The RBC Canadian Open ranks among the oldest golf tournaments in the world. In fact, it ranks as the 10th oldest behind the likes of The Open Championship, the U.S. Women’s Open, the South African Open Championship, and the U.S. Men’s Amateur to name a few. However, it ranks as the third oldest continuously running PGA TOUR event.
First contested in 1904 the Canadian Open has seen it’s fair share of esteemed champion’s names engraved onto it. From its first champion John Oke to last year’s champion – Canada’s own – Nick Taylor many of the names are World Golf Hall of Fame inductees. Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Pat Fletcher, Lee Trevino, Tiger Woods, and more recently Rory McIlroy have won the National Championship of Canada. Interestingly enough, Jack Nicklaus’ name does not appear as a past winner.
Hamilton Golf and Country Club is once again set to take on the world’s best golfers. In fact, it was just a short five years ago when the Harry Colt design hosted the RBC Canadian Open won by Rory McIlroy (Canadian golf architect Robbie Robinson added nine more holes in 1974). Hamilton Golf and Country Club ranks in the Top 100 of golf courses in the world.
With the tournament all teed up and set to begin Thursday morning it’s time for a few pre-tournament thoughts. “Seen and Heard”.
Mother Nature – How do you know when it’s the week of the RBC Canadian Open? Look no further than the weather forecast of the area hosting the event. If the weather is rainy or moist, it just might be tournament week. On Monday, it rained so hard and so much that the golf course was shutdown. Tuesday, more rain showed up. The rough will be lush. Sunny skies and a warm wind on Wednesday will start to dry out the course.
Tommy Fleetwood – On Monday morning there were three golfers out on the golf course. Among them was Tommy Fleetwood and his caddie David Clark. While seeking refuge at “The Rink” (the 14th hole) I ran into the pair. We chatted for a bit about a number of things but I asked him one golf-related question. I wanted his insight about “The Rink” and how it compares to the 16th hole at the Waste Management. While the comments about Phoenix were not flattering the same cannot be said about “The Rink”. One is “belligerent” and the other is “fun”. You decide which is which.
For the record, the two of them are pretty great guys.
Strength of Field – At first glance the field doesn’t look that strong. But then you take a closer look especially as the practice facilities fill up. Suddenly, the field isn’t as thin as it first appears. Of course there are the mainstream Canadians (Taylor, Hughes, Conners, Pendrith, Svensson, and Hadwin) but you have the likes of Fleetwood, McIlroy, Lowry, Tom Kim, Theegala, and so on. All in all the field isn’t too shabby.
Scottie Scheffler – In a few conversations with fans where the strength of field came up one of two questions popped up. Why doesn’t the World #1 play in Canada?
Max, Xander, and Others – Or for that matter why don’t the likes of Homa, Schauffele, Cantlay, Hovland, or Morikawa come north as well. In the case of Collin Morikawa, his fiancee’s family lives 50 minutes from this year’s venue.
Lorie Kane – The affable former LPGA player was on the range Tuesday taking in the action and chatted with a few players including Camilo Villegas. When asked about what she was up to after retiring she said that she’s playing a little bit still while enjoying life at home on Prince Edward Island. Lorie is also very involved with CPKC the title sponsor of the CPKC Canadian Women’s Open.
Canadian Content – Including three Monday Qualifiers there is a record 28 Canadians representing the “rouge et blanc” this week in Hamilton. Among them is Jakob Chicoyne an amateur from Calgary, Alberta who plays collegiate golf at Simon Fraser University.
Bruh, Do You Even Lift? – Perhaps a bit of a misnomer here. These guys are a lot more stocky and built than I previously thought, which says a lot. I think it’s because many of the players were wearing shorts. Folks, do not skip leg day. While the upper bodies are impressive it’s the glutes, thighs, and calves that really stand out. New Zealander Ryan Fox and Tom Kim are two golfers that really stand out. Remember, power is generated from the ground up.
Speaking of CanCon – Who will be the next Canadian to elevate to the PGA TOUR? His name is Matthew Anderson. Anderson has put together a terrific 2024 campaign receiving a battlefield promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour from PGA TOUR Americas.
Mackenzie Hughes – Mackenzie’s response to an ill-worded question regarding the “two-year merger” between the PGA TOUR and LIV Golf was very succinct and clear. The topic of the prize money was a part of the response. Hughes stated that he would love to see the PGA TOUR pivot the focus of the money be more about it’s philanthropic purposes than it’s purses. Said Hughes “the fact that the PGA TOUR has donated more money to charities than other professional sports leagues is a badge of honour”.
Also, Hughes stated that fellow Canadian Mike Weir is looked at by the other Canadian players as a “sort of Godfather”.
Youthful Exuberance – No, we’re not talking about the youth movement on the PGA TOUR. It was children aplenty on Wednesday at the RBC Canadian Open. An estimated 1,500+ children descended on Hamilton Golf and Country Club. The children came from local schools and First Tee participants. Their energy was palpable.
Nick Taylor – What a fantastic defending champion. Not only is he a great golfer but he’s a greater human-being and role model. Growing up as a fan of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks he fondly recalled when former Canuck great Markus Naslund came to a hockey camp he was enrolled. He’s looking forward to continuing to pay it forward. He still hasn’t fully come to grips with his victory in 2023 at the RBC Canadian Open. Especially seeing the mural of him and caddie Dave Markle at the entrance and the new logo depicting his winning putt at Oakdale.
Until The Next Tee!!
#fightandgrind #seeuonthenexttee
The Next Tee (TNT) 