It’s that time of the year. For the first time in over 2 years or if you’re one who’s very particular and you love numbers 1,093 days the time has come for “OUR” Open. It’s OUR national championship and that’s the RBC Canadian Open, which is being contested this week in Toronto, Ontario at St. George’s Golf and Country Club with an assist from Islington Golf Club. The latter is where the practice facilities will be for the week.
After a final qualifier on Monday, the final field was set and it’s time for defending 2019 Champion Rory McIlroy to defend his title. With much thanks to a global pandemic, it truly feels like it’s been a lifetime since we last convened. But, perhaps it was worth the wait as the 2022 field is as strong as a field can get. While I won’t say that it has the type of field that you’d see in a major championship the overall strength of field is quite noteworthy.
On Thursday morning when the action gets started the star-studded field will be playing for a purse worth $8.7M USD or just under $11M CAD.
As mentioned OWGR (Official World Golf Ranking) #7 Rory McIlroy is back defending his title against a field of PGA TOUR stars led by OWGR #1 and and the 2022 Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler who has been on an absolute tear in 2022. Any time that Scheffler tees it up, he’s been a threat to win. Then there’s the Australian, Cameron Smith who really burst onto the scene during the last President’s Cup. Smith currently ranked #3 in the world won The Players Championship in 2022 earlier this season. Recent 2022 PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, he’s here too and he’s currently ranked #4 in the OWGR. Another player making an appearance at St. George’s Golf and Country Club is yet another player ranked inside of the Top 10 of the OWGR. Sam Burns (#9) is a 3-time PGA TOUR winner in 2022.
But the field is made up of several other stars from the PGA TOUR including a recent addition to the field Matthew Fitzpatrick (#15), Tony Finau (#16), another latecomer to our national championship Tyrell Hatton (#23) and Cameron Champ. Past Major Championship winners Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, Jason Dufner and Danny Willet.
Title sponsor RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) will be very well represented as you might expect. Players like Harold Varner III (#38) will be teeing it up on the Stanley Thompson gem when the action gets started and he’ll be joined by another international Team RBC member Brandt Snedeker who won this championship in 2013.
And then there’s the Canadian contingent. The “Crazy Canucks” are led by the pride of Listowel Country Club in Listowel, Ontario… Corey Conners. Fellow Canadian PGA TOUR players Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Roger Sloan, Michael Gligic, Adam Svensson, and Taylor Pendrith. All RBC-sponsored athletes. In total there will be 21 Canadians in the field this week including the 2003 Masters Champion from Bright’s Grove, Ontario Mike Weir, who will be making his 29th Canadian Open start.
When you tally the field for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open the field includes 5 of the Top-10 players in the world (Scheffler, Smith, Thomas, McIlroy, and Burns). Four players currently ranked inside of the Top-10 of the current Fed Ex Cup rankings. Seven major championship winners, eight 2021-22 PGA TOUR in-year winners, and six past champions of the RBC Canadian Open. Make no mistake about it, this is not your “B Side” or Alternate Field event.
“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 with some notable names missing from the field like RBC Ambassadors Matt Kuchar and Webb Simpson who both officially withdrew due to travel restrictions set forth the the federal government of Canada. Also missing are players like Sergio Garcia and former Team RBC member Dustin Johnson who resigned from the PGA TOUR in favour of LIV Golf.
Without the last two, the 2022 RBC Canadian Open is in very good hands It’s sure to be an exciting week. It’s great to have “OUR” Open back!
Until The Next Tee!!
#fightandgrind #seeuonthenexttee
"The Next Tee (TNT)" 