Return of our national open a big deal for golf in Canada

Imagine if the world fell wildly in love with your music but you couldn't throw a concert. It would still be great news, but something would be missing.

That's what life has been like for Golf Canada throughout the pandemic as Canadians flocked to golf while the RBC Canadian Open went dark, forced to cancel backto-back tournaments.

“Who would have believed in the past two years what would happen with the game of golf?” Golf Canada CEO Lawrence Applebaum said. “We've had growth and more growth in the sport, and we've brought more people into the game than ever before.”

On Monday, much of the country's golf media gathered at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto for an update on the return of Canada's national open.

“It's a culmination of three years and we couldn't be more excited for next month,” Applebaum said.

At long last, the Canadian Open is back and looking to build off the momentum it briefly felt in 2019 when the excitement of a new and improved June date on the PGA Tour schedule was capped off by headliner Rory McIlroy winning in Hamilton. Three years later, the tournament makes its return at St. George's, another tree-lined classic course that shows off the absolute best Canada has to offer.

“It is the largest operational undertaking in Golf Canada's history,” Golf Canada chief commercial officer John Sipley said. “I can't stress enough how excited as an organization we are for the return of the RBC Canadian Open. We are completely sold out of corporate hospitality and VIP product.”

Canada's top-ranked golfer, Corey Conners, said he's hoping to get to Canada over the next month because he's never played St. George's. Conners also said he has been fielding questions all year about the Canadian Open.

“Players all through this year have been asking me if the Canadian Open is going to happen this year,” he said. “I've told people that I'm really hoping that they go because it will be a big event and a great tournament.”

The task of getting players to firmly commit to play began in earnest at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in February, said RBC executive vice-president Mary DePaoli.

“The first thing we found we had to do was remind them that Canada was open and that the tournament would be happening and that tourism is alive and well, and that COVID was under control and being managed,” said DePaoli. “The fact that Rory McIlroy was coming back to defend was very attractive to the other players, and from there the strength of field is building as expected.”

Players Championship winner Cameron Smith was added to the tournament on Monday, as were Tony Finau and Matt Fitzpatrick. They will join a field that already includes McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

The fact that Greg Norman's Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series scheduled its inaugural event in England opposite the RBC Canadian Open will certainly be a major talking point.

DePaoli said her team at RBC is in constant discussion with the PGA Tour.

“As a two-tournament title sponsor, they certainly know that our tournaments are important to us and the competitiveness of their overall league is important to us; we are very invested in golf,” she said.

“We're very confident and we are looking ahead, we are not looking in the rear-view mirror.”