic young stars – his win at THE PLAYERS Championship this past weekend was incredible,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “We are so pleased that he has added the 2019 RBC Canadian Open to his schedule and are looking forward to giving him a warm welcome to Canada for his first-ever start at the tournament. I’m sure that Canadian golf fans, young and old, will show him our enthusiasm for this great sport.”

Tickets for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open are available HERE.

McIlroy’s commitment to play in his first RBC Canadian Open builds on an earlier announcement this week introducing a two-night RBCxMusic Concert Series at the tournament. The concerts will feature Grammy nominated and internationally acclaimed duo Florida Georgia Line on Friday, June 7, and JUNO award-winning homegrown rock band The Glorious Sons on Saturday, June 8.

 

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Welcome to the RBC Canadian Open, @rorymcilroy – see you in JUNE! ?? #SummersOpen #Golf_Canada_Network_Leaderboard_BigBox

A post shared by RBC Canadian Open (@rbccanadianopen) on Mar 21, 2019 at 5:01am PDT

“We have seen incredible momentum for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open with the move to our new June date,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “The exciting news that Rory McIlroy will be joining the field at Canada’s National Open Championship will be really special for golf fans at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Together with RBC, our goal has always been to continually elevate this tournament, for players and golf fans alike. Having Rory join other big names like Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson and Jim Furyk will no doubt make this a ground-breaking year at our Open.”

In the coming weeks, additional players, including Canadians and tournament exemptions, will be announced. PGA TOUR players have until Friday, May 31 to commit to the field of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.