Hughes leads Canadian contingent after round one at RBC Canadian Open
Golf Canada
TORONTO, Ont. – Mackenzie Hughes had a solid start at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, shooting a four-under par 66 after the opening round of action.
“It feels great. The excitement and the buzz seem to be here and I know after three years of not playing the tournament, everyone’s pretty excited about it, so we share that same feeling,” said Hughes. “I know the Canadian players I talked to are all really excited to be here. It’s a different week for us because we don’t get to feel, I don’t do press every week on PGA TOUR, so it’s kind of neat, I kind of relish the opportunity to do it and hopefully have a great week and get the fans behind me on Sunday.”
The Dundas, Ont., native, who was paired with fellow Canadians Adam Hadwin (-1) and Mike Weir (+2), is T5 alongside Rory McIlroy, Lee Hodges, Tony Finau, Patrick Rodgers and Jonas Blixt.
Leader Wyndham Clark boarded the birdie train in the early stages of his opening round at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open and rode it all the way to the top of the leaderboard.
The Denver, Colorado native experienced few speedbumps along the way, carding a seven-under par 63 to claim the outright lead after Thursday’s highly anticipated opening round at St George’s Golf & Country Club.
Clark, who started his day on the back nine, poured in five birdies on his opening nine holes and added a pair coming in, in a bogey-free first round effort – one he felt he deserved.
“I just had the putts fall,” said Clark. “That’s all I felt I’ve needed all year was just a little jump start like this where I see some putts and it’s okay, I’m doing the right things, and I’m finally getting rewarded for all the hard work.”
This is Clark’s third appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. He missed the cut in each of his previous two showings. The 28-year-old says he hopes the momentum from round one snowballs further into the week and beyond.
“I’ve been trending in the right direction, and today it all kind of came together,” said Clark. “I’m really hoping that we keep going this week with that and leading into next week at the U.S. Open and for the rest of the summer. My game feels good.”
Matthew Fitzpatrick also jumped out to a quick start at the National Open, registering a six-under par 64 for sole position of second place. Fitzpatrick was firing on all cylinders out of the gate, notching four birdies in as many holes to start his round and steadied the ship the rest of the way.
“Growing up, I’ve always been kind of more of a straighter player and solid putter,” said the Englishman. “To me round here, it’s just about giving myself plenty of chances to get shots off the fairway to give myself chances for birdie. Today I did that well.”
Doug Ghim and Harold Varner III rounded out the top-three with a pair of five-under par performances at St George’s.
“If you’re hitting it in the fairways and you’re attacking the greens, you can post a low one. But if you’re just a yard off, you’re scrambling for par very quickly,” said Ghim. “I put the ball in play for most of the day and hit a lot of greens. Felt pretty dialed on the greens too, so that always helps.”
“Obviously every week you go on the PGA TOUR, you want to play well, but playing well in front of the home fans and your friends and family, it’s hard to describe how good that feels. So when you’re out there and you’re making birdies and having a good round, it just feels that much better,” said Hughes.
Second round tee times are scheduled to begin at 6:40 a.m. For the full list of Friday’s pairings, click here.
The RBC Canadian Open Trophy on the 16th tee box at St George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ont.
John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press
TORONTO – The RBC Canadian Open tees off at St. George’s Golf and Country Club on Thursday morning. It’s the first time the men’s national golf championship has been held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are five thing to know about the tournament:
REPPING THE MAPLE LEAF
There are 20 Canadians in the field, more than any other PGA Tour event, increasing the likelihood of a Canadian winning the national championship for the first time since Pat Fletcher did it in 1954. Canadian golf fans will want to pay attention at 7:02 a.m. local time when an all-Canadian trio featuring Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., tee off together.
SMALL FOOTPRINT
At 165 acres St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto’s west end is one of the smallest courses on the PGA Tour this season. Returning champion Rory McIlroy noted on Wednesday how tight the grandstands were to some of the fairways, meaning spectators will be right in on the action.
ROUGH STUFF
The U.S. Open is renowned for its long rough and, as the event preceding the third major of the men’s golf season, the Canadian Open is following suit. Several players remarked on the deep rough at St. George’s on Wednesday, including McIlroy, who won the American national championship in 2011.
BEST CANADIAN IN EUROPE
Aaron Cockerill has consistently been the best Canadian on the European-based DP World Tour. Cockerill, from Stony Mountain, Man., is currently ranked 42nd on the circuit that takes in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Despite his international success, it will be the 30-year-old’s first appearance at a Canadian Open as a professional.
SUMMER’S OPEN
The Canadian Open is being positioned by the PGA Tour, Golf Canada, and their partners as the unofficial opening of summer. Part of that is creating a festival atmosphere. Concerts headlined by rapper Flo Rida and pop group Maroon 5 will be held on Friday and Saturday night at nearby Richview Collegiate Institute. The Rink, a hockey-themed feature hole, will return with arena boards surrounding the tee box and goalie helmets marking the tee.
McIlroy ‘loaded with loonies’ as he prepares to defend his RBC Canadian Open title, and more
Golf Canada
Rory’s Lucky Loonie
Defending RBC Canadian Open Champion Rory McIlroy doesn’t need luck on his side when it comes to his golf game. The Northern-Ireland native has notched five top 10 finishes this season – including a second-place finish at The Masters – bringing his total PGA TOUR career victories to 20. However, some would argue that a little extra luck never hurts.
During the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, McIlroy tried on a Canuck superstition when marking his ball for the week – the lucky loonie. Shooting 22-under-par 258 in 2019 (the lowest 72-hole score ever carded at the event), it’s a superstition he’s keeping as he chases back-to-back RBC Canadian Open titles for the 111th playing of the historic tournament.
“I turned up to the locker and there was already one in my locker,” said McIlroy. “And then one of my pro-am partners give me one this morning on the first green as well. So I’m loaded with loonies this week. Yeah, so, yes, I will use it, for sure.”
The lucky loonie tradition became famous during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City when the one-dollar coin was embedded into centre ice by a Canadian maintenance crew to bring luck to the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams. After both squads claimed gold medals, the tradition became a sensation for Canadian sports pursuits across the country and has been going strong ever since.
It comes as no surprise that McIlroy, a self-professed fan of history, would partake in the now-iconic tradition.
“One of the great things about our game is you can in some way compare yourself to historical figures. Figures that I’ve never met before, but I look at a trophy that my name’s on and Walter Hagan’s name is on there or Gene Sarazen or Byron Nelson or Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer or whoever it is,” said McIlroy. “And I think that’s one of the coolest things about our sport that not a lot of other sports can sort of tap into. As a golf historian and traditionalist, I like that stuff. I like sitting down with the Claret Jug at home and looking at the names on the trophy. Like that is so cool. And you look at the Canadian Open trophy and you look at the names that are on that. You’re putting your name in history by winning these national championships.”
Rory will seek to defend his title as the first round of the tournament commences tomorrow.
Corey’sCanadian Coffee
Corey Conners needed a taste of home, and he got it – literally. There’s nothing that yells ‘Canada’ quite like Tim Horton’s and there are few people on TOUR who know that better than the Listowel, Ont. native. The Canadian honoured his citizenship with a visit to the renown coffee shop as soon as his plane touched down in Toronto and, suddenly, he was home again.
“That reminds me I’m home. I think that’s the first stop every time I get back to Canada. Don’t know what it is about it, but that makes me feel like I’m at home,” Conners said.
His order: one cream, one sugar. “Don’t mind an apple fritter [either],” he added.
Mac’s Caddie Shack
Before Mackenzie Hughes played in the RBC Canadian Open Championship Pro-Am, he caddied in it – or at least tried to. Mike Weir served as the ultimate distraction for the 13-year-old Hughes who he walked alongside down the fairways of Glen Abbey Golf Course at the 2004 Pro-Am event. Unfortunately for Hughes, the fairway wasn’t where he needed to be.
“I just did a horrendous job caddying that day because I was so intrigued by just being close to Mike and trying to ask him a question here and there,” said Hughes. “Then my player would be over here in the rough and I’m like, ‘Oh, sorry,’ just nowhere near him.”
Luckily for Hughes, his playing skills make up for his lackluster caddying.
Flavin, Thornberry, Adamonis, Kang secure final spots at 2022 RBC Canadian Open
Jeff Kang (left), Brad Adamonis (middle) and Braden Thornberry (right) clinch their spots at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open via a playoff at the Final Qualifier at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ont. on Jun 6, 2022.
Golf Canada
TORONTO, Ont. – Patrick Flavin beat the rush hour traffic but Braden Thornberry, Brad Adamonis and Jeff Kang got caught in the thick of things at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on Monday. Thankfully for them, the highway to St George’s Golf and Country Club opened up quickly.
Thornberry, Adamonis and Kang survived a 4-for-3 playoff at Oakdale Golf & Country Club to secure three of the final four spots at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12, at St George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ont.
The trio of Americans, who registered rounds of two-under par 69 in regulation, made their pars on the second playoff hole to settle a four-way tie. Piercen Hunt did not make it through.
Flavin carded a three-under par 68 earlier in the day to dodge the madness and punch his ticket to the National Open Championship.
The Chicago, Illinois native was one-over after the front nine but turned things around down the stretch to fire the low round of the day.
“You’re never as far out of it as you think,” he said. “There’s been a couple shockers this year where it’s not as low as you think, especially with this course being so hard. I figured anything under par was going to be a really good score, so three-under when I finished, I felt really good about.”
Flavin is no stranger to Monday qualifiers. The 18-hole stroke play tournament in Toronto, Ont. marks his fourth entry into a tournament via the final qualifier this season, and his sixth total PGA TOUR event in 2022.
“When you Monday in it’s kind of a little bit of a whirlwind because there’s so much to get done, but I think I’ve developed a good formula for what is going to allow me to play well and have a lot of energy on the weekend,” said the 26-year-old.
Patrick Flavin
Adamonis found the greenside bunker on the second playoff hole but for him, that was just as good as hitting the green.
“Long ago, I had a bunker in my yard and I’m like, ‘I’ve hit these a million times, this is an easy shot,’” Adamonis told himself. “I felt comfortable, I didn’t even think about it, and I hit a good shot,” added the 49-year-old journeyman.
The RBC Canadian Open will be Adamonis’ first start on TOUR since the 2021 Valspar Championship.
Thornberry was rolling at Oakdale, sitting at four-under par thru 14 holes but bogeys on No. 16 and 17 forced him down into a T2 position and into the thick of things on the leaderboard but the former Ole Miss Rebel was able to collect himself and prevail.
“I think I had the best round going through 14 holes […] I feel like I was playing really good but kind of didn’t play well coming in, so it was nice to still get through and not have that cost me at all,” said Thornberry.
Thornberry’s first trip to Canada has already been memorable and the Germantown, Tennessee native will look to add to the memories when he tees it up on Thursday.
Flavin, Thornberry, Adamonis and Kang complete the starting field of 156 that will compete for the $8.7 million purse at St George’s Golf and Country Club. Click here for the full list of competitors.
Click here for full results of the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier.
For tickets to the 2022 RBC Canadian Open click here.
Fred Couples, John Daly and PGA TOUR Champions Rookie Padraig Harrington Book Tickets to Calgary for 2022 Shaw Charity Classic Presented by Suncor
(Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
CALGARY—Fred Couples and John Daly are coming back to Calgary and bringing with them the top rookie on the PGA TOUR Champions, Padraig Harrington, for the 10th anniversary celebrations at the 2022 Shaw Charity Classic presented by Suncor, August 1-7.
The trio of major winners – Fred Couples (1992 Masters), John Daly (1995 Open Championship, 1991 PGA Championship), and Padraig Harrington (2008 PGA Championship; 2008, 2007 Open Championship) – are the first to add their names to the tee sheet when the PGA TOUR Champions’ lone Canadian stop makes a full return after operating under a modified structure and ticket price in 2021. The 10th-anniverary of the award-winning community event will feature a string of special events and activities for Calgary golf fans to enjoy for as low as $10.
Couples is the first World Golf Hall of Famer to commit to returning to Calgary. A crowd favourite since the tournament’s inception in 2013, Couples won the 2014 event in thrilling fashion after a career-best final round 61 that included a chip-in eagle on the 54th hole. Boom Boom got sized up for a white cowboy hat after winning the first playoff hole over Billy Andrade.
“Calgary has been a very enjoyable place for me. I have always said, as long as I’m healthy I plan on coming here every year,” said Couples, who has 13 victories on golf’s senior circuit. “The people at Shaw are incredible. The crowds are huge. The course is always in great shape, and I feel like I play it well. There is nothing more a player could ask for. I look forward to getting back and participating during this special year for the tournament.”
A winner of 15 PGA TOUR events, the smooth swinging bomber is remembered most for his 1992 triumph at the Masters Tournament. Once graduating to the senior swing, he made an immediate statement. Finishing second in his first start, he went on to win his next three events, becoming the first player ever to win three of his first four tournaments. Couples has two major championship victories on the PGA TOUR Champions: 2011 Senior Players Championship, and The Senior Open Championship in 2012.
It will be a family affair when Long John Daly makes his first return to the Shaw Charity Classic since his lone appearance in 2016. The two-time major winner will be travelling to Calgary along with his son Little John who will be caddying after recently completing his freshman year playing golf at the University of Arkansas.
One of the most colourful characters in professional sports, Daly is a two-time major champion, a winner of five PGA TOUR titles and one PGA TOUR Champions title who is adored by golf fans around the globe.
The story of how golf’s “Wild Thing” burst onto the international scene never gets old. It was nearly 25 years ago when John Daly was the ninth and final alternate of the 1991 PGA Championship. A 25-year-old rookie, Daly drove halfway across the country the night before his first round at Crooked Stick Golf Club where he eventually went out and won the golf tournament – not to mention legions of fans around the world with his booming drives, deft short game and fearless approach to the game. He backed that up by winning the 1995 British Open at the Home of Golf in St. Andrews.
“I’ve always said I’ve got the greatest fans in the world, and Calgary is no different. No matter what, through thick and thin, they’ve always stuck by me,” said Daly. “This tournament always has huge galleries. There is nothing better than getting it going and having the fans get loud and crazy. That’s just the way I like them so I’m looking forward to getting up to Canada with Little John, and hopefully give the fans something to get loud about.”
Daly and Couples will have to fend off the top name in the PGA TOUR Champions’ rookie class for 2022, Padraig Harrington.
A three-time major winner, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington brings 31 victories worldwide with him to the Shaw Charity Classic. Not only was Harrington the first player from Ireland to win the Claret Jug in 60 years (2007), he was the first European to successfully defend his British Open title in nearly a century the following summer (2008). A six-time Ryder Cup European Team Member added his third major title to his resume when he also won the 2008 PGA Championship which brought him to third in the Official World Golf Rankings.
“I really enjoy it (playing on the PGA TOUR Champions). I was shocked. I’m substantially longer than the field and yet I got lapped in the first two events,” said Harrington. “These guys were just running by me. I played with Bernhard [Langer] and he made me look like an amateur golfer. It was a lesson for me. If I want to go out there and beat these guys – just because you hit it past them ain’t going to do it. You have to be very good with your wedges and very good with your scoring.”
Three of the biggest names in golf are sure to help tournament officials make a continued impact in supporting the more than 260 youth-based charities benefitting from the Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink program. Donations can be made by visiting www.shawcharityclassic.com/donatenow.
“Fred Couples, John Daly and Padraig Harrington are three of a handful of players in professional golf who are needle movers,” said Sean Van Kesteren, executive director, Shaw Charity Classic. “Sport is entertainment, and these guys are exactly who fans of any sporting event want to come out and see. They are extremely talented. They still hit the ball a mile, and are colourful characters who are sure to entertain both with their play and while interacting with our loyal fan base.”
Single-day General Admission tickets for tournament play August 5-7, 2022, that are purchased in advance for the award-winning tournament will cost $10 while upgraded Clubhouse tickets purchased in advance will be only $30 (plus GST and fees). Juniors 12 and under are admitted FREE when accompanied by a ticketed adult. The deadline to purchase advanced tickets is July 31, 2022, at 11:59 PM MT. The RBC Championship Pro-Am (August 3-4, 2022) will also be FREE for spectators to attend.
Limited quantities of advance General Admission and Clubhouse tickets are available for purchase at www.shawcharityclassic.com.
Final field released for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open
Golf Canada
Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field vying for the US$8.7 million purse at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in partnership with nearby Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility.
After a wait of 1,093 days and two years of cancellation due to the global pandemic, 2019 champion and world no. 7 Rory McIlroy returns to Canada looking to defend his title against a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars led by world no. 1 and 2022 Master champion Scottie Scheffler, world no. 3 and 2022 The Players champion Cam Smith, world no. 4 and 2022 PGA champion Justin Thomas and world no. 9 Sam Burns, a 3-time PGA TOUR winner in 2022.
Other notable additions to the field for the 111th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include world no. 15 Matthew Fitzpatrick, world no. 16 Tony Finau, world no. 23 Tyrell Hatton and big-hitter Cameron Champ along with past Major winners, Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, Jason Dufner and Danny Willet.
Team RBC will be represented at St. George’s by a collection of international and Canadian talents including world no. 38 Harold Varner III and 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion Brandt Snedeker along with world no. 34 Corey Conners and fellow Canadian PGA TOUR players Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Roger Sloan, Michael Gligic, Adam Svensson, and Taylor Pendrith.
The field for the celebrated return of the 2022 RBC Canadian Open includes five of the top-10 players in the world (Scheffler, Smith, Thomas, McIlroy, and Burns) and the top-four players on the current FedEx Cup ranking. Seven major championship winners (accounting for 11 titles) will compete along with eight 2021-22 PGA TOUR in-year winners, six past champions of the RBC Canadian Open, and 21 Canadians.
“We are extremely pleased with the field of world-class competitors that make their way to Canada to join us in the celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open and challenge for the 111th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “Led by our defending champion Rory McIlroy, this year’s championship features a strong mix of stars from all around the world and the deepest field of Canadian talent ever to challenge for our National Men’s Open title. Along with great golf, fans will be treated to an incredible festival environment with terrific on-site activities including the Recipe Unlimited Fareway food and beverage experience and the RBCxMusic Concert series featuring Flo Rida (June 10) and Maroon 5 (June 11). It is the return that Canadian golf fans deserve as we get set to kick off summer.”
In total, 156 players will compete for the US$8.7 million purse next week in Toronto when the RBC Canadian Open returns to the storied Stanley Thompson design for the sixth time and first since 2010.
Due to current Government of Canada travel restrictions extending beyond June 1, Team RBC ambassadors Webb Simpson and Matt Kuchar are not able to participate in the championship and have officially withdrawn from the 2022 RBC Canadian Open. Golf Canada and RBC look forward welcoming Simpson and Kuchar back to Canada for the 2023 RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf & Country Club.
Click here for a full field list for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.
PGA TOUR Season Winners…
A total of eight in-year PGA TOUR winners accounting for 14 PGA TOUR titles in 2021-22 will compete at St. George’s led by 4-time winner Scottie Scheffler, 3-time winner Sam Burns, and 2-time winner Cam Smith. Other in-year PGA TOUR winners in the field include Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Luke List, JJ Spaun, and Chad Ramey.
Past Champions…
Six past RBC Canadian Open champions will compete at St. George’s including Chez Reavie (2008), Sean O’Hair (2011), Scott Piercy (2012) Brandt Snedeker (2013), Jhonattan Vegas (2016-17) and defending champion Rory McIlroy (2019).
Twenty-one Canadians to compete for their National Men’s Open Title…
Current PGA TOUR players Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Adam Svensson, Michael Gligic, Taylor Pendrith and Roger Sloan will lead a talented roster of 21 Canadians competing in the RBC Canadian Open. The 2022 event welcomes home a legend as 8-time PGA TOUR and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir will make his 29th start in the RBC Canadian Open. Other Canadians competing on exemption include David Hearn, Aaron Cockerill, Stuart MacDonald, Albin Choi, Myles Creighton, Jared du Toit, Brendan Leonard, Wes Heffernan, Callum Davison, and Max Sekulic along with Team Canada amateurs AJ Ewart and Johnny Travale.
Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…
The final four exemptions into the field for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Monday Qualifier on Monday June 6, to be played at Oakdale Golf and Country in Toronto, host site of the 2023 and 2026 RBC Canadian Open.
Click here for the full current list of competitors competing in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in partnership with nearby Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility.
Tickets for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open are available here.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MAY 13: Mike Weir of Canada plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the Regions Tradition at Greystone Golf and Country Club on May 13, 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
Golf Canada and RBC confirmed today that 8-time PGA TOUR winner and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir has accepted an exemption to compete in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
With the appearance, Weir, the 2003 Master champion and past winner on PGA TOUR Champions who recently finished T4 at the 2022 Senior PGA Championship, will be making his 29th start in the RBC Canadian Open, third-most in tournament history behind fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famers George Cumming (32) and Gordon Brydson (30).
Also accepting an exemption to compete in the 111th playing of the Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship are PGA TOUR veteran David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. as well as Winnipeg, Man. native Aaron Cockerill who currently sits 40th on the DP World Tour ranking. Hearn will be competing in his 18th RBC Canadian Open while Cockerill will make his first appearance.
A pair of Canadians currently competing on the Korn Ferry Tour – Stuart MacDonald of Vancouver and Albin Choi of Toronto – have also been extended exemption to compete at St. George’s. Choi, who is currently ranked no. 93 on the Korn Ferry Tour money list will compete in his sixth RBC Canadian while MacDonald, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad who is currently ranked no. 111 on the Korn Ferry money list will play in his first RBC Canadian Open.
Two other members of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad – Miles Creighton of Digby, N.S. and Jared du Toit of Kimberly, B.C. – have also been extended exemptions. Creighton will make his first-ever start in Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship while du Toit, who made a magical run in 2016 to finish T9 as an amateur, will make his fourth appearance.
Team Canada Amateur Squad member AJ Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. will also compete in his first RBC Canadian Open. The 23-year-old sophomore at Barry University has earned seven career NCAA Division II victories including four this season. Ewart’s Team Canada teammate, 21-year-old Johnny Travale of Stoney Creek, Ont., has also accepted an exemption.
A third member of the Team Canada Amateur Squad—Max Sekulic of Rycroft, Alta. will also compete in his first RBC Canadian Open, an exemption he earned by winning the 2021 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. Sekulic will compete in the RBC Canadian Open as a professional.
Calgary native Wes Heffernan will compete in his seventh RBC Canadian Open, earning his exemption as the top finisher of on the 2021 PGA of Canada player rankings.
Canadian Callum Davison of Duncan, B.C. (2021 PGA TOUR Canada season winner) will compete on an exemption previously earned through PGA TOUR Canada and will be joined by Delta, B.C. resident Yi Cao (2020 Canada Life Series winner).
Brendan Leonard of Cambridge, Ont. recently earned a spot in the field by winning the RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. The next 20 finishers from the Ontario Reginal Qualifier will join 11 players from the Quebec Qualifier (May 9 at Club do Golf Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Que.) nine players from the BC Qualifier (May 17 at Meadow Gardens Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C.), and six from the Alberta Qualifier (May 30 at Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.) in the Final Monday Qualifier on June 6 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club. Four exemptions from the Final Qualifier on Monday, June 6 will be available into the field of the RBC Canadian Open.
A full Canadian contingent will also celebrate the return of the RBC Canadian Open led by world no. 34 Corey Conners, past PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson, Michael Gligic and Roger Sloan.
Tickets for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open are available here.
Hughes finishes top 10 at the Wells Fargo Championship
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
Mackenzie Hughes withstood windy, wet and cold conditions to finish 2-under par and tied for 9th at the Wells Fargo Championship in Potomac, Maryland over the weekend.
After an opening round 4-under 66, Hughes, paired with fellow Canadian Corey Conners who finished two back at even par, carded a final round bogey-free 67 to move into the top 10 at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm – his third finish of that nature this season.
Nick Taylor put in a gutsy performance facing inclement weather conditions and finished in a tie for 15th, while Michael Gligic managed a T37 result.
Player of the week @MacHughesGolf finished with his third top 10 of the year at the @WellsFargoGolf Championship ??⛳
Traditionally hosted by the Quail Hollow Club, the event was moved this year as the course in Charlotte, North Carolina undergoes preparations for the 2022 President’s Cup in September.
For Max Homa, it didn’t matter where the tournament was happening. For the second time since 2019 (the event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19), Homa was crowned champion of the Wells Fargo Championship, finishing at 8-under par, two strokes ahead of runners-up Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Young and Keegan Bradley.
As the final pairing on Sunday, Homa and Bradley seesawed through the closing round, with lead changes throughout the front nine before Homa seized control down the stretch en route to his fourth career PGA TOUR victory and third in the last 15 months.
Drew Nesbitt, Adam Svensson and Roger Sloan were also in the field at TPC Potomac but did not make the cut.
Next up: The TOUR heads south to Texas for the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch from May 12-16. Hughes, Gligic, Sloan, Svensson, Taylor and Adam Hadwin are slated to tee it up for Canada.
World no. 4 Cam Smith joins field for 2022 RBC Canadian Open
Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
Golf Canada
One of the hottest golfers on the planet is sure to be a fan-favourite at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto as world no. 4 Cameron Smith will compete in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.
Competing in his third RBC Canadian Open, the 28-year-old Aussie is having a stellar season with five top-10 finishes including victories at The Players Championship and the Sentry Tournament of Champions in addition to a T3 finish at the Masters. Currently ranked no. 3 on the 2022 FedEx Cup, Smith is a 5-time winner on the PGA TOUR.
“I’ve heard how much positive momentum there is for the return of the RBC Canadian Open. I’m actually pretty excited to get back to Canada for the first time since 2017 and keen to play St. George’s, which I hear is one of the top courses in the country,” said Smith. “Similar to back home in Australia, Canada’s golf fans seem really passionate and I’m looking forward to heading up Toronto in June to compete in their National Open.”
Internationally, Smith is a two-time winner of the Australian PGA Championship, was a member of the International Team at the 2019 President’s Cup and competed for Australia at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Smith joins a strong field that includes defending champion and world no. 7 Rory McIlroy, world no. 1 and reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, and world no. 11 Dustin Johnson along with other members of Team RBC.
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RBC Canadian Open is set to return June 6-12 with an exciting field expected at St. George’s Golf and Country Club this summer. Nearby Islington Golf Club will serve as the official practice facility for the championship.
A full Canadian contingent will also celebrate the return of the RBC Canadian Open led by world no. 32 Corey Conners, past PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson, Michael Gligic and Roger Sloan.
Winnipeg native Aaron Cockerill, currently ranked no. 32 on the DP World Tour, has been given a tournament exemption to compete in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open. Additional Canadian player exemptions will be named in the coming weeks.
Canadians could make history at Presidents Cup by having two or three players on team
Mike Weir, Captains Assistant of the International Team and Adam Hadwin at the Presidents Cup (Photo by Scott Halleran/PGA TOUR)
Canadian Press
There could be a slightly different flavour to the International team at this year’s Presidents Cup. A hint of maple.
Canadian golfing great Mike Weir will be a captain’s assistant for the International team at the Presidents Cup for a third time this September. But for the first time ever there’s a strong possibility that up to three Canadian players will be joining Weir at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.
There has never been more than one Canadian player competing in a Presidents Cup.
“I played in five President Cups, and I was the only one on the team,” said Weir, who is 13-9-2 all-time at the event. “When (Adam Hadwin) made the team, he was the only one and when Graham DeLaet made the team he was the only one.
“In the past, there’s been two or three Australians who’ve been, two or three South Africans. It’ll be great to have two or three Canadians now.”
The International team will consist of the top eight players from the Presidents Cup International team points list, followed by four selections made by captain Trevor Immelman.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is currently seventh on that list, making him an automatic selection. Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., is 10th and Hadwin, of Abbotsford, B.C., is 13th, making them strong options as captain’s selections.
The team will be finalized after the BMW Championship, which finishes on Aug. 21. Points earned from the PGA Championship, which ends May 22, through to the BMW Championship will be given a 25 per cent premium.
The final rankings will be determined by the average points awarded in the qualifying period.
“Those points really go up at the PGA Championship so there’s an opportunity to move up,” said Weir. “It’d be great, you know, as a Canadian to have a couple of guys on the team.”
He added that part of the reasoning behind a captain’s selection is to consider which players will pair well together. The Canadians on the PGA Tour are known for practicing together before events and Conners and Hughes were teammates at Kent State and at the Tokyo Olympics.
“Not that they’d be an automatic pairing, but just even in the team room to have another familiar face would be would be good for Corey or Mac or Adam,” said Weir. “Let’s root them on and hopefully they finish the year strong and all three of them make it, hopefully.”
Kevin Blue, the chief sport officer for Golf Canada, is pulling for more than one Canadian to play at the Presidents Cup.
“We have a point of view that the players have achieved a lot as a group and we actually think that it’s going to serve as a springboard for even more significant achievement down the road,” said Blue. “It’s not to take anything away from the trail that these players have been blazing.
“We’re certainly excited about the direction that things are headed and eager for even more in the future, as we continue to invest in the development of top level players from Canada.”
Kevin Blue
Golf Canada has the stated goal of having 30 players at the top levels of professional golf by 2032. There are a total of 12 Canadians that are regulars on the PGA or LPGA in the 2022 season. Read more here.
