The RBC Canadian Open has returned to classic Canadian courses in recent years. Toronto’s Oakdale Golf and Country Club will be the latest to test the PGA Tour’s best players.
When
June 8 to 11.
Where
Oakdale Golf and Country Club
Oakdale isn’t a club many will immediately recognize. Located in North Toronto, the private club has 27 holes and will, for the first time in its nearly century-long history, welcome the public to its fairways as the host site of the RBC Canadian Open.
Rory McIlroy is returning to Canada to try to three-peat after winning last year’s tournament, as well as the 2019 event at Hamilton; the RBC Canadian Open wasn’t played in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
“They do tend to feel a little bit extra special if you’re lucky enough to win,” said Matthew Fitzpatrick, referencing Canada’s national open. The U.S. Open winner will be in Toronto for the tournament. “The Canadian history is obviously very long with some fantastic winners. It would be great to be part of that.”
Highlights
Oakdale Golf and Country Club
Many won’t recognize this private club that was formed in 1926 by Jewish golfers who weren’t able to play at other private clubs in the area. Over time Oakdale has become one of the city’s most prominent private golf clubs, and has deep connections to the game, including helping the career of George Knudson, who won eight times on the PGA Tour. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Wilf Homenuik is the long-time teaching professional at the club. The course’s first 18 holes were designed by the legendary Stanley Thompson, while the remaining holes were crafted by Robbie Robinson. A composite routing consisting of nine holes from the front nine and all of the Robinson-designed holes will make up the course for the Canadian Open. It will be the longest course in the history of the tournament.
Rory Returns
He’s ranked No. 3 in the world, but it seems like Rory McIlroy is struggling this year, having missed cuts at the Masters and the Players Championship. He’s won twice in a row in Canada on classic golf courses that he basically overpowered with his considerable length. He finished in 7th-place at the PGA Championship and his length should be a huge benefit again at Oakdale.
Canadians In The Field
There’s bound to be plenty of Canadians in the field, but at the top, it might be the strongest group ever at the tournament. Led by Corey Conners, No. 28 in the world, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Adam Svensson, Nick Taylor, and Taylor Pendrith (a member of last year’s Presidents Cup team), perhaps finally a Canadian can win the country’s national open for the first time since 1954. Other Canucks in the field include Michael Gligic, Ben Silverman, and Aaron Cockerill, who has played well on the DP World Tour in Europe this year. “It’s just super exciting,” says Hughes. “We come home once a year and we get the rock star treatment, and we feel like we’re walking on clouds out there because the Canadian fans are always so great for us.”
Others to watch
The field already has plenty of firepower, including Sam Burns, British Open winner Shane Lowry (No. 23 in the world), European star Tommy Fleetwood, as well as Cameron Young, Sahith Theegala, and seven-time PGA Tour winner Webb Simpson.
Concerts
Music is part of the tournament, thanks to RBC. This year, fans coming on Friday will gain access to a concert by pop dance act Black Eyed Peas followed on Saturday by Canadian superstar Alanis Morissette. The concerts will be held on Oakdale’s driving range, as the practice area for the tournament has been moved to one of the holes not in use.