More clubs in mix for Open in future
The 2017 Canadian Open will again be contested at Glen Abbey. After that, who knows?
But the 2018 version of the Open, and the two after that as well, will likely be held at one of four golf clubs — Glen Abbey, Hamilton Golf and Country Club, St. George’s in Toronto’s west end and Shaughnessy in Vancouver. All four have previously hosted the tournament.
“We’ve had preliminary conversations with a lot of clubs but obviously couldn’t firm anything up until we had that deal done,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons, referring to a six-year extension to the title sponsorship agreement with RBC that was announced this week. “Now we’re going to get serious with negotiations and discussions with the various clubs. All the clubs you could imagine would be in consideration are on that list.
“If you’re looking in the short term, ’18, ’19, ’20, you’re probably looking at Glen Abbey, Hamilton, St. George’s and possibly Shaughnessy in that mix.”
Another possible site is being built in the Calgary area — the Mickelson National Golf Club, designed by PGA Tour star Phil Mickelson.
“(It) is something that we’ll look at,” Simmons said. “It’s a long way from being a reality but I do want to have a good look at that as an opportunity.”
There’s a good chance the 2018 RBC Canadian Open will return to Glen Abbey. It checks so many of the boxes in what Golf Canada is looking for as a host site and is, Simmons says, “the best spectator golf course on the planet.”
But there is still some uncertainty swirling around the Abbey after it was announced last year that the Clublink-owned course would be redeveloped.
In other words, houses would replace the fairways and greens.
How long that will take — groups are for and against the move and anything this political takes forever to get resolved — remains to be seen. For Golf Canada, it is business as usual at Glen Abbey.
“This process is going to take a long time,” Simmons said.
“I have an inkling this is still going to be a golf course for another five, six, seven, eight years. If you talk about the next four or five years, I don’t even think about this not being here.”
Simmons expects an announcement to be made about the host course for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open before next year’s tournament. And when it does come, the next three sites could be revealed.
“I like to be at least three years out, in a perfect world,” Simmons said. “We’re not there right now because of the uncertainty we had (with the sponsorship agreement). But generally, as of right now, I’d like to have ’18 done and be almost close to closing ’19. We’re about a year behind what would be our regular schedule.”
NIGHT AND DAY
Jason Day’s chances of defending his Canadian Open title effectively went away Friday, when he posted a 4-over 76.
But the world No. 1 finished strong with a final round, bogeyfree 5-under 67 to get to 7-under for the tournament.
“It was a good confidence-builder going into next week,” Day said, referring to the PGA Championship at Baltusrol.
“I feel good about my game. Even though I didn’t hit a lot of fairways this week, I actually hit it solid off the face. That has given me, especially after the last two days, a lot of confidence going into next week.”
Just as he was here, Day goes into the PGA Championship as the defending champ.
“I never really look at it as defending,” he said. “I always want to try to win it again and that’s the mentality going into it.”
RANK AND FILE
Playing on the weekend here — unexpectedly — has made Garrett Rank’s travel plans a little more hectic.
The Canadian, who finished up Sunday afternoon with a 4-over 76 to finish the tournament 8-over par, will play in a U.S. Amateur Championship qualifier Monday in West Virginia.
He’s going to have to hustle to make it now, but probably wouldn’t change things for the world.
“It’s pretty cool to play in your national Open,” he said.
“I was really excited to play the weekend. Definitely a memory for a lifetime, for sure.
“My short game kind of got exposed today. I’m disappointed but I don’t do this for a living. So it was like found money for me.”
As an amateur, Rank had to forego any cash winnings. MEMORABLE MOMENT
Day’s second-round drive on the 18th hole might stand up as the most memorable shot of the tournament.
Not because it was stunningly good. Because it was incredibly long.
Aided in part by dry and fast conditions, Day ripped his drive 400plus yards into the pond fronting the green on the par-5 18th. Yeah, he put his shot into the water.
“I can’t imagine talking to Jack Nicklaus back in 1977 and telling him in 40 years somebody is going to drive into that pond on 18,” Simmons said. “He would have thought you were crazy.”