First Tee – Canada and Youth on Course will provide greater access to the game for 10,000 youth by end of 2023

TORONTO – Today, RBC and Golf Canada are excited to welcome 18 new golf course sites to RBC Community Junior Golf, which provides affordable access to the game for underrepresented groups and socio-economically disadvantaged youth in Canada. The newly selected sites join fifteen returning courses from the 2022 inaugural season, which engaged nearly 6,000 young people in communities across Canada.

RBC Community Junior Golf enables the implementation of First Tee – Canada and Youth on Course programming at accessible municipal and public golf courses and helps create pathways to the game at nearby schools and communities. The courses were selected based on accessibility to local public transit as well as proximity to community centres, with an intentional focus on regional and diverse representation.

RBC Community Junior Golf 2023

“RBC strongly believes that sport has the power to build character, provide opportunities for young people to grow and foster vibrant communities,” said Shannon Cole, Vice President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “We are incredibly proud of the impact RBC Community Junior Golf had in its first season and look forward to expanding our reach to enable more access to the game of golf.”

RBC Community Junior Golf Welcomes New Golf Courses:

• Club de Golf Saint-Michel – Bellechase, QC
• Club de Golf Bic – Rimouski, QC
• Country Meadows Golf Club – Moncton, NB
• Doon Valley Golf Course – Kitchener, ON
• East Park Golf – London, ON
• Fox Meadow Golf Course – Stratford, PEI
• Glacier Greens Golf Club – Comox, BC
• Golf Mentor Group – Winnipeg, MB
• Highland Pacific Golf – Victoria, BC
• Hollinger Golf Club – Timmins, ON
• Humber River Golf Club – Deer Lake, NL
• KenWo Golf Club – New Minas, NS
• Kingswood Golf Course – Fredericton, NB
• Lakeview Golf Course – Regina, SK
• The Marshes Golf Club – Ottawa, ON
• Tuxedo Golf Club – Winnipeg, MB
• Roseland Golf & Curling Club – Windsor, ON
• Wildwood Golf Course – Saskatoon, SK

RBC Community Junior Golf Returning Golf Courses:

• Archie’s Family Golf Centre – Cornwall, ON
• Blomidon Golf and Country Club – Corner Brook, NL
• Cedar Hill Golf Course – Victoria, BC
• Chedoke Golf Club – Hamilton, ON
• Club de Golf Municipal Dallaire – Rouyn-Noranda, QC
• Club de Golf Les Rivières – Trois-Rivières, QC
• Humber Valley Golf Course – Etobicoke, ON
• Legends on the Niagara – Niagara, ON
• Mill River Golf Course – Woodstock, PEI
• Peel Village Golf Course – Brampton, ON
• Tam O’Shanter Golf Course – Scarborough, ON
• Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course – Brantford, ON
• Whitewater Golf Club – Thunder Bay, ON
• Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Golf: Fraserview Golf Course – Vancouver, BC
• Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Golf: Queen Elizabeth Park Pitch and Putt – Vancouver, BC

Each location will be equipped with First Tee instructor training, tailored lesson plans, equipment and financial support to operate at no cost to the location or participants. Additionally, each golf facility will offer Youth on Course, which provides young golfers aged six to 18 with access to subsidized rounds of golf for five dollars or less.

“RBC Community Junior Golf has played a major role in the thriving growth of First Tee and Youth on Course across Canada,” said Kevin Blue, Chief Sport Officer, Golf Canada. “Their initiative will continue to expand our reach in equity-deserving communities and provide more children with life-enhancing opportunities through golf. We look forward to our partnership and commitment to ensuring that our sport reflects the diversity of Canadians.”

Canadian youth aged five to 18 years can benefit from First Tee and Youth on Course at one of the participating golf courses. RBC Community Junior Golf participating facilities work with community centres or schools in their local area to register youth participants. For more details, visit: https://www.golfcanada.ca/rbcjrgolf.

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 97,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

About Golf Canada

Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada, representing more than 319,000 golfers and 1,435 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s vision is to be a world leader in golf and achieving the mission to increase Canadian participation and excellence. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit golfcanada.ca.

About First Tee – Canada

First Tee – Canada is a youth development program operating under Golf Canada since 2020. In partnership with First Tee, Golf Canada launched First Tee – Canada to provide inclusive and accessible life-enhancing opportunities to children through golf. First Tee – Canada continues to expand programming and positively impact youth at golf courses, schools, and community centres across the country. For more information and to learn how to support First Tee – Canada, visit firstteecanada.ca.

SOURCE RBC

For further information: Fiona Anderson, RBC, fionaelisabeth.anderson@rbc.com; Madelyn Boelhouwer, Golf Canada (First Tee – Canada), mboelhouwer@golfcanada.ca

PGA TOUR

Jason Day had five birdies on the back nine including three over the final five holes a one-shot victory over Austin Eckroat and Si Woo Kim at the AT&T Byron Nelson. Playing on Mother’s Day a little more than a year after losing his mom to cancer, Day picked up his first win in 105 starts dating back to 2018. Eckroat posted his best finish on the PGA Tour. Hometown favorite Scottie Scheffler who was tied for the lead through 12 holes of the final round finished tied for fifth – his 12th straight result of 12th or better. …Mackenzie Hughes picked up his fourth top-20 result of the season. …Adam Hadwin has recorded nine sub-70 scores in his last 10 rounds

NEXT EVENT: PGA Championship (May 18)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Svensson

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Steve Stricker had eight birdies and a bogey to run away from the field and claim the Regions Tradition by six strokes. His winning score of 23-under 265 tied the tournament record. It’s his third win at the Tradition in the last five attempts and gives him five major titles. Stricker is the fifth player to win back-to-back Tradition titles. Ernie Els posted a bogey-free round while Robert Karlsson birdied the final hole to move into a tie for second. It’s his fifth Champions Tour runner-up finish. …Stephen Ames posted his third straight top-15 result and fourth of the season. ..Mike Weir posted his third top-15 finish of the year

NEXT EVENT: KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship (May 25)

EUROPEAN TOUR

Simon Forsstrom birdied three of his final five holes to go wire-to-wire for a one-stroke win at the Soudal Open. It was his first European Tour title and his fourth top-10 result of the season. Fellow Swede Jens Dantorp finished alone in second while Dane Thorbjorn Olesen was two shots further back in third. …Aaron Cockerill notched his third top-10 result of the year and fourth top-20 finish in his last five starts

NEXT EVENT: U.S. Open Final Qualifying  (May 16)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Aaron Cockerill

LPGA TOUR

Jin Young Ko overcame a four-shot deficit to force a playoff before defeating defending champion Minjee Lee on the first extra hole to win the Founders Cup for the third time in five years. Ko needed only a par on the first playoff hole after Lee three-putted for bogey. It was Ko’s 15th career LPGA Tour title and she joins Lilia Vu as the only players with multiple wins this year. The victory also enabled Ko to regain the No. 1 world ranking. Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa finished solo third. 

NEXT EVENT: Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play (May 24)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Brooke Henderson, Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Maddie Szeryk

G4D TOUR

Brendan Lawlor went wire-to-wire to win the inaugural G4D Open at Woburn in a showdown featuring the top two players in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability. Lawlor finished two shots better than top-ranked Kipp Popert, whose bogey on the final hole ended his chances of a sixth title this season. Lawlor bogeyed his first three holes of the final round to relinquish the lead to Popert, who then bogeyed three of his final six holes to turn the lead back to Lawlor who picked up his first ever win after three career runner-up results. Canadians Kurtis Barkley and Chris Willis finished tied for 14th in the field of 80 golfers. Barkley came into the event having finished runner-up in his last three starts on the G4D Tour.

NEXT EVENT: G4D Tour @ Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed (Jun 5)

Coquitlam, B.C. – After a competitive 36-holes, Gabriela Ruffels of Indian Wells, California and Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. have earned direct exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open by finishing atop the leaderboard at the U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C.

Ruffels, 23, shot a combined 7-under with rounds of 69 and 68 to earn her spot in the U.S. Women’s Open for the third time in her career and credited solid play and patience for getting her back to the U.S. Women’s Open this year, “I hit a lot of fairways out there, hit a lot of good approach shots, hit a lot of greens and was just tapping in for par pretty much the whole day and then just had to stay patient and the birdies came.”

Ruffels won the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur and finished T13 in the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open as an Amateur and is excited to return to Pebble Beach, “I love USGA events, especially at Pebble it’s going to be really historic and unique. I love Pebble, it’s one of my favourite places so being able to go this year is just amazing,” said Ruffels.

Kim, 17, shot a combined 5-under with rounds of 70 and 69 to earn her place in the U.S. Women’s Open. The Team Canada member found herself one back heading into the second round, “I just told myself to keep chasing as if I’m one stroke back the entire round. My dad and I were just working together to push as hard as we could, save our pars whenever we could and make birdies when there was the opportunity, so I think that was key.”

Kim who will be attending the University of Texas later this fall will be headed to the U.S. Women’s Open for the second straight year, “I still can’t wrap my head around it, it’s so surreal. I did it last year and that took a while to sink in, so I think I’ll wake up tomorrow feeling a little happier and excited.”

Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver, B.C. will be the first alternate. The Team Canada NextGen member finished 2-under with rounds of 69 and 73. Today’s qualifier marked the first time that a U.S Women’s Open Qualifier has been hosted in Canada. The field in Coquitlam at The Vancouver Golf Club featured 57 golfers with a combination of both professionals and amateurs competing for two direct exemptions. A record 2,107 entries are competing in qualifiers for spots into the field of 156 players for the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open. This year’s tournament runs from July 6-9 at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California.

For the full leaderboard click here.

Oshawa, ON. – Daniel Kim of Toronto, Ont. shot a 5-under 66 Monday at the first Ontario Regional Qualifier hosted at Oshawa Golf and Curling Club in Oshawa, ON to earn a direct exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-11 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

Kim got off to a flying start with a birdie on the opening hole and an eagle on the fourth hole to sit at 3-under through four. Kim finished the day with six birdies and an eagle to earn medalist honours and finish two shots clear of amateur Luc Warnock of McGregor, Ont. (-3) and Charles Huntzinger of Greensboro, Georgia (-3).

Kim, 32, came out on top from a field of 136 professional and amateur golfers at Oshawa Golf and Curling Club to earn his spot in Canada’s National Open Championship. It’s quite the turnaround for Kim after he decided to quit playing golf professionally last year due to injury and personal reasons.

“If you were to ask me six months ago, would I be playing the Canadian Open, I would have said you’re crazy. I’ve been working full time and I keep telling people it’s a hobby now, it’s not my job, it’s a hobby now and its pretty crazy how things come around, said Kim. “This was the last little competitive thing I was actually going to do, before digging in and start working. So, this is a blessing in disguise, and I feel so thankful and grateful.”

Oshawa Golf and Curling Club, played to Par 71 at 6,596 yards and provided a strong test for the field with only 12 players shooting under par. Along with Kim’s exemption, an additional 24 golfers (remaining top 15% of the field) from Oshawa have advanced to the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier scheduled for Sunday, June 4 at Coppinwood Golf Club in Goodwood, Ont.

RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier Results:

There are three RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers remaining on the schedule. The next qualifier is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. Additional qualifiers will take place on Wednesday, May 24 at Golf Château Bromont in Bromont, Que. and on Monday, May 29 at Pinebrook Golf and Country Club in Calgary, Alb.

For the full leaderboard click here.

Results from the B.C. Regional Qualifier can be found here.

Abbotsford, B.C. – Taylor Durham of North Vancouver, B.C. shot a 5-under 65 Friday at the B.C. Regional Qualifier hosted at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, B.C. to earn a direct exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-11 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

Competing in the RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier as an amateur, Durham caught fire at the turn, reeling off five straight birdies on holes 9 through 13 and seven birdies on the day to earn medalist honours, two shots clear of Zahidali Nathu of Richmond, B.C. (-3). Team Canada NextGen amateur Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. was solo third at 2-under with six others finishing with a share of fourth at 1-under.

Durham, 29, outlasted a field of 124 professional and amateur golfers at Ledgeview Golf Club (exceeding the 120-golfer requirement for a direct exemption) to earn his first-ever start in the Canada’s National Open Championship.

“I’m pretty speechless to be honest, it’s definitely a lifelong dream to play in a PGA TOUR event but you never really believe its going to happen, said Dunham, a 2-time Men’s Club Champion from Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver. “After hole 11, just off birdies on 9 and 10, I felt I was hitting if really nice, and tried to get home without any big numbers. I’ve been texting friends and family, it still feels hard to believe, just an awesome day and I’m super excited to be in this position right now.”

The remaining top 15% of the field from the B.C. Regional Qualifier will advance to the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier scheduled for Sunday, June 4 at Coppinwood Golf Club in Goodwood, Ont.

Playing to Par 70 over 6,159 yards, Ledgeview proved to be a solid test for Qualifier field, with only nine players shooting below par. In addition to Durham’s exemption, 18 golfers will advance to the Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 4.

RBC Canadian Open B.C. Regional Qualifier Results:

For the full leaderboard click here.

The B.C. Qualifier at Ledgeview was the first of five 2023 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers. The next is scheduled for Monday, May 15 at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club in Oshawa Ont. and then Wednesday, May 17 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. Additional Regional Qualifiers will take place on Wednesday, May 24 at Golf-Château Bromont in Bromont, Que. and on Monday, May 29 at Pinebrook Golf and Country Club in Calgary.

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Stephen Ames went wire-to-wire to cap off a dominant week with a four-stroke victory at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. Despite hitting his tee shot on the final hole into the water, he made a 30-foot par putt to finish at 19-under 197 to break his own 54-hole record at TPC Sugarloaf by four shots. It’s his second win of the season after winning in Morocco and he joins David Toms as the only multiple winners on the Champions tour this year. It’s the first time in his Champions tour career that he’s won multiple times in one season. The victory also vaulted him up to No. 4 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. A birdie on the final hole enabled Miguel Angel Jimenez to finish solo second. Steve Stricker finished tied for seventh, extending his streak of top-10 finishes in all seven tour events this season. He has 11 straight top-10 results dating back to last August.

NEXT EVENT: Regions Tradition (May 11)

PGA TOUR

Wyndham Clark carded a final round 68 for a four shot win over Xander Schauffele at the Wells Fargo Championship. Clark started the final round with a two shot lead but relinquished it to Schauffele after seven holes. But he stormed back, playing the final 11 holes in 4 under par to claim his first career PGA Tour win. His winning score of 19-under 265 is the second-lowest score in relation to par in tournament history. Tyrrell Hatton and Harry English finished tied for third. Rory McIlroy, a three-time winner at Quail Hollow, played the final three rounds in 3-over par to finish tied for 47th – his worst outing since missing the cut 12 years ago. …Corey Conners picked up his third top-10 result of the season, second in his last four starts. …Adam Svensson recorded his fifth top-30 finish of the season

NEXT EVENT: AT&T Byron Nelson (May 11)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Michael Gligic, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Roger Sloan, David Hearn (alternate)

EUROPEAN TOUR

Adrian Meronk sank a seven foot birdie putt on the final hole to hold off Romain Langasque and win the Italian Open by one shot. It was his third win on the European Tour and vaults him up to No. 4 in the Race to Dubai points standings. Third-round leader Julien Guerrier finished three strokes back in third. …Aaron Cockerill notched his fourth top-20 finish of the season, his third in his last four starts

NEXT EVENT: Soudal Open (May 11)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Aaron Cockerill

LPGA TOUR

Atthaya Thitikul birdied the 16th hole to beat Stephanie Kyriacou 4 & 2, earning the clinching point as Thailand defeated Australia for the country’s first International Crown team match play title. Sixth-seeded Thailand, which had never finished better than fourth in the first three editions of this tournament, finished the week winning 11 of 12 matches. The United States beat Sweden in the consolation match to finish third. Canada did not qualify for the event.

NEXT EVENT: Cognizant Founders Cup (May 11)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Maddie Szeryk, Alena Sharp (reserve)

PGA TOUR LATINOAMERICA

Toni Hakula erased a four stroke deficit for a one-shot victory over Julian Itulain in the Kia Open. It was his second career win on the Latinoamerica Tour and first since 2018. His previous best finish in this event was a tie for 33rd back in 2016.  Brazil’s Rafael Becker carded a final round 63 to climb 30 places on the leaderboard up into a tie for third with Brent Ito. …Stuart Macdonald recorded his fourth top-20 finish in as many starts this year.

NEXT EVENT: Colombia Classic (May 25)

EPSON TOUR

Gabriela Ruffels carded a final round 71 for a wire-to-wire victory in the Garden City Charity Classic. Her 19-under 197 total tied the Epson Tour 54-hole scoring record. The former U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion also broke the course with an opening round 62 before before breaking a 20-year-old Tour record with a second round 64 that moved her to 18-under par. It’s her second win of the season, giving her a significant lead in the points race. Isabella Fierro, Agathe Laisne and Ga Yul Kang finished tied for second, four strokes back. ..Selena Costabile, playing in the final grouping, notched her second top-10 result of the season

NEXT EVENT: IOA Golf Classic (May 19)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Selena Costabile, Sarah-Eve Rheaume, Kate Johnston (reserve), Brogan McKinnon (reserve), Christina Foster (reserve), Josee Doyon (reserve), Megan Osland (reserve)

DULUTH, Ga. – Stephen Ames capped off his dominant week on the TPC Sugarloaf with a 4-under 68 on Sunday that gave him the tournament scoring record and a four-shot victory in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic.

Ames joined David Toms as the only multiple winners on the PGA Tour Champions this year. He previously won the Trophy Hassan II in Morocco.

Ames had a three-shot lead going into the final and was never seriously challenged. He drove into the water on the final hole and still made a 30-foot par putt to finish at 19-under 197. Ames broke his own 54-hole record at Sugarloaf by four shots. He also won in 2017.

Miguel Angel Jimenez birdied the final hole for a 68 to finish alone in second.

Brett Quigley tried to make a run at Ames and got within three shots until a bogey-double bogey finish for a 69 to finish alone in fourth.

Ames, from Calgary, won $300,000 and moved up four spots to No. 4 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. What made this victory more special was having his son, Ryan, as his caddie for the week. Ryan Ames is a PGA of Canada member and aspiring teaching pro.

“The fact I ended up winning was icing on the cake,” Ames said.

Steve Stricker didn’t make a birdie until the back nine and then shot 32 to tie for seventh, keeping his lead in the Charles Schwab Cup. He has finished in the top 10 in all seven of his PGA Tour Champions events this week, and 11 in a row dating to last August.

112 of Canada’s top junior golfers to compete over 54 holes at stunning west coast layout with exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys and Girls Championships on the line.

Golf Canada’s 2023 championship season kicks off on Friday, May 5, at Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club in Roberts Creek, B.C. with the NextGen Pacific Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.

The 54-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Thursday, May 4, and championship rounds beginning on Friday, May 5. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 55 Junior Boys and top 15 Junior Girls, including ties, for the final round which wraps up on Sunday, May 7.

The starting field will feature 112 male and female competitors – 88 Junior Boys and 24 Junior Girls – vying for a spot into their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

The top eight players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 14-17, at North Bay Golf and Country Club Ltd. in North Bay, Ont. The top eight players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 24-27, at Hampton Golf Course in Hampton, N.B.

Golf Canada is proud to return to the stunning Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club after the club successfully hosted the 2018 NextGen Fall Series Championship. The course presents players with a classic west coast golf experience—given its unique Salish Sea influenced climate, the course is open 12 months a year and challenges players with fantastic year-round playing conditions. The golf course opened in 1969 and is the oldest 18-hole course on the Sunshine Coast.

“The members at the Sunshine Coast (Golf & Country Club) are excited to share our course with these talented junior golfers competing in the NextGen Championship. We hope that they enjoy the course and the competition,” said Jim Pringle, Director of Golf and PGA of Canada Head Professional, Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club. “We have hosted a number of provincial and national events and look forward to another fun week.”

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Pacific Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, click here.

(May 1, 2023)  One of the hottest golfers on the planet is sure to be a fan-favourite at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto as world no. 6 Matthew Fitzpatrick will compete in the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.

Competing in his third RBC Canadian Open, the 28-year-old Englishman is having a stellar 2023 season with three top-10 finishes including a victory at the recent RBC Heritage and a T10 finish at The Masters. Currently ranked no. 22 on the 2022 FedEx Cup, Fitzpatrick, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, six-time winner on the DP World Tour, and two-time Ryder Cup team member will compete in Canada’s National Open Championship before defending his U.S. Open title the next week at L.A. Country Club.

“I am really looking forward to returning to Canada and competing in the RBC Canadian Open in front of the amazing Canadian golf fans,” said Fitzpatrick. “Having won the RBC Heritage last month, I am hopeful to play well at Oakdale and keep that momentum going into the U.S. Open.”

Fitzpatrick joins an emerging field headlined by two-time defending champion and world no. 3 Rory McIlroy who will be looking to become the first player to win three consecutive RBC Canadian Open titles. A victory for McIlroy would make him only the fourth three-time champion, joining Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, and Lee Trevino. Leo Deigel’s four victories are the most in the tournament’s storied history.

McIlroy and Fitzpatrick will be joined by fellow European stars Tommy Fleetwood as well as Shane Lowry. The world no. 23 ranked Lowry is a two-time PGA TOUR winner and a past Open Championship winner while Fleetwood, who has two top-10 PGA TOUR finishes this season, has won seven international titles, and is ranked no. 25 in the world.

The group will compete alongside Team RBC ambassadors Sam Burns (world no. 13), Cameron Young (world no. 16), Sahith Theegala (world no. 24), seven-time PGA TOUR winner Webb Simpson, and nine-time PGA TOUR winner Matt Kuchar.

A full Canadian contingent will also challenge for the national championship led by PGA TOUR winners Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (world no. 30), Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. (world no. 57), Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (world no. 56), Nick Taylor of Abbottsford, B.C. (world no. 65), and Adam Hadwin of Abbottsford, B.C. (world no. 71) as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. and Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont.

A trio of Canadians have also accepted tournament exemptions to compete at Oakdale including Winnipeg, Man. Native Aaron Cockerill who is currently ranked 24^th on the DP World Tour as well as Thornhill, Ont. native Ben Silverman who won on the Korn Ferry Tour earlier this year to sit second on the Tour’s 2023 Points List.

Also accepting an exemption to compete is Canadian golf icon and President’s Cup International Team Captain Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. who will be competing in his 31^st  RBC Canadian Open, one back of fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George Cummings who had a record 32 starts in Canada’s National Open Championship.

In addition to world class golf, fans at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open will be treated to the two-night RBCxMusic Concert Series onsite at Oakdale Golf and Country with Grammy Award-winning pop group, the Black Eyed Peas performing on Friday, June 9 and Canadian Grammy Award-winning icon Alanis Morissette performing on Saturday, June 10.

“We are less than 40 days away from the RBC Canadian Open and extremely excited to get the tournament started,” said Bryan Crawford, Tournament Director, RBC Canadian Open. “Oakdale Golf and Country Club in the heart of Toronto joins our host club rotation for the first time and will present a great test of golf for the world’s best players. Our partners have leaned into our National Open Championship in a major way to deliver a truly immersive fan festival experience as a kickoff to summer.”

Tickets for the 2023 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

KORN FERRY TOUR

Ben Kohles birdied the first playoff hole to defeat Ben Silverman in the HomeTown Lenders Championship. With the win, Kohles became the first two-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour while denying Silverman an opportunity to be the first. Silverman, who started the day tied for the lead with Kohles, appeared to have his hand on the trophy, playing a bogey-free final round until he made a double-bogey on the final hole to fall into a playoff. It was only the fourth time all weekend that he dropped a shot. The tournament was reduced to just 54 holes after fog and thunderstorms suspended play until Friday. Silverman remains No. 2 on the points list and is assured of finishing in the top 30 this season which will earn him a PGA Tour card for 2024.

NEXT EVENT: AdventHealth Championship (May 18)

PGA TOUR

Tony Finau carded a bogey-free round of 66 to win the Mexico Open, denying Jon Rahm a chance to successfully defend his title. Rahm, the Masters champion and No. 1 player in the world, finished three shots back. The Spaniard has finished seventh or better in eight of 11 stroke-play events this year. Finau now has two wins this season to join Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa as the only multiple winners on tour. With his second-place finish, Rahm pushed his season earnings to $14,462,840 – a new single-season PGA Tour record. Brandon Wu finished third in a repeat of the same three finishers from a year ago when Rahm won and Finau and Wu tied for second. …The first round 65 was the second lowest opening round score for Taylor Pendrith this season. …Michael Gligic notched his second straight top 40 result

NEXT EVENT: Wells Fargo Championship (May 4)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson,

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Steven Alker made five birdies over a seven-hole stretch on the back nine to successfully defend his title at the Insperity Invitational. It was the first win of the year for the defending Charles Schwab Cup champion, who also has two runner-up results in five starts. Steve Stricker finished four shots off the pace but his runner-up result enabled him to take over the lead in the points race from David Toms. He finished in a tie for third with Colin Montgomerie. Stricker has six top-10 results in six starts this season. Bernhard Langer, who is chasing a record 46th career win on the Champions Tour, finished tied for 23rd. …Stephen Ames picked up his second top-10 result in six starts. …Mike Weir finished over par for only the second time in six starts this season

NEXT EVENT: Mitsubishi Electric Classic (May 5)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Stephen Ames

EUROPEAN TOUR

Pablo Larrazabal birdied four of his first six holes on the back nine to break a five-way tie for the lead on his way to a two-stroke victory at the Korea Championship. It was his eighth career win on the European Tour. Denmark’s Helligkilde finished held off a four-strong chasing pack that included home favourite Park Sanghyun to finish solo second. Scotland’s Scott Jamieson joined Park in third place along with Spaniard Jorge Campillo and Dutchman Joost Luiten. …A week after notching a runner-up finish, Aaron Cockerill carded his third top-25 result in as many starts

NEXT EVENT: DS Automobiles Italian Open (May 4)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Aaron Cockerill

LPGA TOUR

Hannah Green made a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation and only needed par on the second extra hole to defeat Aditi Ashok and Xiyu Lin and win the JM Eagle LA Championship. Green won for the third time in her career and the first since 2019. As many as five players were tied for the lead late in the final round. Ruoning Yin, who won last month in LA, built a two-shot lead with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15. But she finished with two bogeys to miss the playoff by a single stroke. Ayaka Furue made a furious charge up the leaderboard with birdies on four of her last five holes but also came up a stroke short.

NEXT EVENT: Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown (May 4)

PGA TOUR LATINOAMERICA

Marcos Montenegro made six birdies over a seven-hole stretch to rally from a six-shot deficit and win the Diners Club Peru Open by a single stroke. It was his first career win on the Latinoamerica Tour. …Stuart Macdonald has three consecutive top-20 results. …Joey Savoie started the final round two back of the lead before settling for his third top-30 finish of the year

NEXT EVENT: KIA Open (May 4)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Blair Bursey, Myles Creighton, Matt Kang, Stuart Macdonald, Joey Savoie   

EPSON TOUR

A bogey on the second playoff hole was enough to give Savannah Vilaubi the win over Jenny Coleman and Therese Walker at the Copper Rock Championship. Vilaubi, who broke the course record with her opening round 63, became the first player this season to go wire-to-wire for the victory. Walker had a chance to win on the final hole but her birdie putt came up short while Coleman birdied five of her last six holes to get into the playoff. Alena Sharp rocketed up the leaderboard with a bogey-free final round of 64, just missing the playoff by a single stroke. Her fourth-place finish was her best result on the development tour since a win back in 2014.

NEXT EVENT: Garden City Charity Classic (May 5)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Josee Doyon, Selena Costabile, Sarah-Eve Rheaume, Kate Johnston, Brogan McKinnon (reserve), Christina Foster (reserve), Megan Osland (reserve)