Return of the Canadian Open
Rory McIlroy won the 2019 Canadian Open with a 9-under score of 61. The crowd was a buzz. McIlroy was the most prominent entrant of that year's field. The Toronto Raptors were currently in the middle of their NBA Championship run.
How can tournament organizers make a more successful return of the Canadian Open?
The RBC Canadian Open is North America's only event not to have been played in 2020 or 2021. After the cancellations of 2020 and 2021, the membership of St. George's Golf and Country Club voted for the event to continue on its current course. The championship will be returned to the club, 11 miles from the CN Tower, for the sixth consecutive year.
Bryan Crawford, Tournament Director, stated that "you take the good and make the best of it." "When it was time for us to return, we were going back in a big fashion, and that's exactly what is about to occur."
John Sibley is the Chief Commercial Officer of Golf Canada. He called this year's Canadian Open "the largest operational undertaking" in Golf Canada's history. The Canadian Open will have approximately 210,000 square feet for hospitality, 92,000 more than Hamilton Golf and Country Club's three-year ago.
The Rink will also be making its return. Although it's a Canadian cliché, the par-3 16th will feature hockey boards and hospitality suites dubbed "penalty box" around it. But even Corey Conners (Canada's highest-ranked male golfer) loves The Rink's buzz. He said he would give away "a few jerseys" during tournament week.
Conners said, "The atmosphere was really cool." "It's something different and a little more special about the event, and hopefully we can get some good shots."
Mary DePaoli, RBC Executive Vice President and Chief Market Officer, has struggled to contain her excitement at the bank's return to its home-country event. AT&T and RBC are the only TOUR title sponsors that run two tournaments.
DePaoli stated that her team learned a lot by operating the RBC Heritage Hilton Head for the past two years, and she is eager to apply those lessons at St. George's. She expressed her gratitude for the support of the local fans and Jay Monahan, PGA TOUR Commissioner and Chief Tournaments & Competitors Officer Andy Pazder.
DePaoli stated that the players are eager to see the tournament return online, and to mark its return to Canada. They know that the tournament is very popular from the enthusiasm of their players. They are proud of this tournament.
Despite having a shorter season, golf in Canada has seen a boom that is similar to other North American cities. It should be an exciting week for Canadian golf fans, thanks to the excitement surrounding the event and the unrivalled popularity of the game.
It is also proving to be a great field.
McIlroy will defend his title starting in 2019. Scottie Scheffler, FedExCup leader, and Justin Thomas, winner of the PGA Championship, will also be there. Cam Smith, PLAYERS champion, will also be there.
There are many Canadians who want to win their national championship, and the Canadian contingent is strong, led by Conners and supported by Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Hadwin, not to mention Mike Weir, whom although being a long shot, would be a pretty epic underdog. This could be the most successful year for Canadian hopefuls in recent memory. A win from one of these players would mark the first time a Canadian winner has been recognized since Pat Fletcher, in 1954.
Hadwin finished sixth at Hamilton in 2019 as a low Canadian. Mackenzie Hughes finished T14. Four Canadians were among the four who made it to the top.
Conners said, "It's an extremely special week for me... It's right up there alongside the majors on mine," "I look forward to trying for myself in contention, and I know it will be a great tournament. I have been telling many people that the PGA TOUR will be returning to Canada is something I have heard many times.
Even the mayor believes someone from Canada has a chance at St. George's this year. Tory, 67 years old, recalls George Knudson, Moe Norman, and Mike Weir. But their success stories are singular stars. He said that Canada is strong in numbers.
He said, "I'm very proud as a Canadian golfer of that." "We still have the one elusive win - to see a Canadian win The Canadian Open. However, some of the performances of our players on TOUR suggest that this could be the time it happens. That would be amazing!
Even the mere return of RBC Canadian Open is a beautiful thing.