The 2021 RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for the week of June 7, has been cancelled, the PGA TOUR announced. The move was expected given travel restrictions imposed by the Canadian federal government, and ongoing issues due to the pandemic. The PGA TOUR said it expects to run another event in its place, especially important since the tournament was seen as a lead in to the U.S. Open the following week.
The decision was based on concerns about travel and quarantine restrictions. The event, which was scheduled to be played at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto, also faced question given the city cancelled major events through to the start of July.
The timing simply did not align for the tournament based on the most up to date travel and quarantine restrictions in effect. A PGA TOUR event involves golfers, but also is supported by hundreds of staff, television crews and others. The sheer volume of people involved made the tournament doubtful when the schedule was first announced.
The RBC Canadian Open, the third-oldest championship on the yearly PGA Tour schedule, was cancelled last year as well. It was last played in 2019, when Irish star Rory McIlroy took the title at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. The PGA TOUR has continued to play events since last summer, but Canada seemed unlikely given imposed restrictions. Even the possibility of playing the event without spectators—who have returned for U.S. tournaments—was not enough to move the Canadian Open forward.
“Even with an extensive health and safety plan in place, we faced a number of significant logistical challenges that led us to this decision,” said PGA TOUR President Tyler Dennis. “We look forward to the RBC Canadian Open returning to our schedule next year.”
If the tournament returns in 2022, it is unclear where it will be played. The membership at St. George’s Golf and Country Club will have to vote to agree to play the twice- cancelled tournament. In the years that follow, it is expected the tournament will be played at Oakdale Golf and Country Club, and Hamilton Golf and Country Club, though those dates still need to be formalized.