Jul 21, 2018
Deep field for the RBC Canadian Open
The field for the RBC Canadian Open was released on Friday and it’s as deep and talented as it has been in some time. There are 12 of the top 50 ranked players in the world playing, headed up by world No. 1 Dustin Johnson.
By Bob Weeks
The field for the RBC Canadian Open was released on Friday and it’s as deep and talented as it has been in some time. There are 12 of the top 50 ranked players in the world playing, headed up by world No. 1 Dustin Johnson.
Also teeing it up at Glen Abbey are Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood, Bubba Watson and Ian Poulter.
A late surprise addition is Sergio Garcia who is playing the Canadian stop on the PGA Tour for the first time since 2001. Garcia is playing in part to adhere to the PGA Tour’s rule that requires players who play less than 25 events a year to add a stop to their schedules. It must be one they haven’t been to in at least four years.
Others in the top 50 in the world include Matt Kuchar, Tony Finau, Kevin Kisner, Gary Woodland, Charley Hoffman and Si Woo Kim.
There are a number of other notables as well including major winners Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Retief Goosen and Jimmy Walker, as well as past RBC Canadian Open champs Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk, Sean O’Hair and Chez Reavie.
Two-time defending champion Jhonattan Vegas, fresh off his wild adventure getting to the Open Championship, will be back looking for a three-peat.
For the first time since 2006, Steve Stricker will also be playing the RBC Canadian Open, an event he first played in 1993. At that time, he was competing on the Canadian Tour and impressed many with a tie for fourth.
Of course a strong contingent of Canadians will be in the field led by Adam Hadwin, the highest-ranked Canadian in the world. David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes, Ben Silverman and Corey Conners – all PGA Tour regulars – will try to end the drought of a Canadian winner at the home event, which now sits at 64 years.
This marks the last time the tournament, running from July 26 to 29, will occupy the spot on the PGA Tour’s schedule the week after the Open Championship. Next year it moves to a June date, the week prior to the U.S. Open.
As well, this could be the final occasion the tournament is held at Glen Abbey, which may possibly be turned into homes the not-too-distant future. Golf Canada announced the 2019 tournament will be held at the Hamilton G&CC while talks continue with notable courses Mississaugua G&CC and St. George’s G&CC as future sites.