Canadian Open (golf)

Coordinates: 43°43′53″N 79°30′55″W / 43.7313°N 79.5154°W / 43.7313; -79.5154
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RBC Canadian Open
Tournament information
LocationToronto, Ontario
Established1904
Course(s)Oakdale Golf & Country Club[1]
Par70
Length7,079 yards (6,473 m)
Organized byGolf Canada
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$9,000,000
Month playedJune
Tournament record score
Aggregate258 Rory McIlroy (2019)
To par−25 Johnny Palmer (1952)
Current champion
Canada Nick Taylor
Location Map
Oakdale CC is located in Canada
Oakdale CC
Oakdale CC
Location in Canada
Oakdale CC is located in Ontario
Oakdale CC
Oakdale CC
Location in Ontario

The Canadian Open (French: L'Omnium Canadien) is a professional golf tournament in Canada. It is co-organized by Golf Canada (formerly known as the Royal Canadian Golf Association) and the PGA Tour.[2] It was first played 120 years ago in 1904, and has been held annually since then, except for during World War I, World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the third oldest continuously running tournament on the tour, after The Open Championship and the U.S. Open.

Tournament[edit]

As a national open, and especially as the most accessible non-U.S. national open for American golfers, the event had a special status in the era before the professional tour system became dominant in golf. In the interwar years, it was sometimes considered the third most prestigious tournament in the sport, after The Open Championship and the U.S. Open. This previous status was noted in the media in 2000, when Tiger Woods became the first man to win The Triple Crown (all three Opens in the same season) in 29 years, since Lee Trevino in 1971. In the decades preceding the tournament's move to an undesirable September date in 1988, the Canadian Open was often unofficially referred to as the fifth major.

The top three golfers on the PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit prior to the tournament are given entry into the Canadian Open. However, prize money won at the Canadian Open does not count towards the Canadian Tour money list.

Celebrated winners include Hall of Fame members Leo Diegel, Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour, Harry Cooper, Lawson Little, Sam Snead, Craig Wood, Byron Nelson, Doug Ford, Bobby Locke, Bob Charles, Arnold Palmer, Kel Nagle, Billy Casper, Gene Littler, Lee Trevino, Curtis Strange, Greg Norman, Nick Price, Vijay Singh, Mark O'Meara, and Tiger Woods. The Canadian Open is regarded as the most prestigious tournament never won by Jack Nicklaus, a seven-time runner-up.[3] Diegel has the most titles, with four in the 1920s.[citation needed]

In the early 2000s, the tournament was still being held in early September. Seeking to change back to a more desirable summer date in the schedule, the RCGA lobbied for a better date. When the PGA Tour's schedule was revamped to accommodate the FedEx Cup in 2007, the Canadian Open was rescheduled for late July, sandwiched between three events with even higher profiles (The Open Championship the week prior, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational the week after, and the PGA Championship the week after that). The tournament counts towards the FedEx Cup standings, and earns the winner a Masters invitation.

In 2019, due to a re-alignment of the PGA Tour and major scheduling, the Canadian Open moved to early-June prior to the U.S. Open. The event was also added to the Open Qualifying Series, allowing up to three of the top-ten finishers to qualify for the Open Championship.[4][5]

The 2020 event, originally scheduled for June 11 to 14 at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto, was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] On March 9, 2021, Golf Canada announced that the 2021 tournament would be cancelled as well.[7]

Courses[edit]

Glen Abbey Golf Course in Oakville, Ontario, has hosted the most Canadian Opens, with 30 to date. Glen Abbey was designed in 1976 by Jack Nicklaus for the Royal Canadian Golf Association, to serve as the permanent home for the championship.

In the mid-1990s, the RCGA decided to move the championship around the country. The owner of Glen Abbey since 2005, Clublink Corp filed an application in October 2015[8] to redevelop the property into a residential community, with offices and retail stores. There was no provision for a golf course in the plan.[8] The Town of Oakville Council responded in August 2017 by declaring the golf course a heritage site under the Ontario Heritage Act, which would make it more difficult for ClubLink to develop the area as it had planned.[9][10] Golf Canada was also concerned since it could not predict whether it could get the necessary permit to hold the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in 2018 as it had planned.[11] The dispute between the Town of Oakville and ClubLink remains before the courts as of November 2018.[12] The 2019 Open will be held at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.[13] The event may again be held at Glen Abbey in some future years if the planned redevelopment by Clublink is not allowed to proceed.[14] The 2023 Open was held at the Oakdale Golf & Country Club.

Royal Montreal Golf Club, home of the first Open in 1904, ranks second having hosted the event ten times. Mississaugua Golf & Country Club and Hamilton Golf and Country Club have each hosted six Opens while Toronto Golf Club and St. George's Golf and Country Club have hosted five Opens. Three clubs have each hosted four Opens: Lambton Golf Club, Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, and Scarboro Golf and Country Club.

The championship has for the most part been held in Ontario and Quebec, between them having seen all but nine Opens. New Brunswick had the Open in 1939, Manitoba in 1952 and 1961, Alberta in 1958, and British Columbia in 1948, 1954, 1966, 2005 and 2011.

Venue Location First Last Times
Royal Montreal Golf Club Two venues 1904 2014 10
Dorval, Quebec 1904 1950 (5)
Île-Bizard, Quebec 1975 2014 (5)
Toronto Golf Club Two venues 1905 1927 5
Toronto, Ontario 1905 1909 (2)
Mississauga, Ontario 1914 1927 (3)
Royal Ottawa Golf Club Aylmer, Quebec 1906 1911 2
Lambton Golf Club Toronto, Ontario 1907 1941 4
Rosedale Golf Club Toronto, Ontario 1912 1928 2
Hamilton Golf and Country Club Ancaster, Ontario 1919 2019 6
Rivermead Golf Club Aylmer, Quebec 1920 1920 1
Mt. Bruno Golf Club St. Bruno, Quebec 1922 1924 2
Lakeview Golf Club Mississauga, Ontario 1923 1934 2
Kanawaki Golf Club Kahnawake, Quebec 1929 1929 1
Mississaugua Golf & Country Club Mississauga, Ontario 1931 1974 6
Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club Ottawa, Ontario 1932 1932 1
St. George's Golf and Country Club Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario 1933 2022 6
Summerlea Golf Club Montreal, Quebec 1935 1935 1
St. Andrews Club Toronto, Ontario 1936 1937 2
Riverside Country Club Rothesay, New Brunswick 1939 1939 1
Scarboro Golf and Country Club Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario 1940 1963 4
Thornhill Golf Club Thornhill, Ontario 1945 1945 1
Beaconsfield Golf Club Montreal, Quebec 1946 1956 2
Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club Vancouver, British Columbia 1948 2011 4
St. Charles Country Club Winnipeg, Manitoba 1952 1952 1
Point Grey Golf and Country Club Vancouver, British Columbia 1954 1954 1
Weston Golf and Country Club Toronto, Ontario 1955 1955 1
Westmount Golf and Country Club Kitchener, Ontario 1957 1957 1
Royal Mayfair Golf and Country Club Edmonton, Alberta 1958 1958 1
Islesmere Golf and Country Club Montreal, Quebec 1959 1959 1
Niakwa Country Club Winnipeg, Manitoba 1961 1961 1
Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac Laval-sur-le-Lac, Quebec 1962 1962 1
Pine Grove Golf and Country Club St. Luc, Quebec 1964 1969 2
Montreal Municipal Golf Club Montreal, Quebec 1967 1967 1
London Hunt and Country Club London, Ontario 1970 1970 1
Richelieu Valley Golf and Country Club Ste.-Julie, Quebec 1971 1973 2
Cherry Hill Club Ridgeway, Ontario 1972 1972 1
Essex Golf & Country Club Windsor, Ontario 1976 1976 1
Glen Abbey Golf Course Oakville, Ontario 1977 2018 30
Angus Glen Golf Club Markham, Ontario 2002 2007 2
Oakdale Golf & Country Club Toronto, Ontario 2023 2023 1

The 2002 event was held on the south course at Angus Glen Golf Club, while the 2007 event was held on the north course.

History[edit]

The Royal Montreal Golf Club,
host of the first Canadian Open in 1904.

The Royal Montreal Golf Club, founded in 1873, is the oldest continuously running official golf club in North America. The club was the host of the first Canadian Open championship in 1904, and has been host to nine other Canadian Opens, at two locations, with the club moving to its current site on an island west of Montreal in 1959. The 1912 Canadian Open at the Rosedale Golf Club was famed American golfer Walter Hagen's first professional competition.[15] In 1914, Karl Keffer won the event, being the last Canadian-born champion.

Englishman J. Douglas Edgar captured the 1919 championship at Hamilton Golf and Country Club by a record 16-stroke margin;[16] 17-year-old amateur prodigy Bobby Jones (who was coached by Edgar) tied for second. The 1930 Canadian Open at Hamilton was another stellar tournament. Tommy Armour blazed his way around the course over the final 18 holes of regulation play, shooting a 64. Four-time champion Diegel and Armour went to a 36-hole playoff to decide the title. Armour shot 138 (69-69) to defeat Diegel by three strokes.[17]

Toronto's St. Andrews Golf Club hosted the Open in 1936 and 1937 – the only course to hold back-to-back Opens until the creation of Glen Abbey – before it felt the impact of the growth of the city, and was ploughed under to allow for the creation of Highway 401. The Riverside Golf and Country Club of Rothesay, New Brunswick was host to the 1939 Canadian Open where Harold "Jug" McSpaden was champion. This was the only time the Open has been held in Atlantic Canada.[18]

Gene Sarazen, Tommy Armour, and Walter Hagen at Lakeview Golf Club in Mississauga in 1934.

Scarboro Golf and Country Club in eastern Toronto was host to four Canadian Opens: 1940, 1947, 1953, and 1963. Three of these events were decided by one stroke, and the only time the margin was two shots was when Bobby Locke defeated Ed Oliver in 1947. With his win at Scarboro in 1947, the golfer from South Africa became just the second non-North American winner of the Canadian Open. Locke fired four rounds in the 60s to finish at 16-under-par, two strokes better than the American Oliver. After the prize presentation Locke was given a standing ovation, and was then hoisted to shoulders by fellow countrymen who were then residents of Canada.

In 1948, for the first time, the Canadian Open traveled west of Ontario, landing at Shaughnessy Heights Golf Club in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Charles Congdon sealed his victory on the 16th hole with a 150-yard bunker shot that stopped eight feet from the cup. The following birdie gave him the lead, and Congdon went on to win by three shots.

Mississaugua Golf & Country Club has hosted six Canadian Opens: 1931, 1938, 1942, 1951, 1965, and 1974. The 1951 Open tournament was won by Jim Ferrier, who successfully defended the title he had won at Royal Montreal a year earlier. Winnipeg's St. Charles Country Club hosted the 1952 Canadian Open, and saw Johnny Palmer set the 72-hole scoring record of 263, which still stands after more than 60 years. Palmer's rounds of 66-65-66-66 bettered the old 1947 mark set by Bobby Locke by five shots. In 1955, Arnold Palmer captured the Canadian Open championship, his first PGA Tour victory, at the Weston Golf and Country Club.

Montreal, Quebec's Laval-sur-le-Lac hosted the 1962 Open where Gary Player was disqualified after the first round, when he recorded the wrong score on the 10th hole. He had won the PGA Championship the week before. Californian Charlie Sifford attended the 1962 Canadian Open in part to raise the profile of African-American players on the PGA Tour. He was one of only 16 of the top 100 players on tour to play there in 1962.

Pinegrove Country Club played host to the Canadian Open in 1964 and 1969. Australian Kel Nagle edged Arnold Palmer and Raymond Floyd at the 1964 Open to become, aged almost 44 at the time, the oldest player to win the title. Five years later, Tommy Aaron fired a final-round 64 to force a playoff with 57-year-old Sam Snead. Aaron won the 18-hole playoff, beating Snead by two strokes (70-72).

The small town of Ridgeway, Ontario in the Niagara Peninsula was host of the 1972 Open at Cherry Hill Golf Club. A popular choice of venue, it drew rave reviews by the players, specifically the 1972 champion Gay Brewer, who called it the best course he had ever played in Canada, and Arnold Palmer, who suggested the Open be held there again the following year. In 1975, Tom Weiskopf won his second Open in three years in dramatic fashion at the Blue Course of Royal Montreal's new venue, defeating Jack Nicklaus on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff, after almost holing his short-iron approach. Windsor, Ontario's Essex Golf & Country Club was host of the 1976 Canadian Open, where Nicklaus again finished second, this time behind champion Jerry Pate. Essex came to the rescue late in the game, when it was determined that the newly built Glen Abbey was not yet ready to host the Canadian Open. The 1997 Open at Royal Montreal was the first time Tiger Woods ever missed a professional cut, after winning the Masters Tournament a few months before.

Nick Price's second Canadian Open win in 1994

Angus Glen Golf Club was host to two recent Canadian Opens, 2002 and 2007. In 2007 Jim Furyk became one of a few golfers who have won two consecutive Canadian Open titles, joining James Douglas Edgar, Leo Diegel, Sam Snead and Jim Ferrier. Angus Glen owns the unique distinction of having each of its two courses (North and South) host the Canadian Open.

Glen Abbey Golf Club of Oakville, Ontario has hosted 30 Open Championships (1977–79, 1981–96, 1998–2000, 2004, 2008–09, 2013, 2015–2018), and has crowned 24 different champions. The 11th hole at Glen Abbey is widely considered its signature hole, and begins the world-famous valley sequence of five holes from 11 to 15. The picturesque 11th is a 459-yard straightaway par-4, where players tee off 100 feet above the fairway, which ends at Sixteen Mile Creek, just short of the green. John Daly left his mark, and a plaque is permanently displayed on the back tee deck, recounting Daly's attempt to reach the green with his tee shot. His ball landed in the creek.

In 2000, Tiger Woods dueled with Grant Waite over the final 18 holes, before finally subduing the New Zealander on the 72nd hole with an exceptional shot. Holding a one-shot advantage, Woods found his tee shot in a fairway bunker, and after watching Waite put his second shot 30 feet from the hole, decided to go for the green. Woods hit a 6-iron which carried a lake and settled on the fringe just past the flag, which was 218 yards away, and then chipped to tap-in range for the title-clinching birdie.[19] With the victory, Woods became only the second golfer to capture the U.S. Open, Open Championship and Canadian Open in the same year, earning him the Triple Crown trophy; he matched Lee Trevino (1971).

In 2009, Mark Calcavecchia scored nine consecutive birdies at the second round, breaking the PGA Tour record.[20]

Canadian performances[edit]

Until 2023, a Canadian citizen had not won the Canadian Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954, and since 1914 for a player born in Canada. One of the most exciting conclusions ever seen at the Open came in 2004, extending that streak. Mike Weir had never done well at the Glen Abbey Golf Course, the site of the tournament that week. In fact, he had only made the cut once at any of the Opens contested at Glen Abbey. But Weir clawed his way to the top of the leaderboard by Friday. And by the third day at the 100th anniversary Open, he had a three-stroke lead, and many Canadians were buzzing about the possibility of the streak's end. Weir started off with a double bogey, but then went 4-under to keep his 3-stroke lead, with only eight holes left. Yet, with the expectations of Canadian observers abnormally high, there was another roadblock in the way of Mike Weir: Vijay Singh. Weir bogeyed three holes on the back nine but still had a chance to win the tournament with a 10-footer on the 72nd hole. When he missed the putt, the two entered a sudden-death playoff. Weir missed two more chances to win the tournament: a 25-foot putt for eagle on No. 18 on the first hole of sudden-death, and a 5-foot putt on No. 17, the second playoff hole. On the third playoff hole, Weir put his third shot into the water after a horrid drive and lay-up, and Singh was safely on the green in two. Singh won the Open and overtook Tiger Woods as the world's number one player.[21]

Canadian David Hearn took a two-shot lead into the final round in 2015. He still had the lead as late as the 15th hole, but was being closely pursued by three players ranked near the top of the Official World Golf RankingBubba Watson, Jim Furyk, and Jason Day. All four golfers had chances to win right until the end. Hearn was overtaken by champion Day's three consecutive birdies to close the round; Day finished one shot ahead of Watson, who also birdied the final three holes, narrowly missing an eagle attempt on a final hole greenside chip that would have tied. Day's fourth career Tour triumph came after he had just missed a potential tying putt on the final hole at the Open Championship the previous week. Hearn finished third, the best result by a Canadian since Weir's near-miss in 2004.[22] In 2016, Canadian amateur Jared du Toit was only one stroke behind going into the final round, allowing him to play in the final group. He finished tied for ninth, three strokes behind eventual winner Jhonattan Vegas.

In 2023, Canadian Nick Taylor finally broke the drought for the home country, dating back 69 years to 1954, winning in dramatic fashion at the Oakdale Golf & Country Club. He birdied the final hole to tie Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (who made par) at 17 under par after 72 holes. On the fourth sudden death hole, Taylor made a 72-foot (22 m) eagle to capture the title.[23]

Event titles[edit]

Years Event title
1904–1993, 2006–2007 Canadian Open
1994–2005 Bell Canadian Open
2008–present RBC Canadian Open

Winners[edit]

Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Purse
($)
Winner's
share ($)
Venue
RBC Canadian Open
2023 Canada Nick Taylor 271 −17 Playoff England Tommy Fleetwood 9,000,000 1,620,000 Oakdale
2022 Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy (2) 261 −19 2 strokes United States Tony Finau 8,700,000 1,566,000 St. George's
2021 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[7][24]
2020
2019 Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy 258 −22 7 strokes Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry
United States Webb Simpson
7,600,000 1,368,000 Hamilton
2018 United States Dustin Johnson 265 −23 3 strokes South Korea An Byeong-hun
South Korea Kim Meen-whee
6,200,000 1,116,000 Glen Abbey
2017 Venezuela Jhonattan Vegas (2) 267 −21 Playoff United States Charley Hoffman 6,000,000 1,080,000 Glen Abbey
2016 Venezuela Jhonattan Vegas 276 −12 1 stroke United States Dustin Johnson
Scotland Martin Laird
Spain Jon Rahm
5,900,000 1,062,000 Glen Abbey
2015 Australia Jason Day 271 −17 1 stroke United States Bubba Watson 5,800,000 1,044,000 Glen Abbey
2014 South Africa Tim Clark 263 −17 1 stroke United States Jim Furyk 5,700,000 1,026,000 Royal Montreal
2013 United States Brandt Snedeker 272 −16 3 strokes United States Jason Bohn
United States Dustin Johnson
United States Matt Kuchar
United States William McGirt
5,600,000 1,008,000 Glen Abbey
2012 United States Scott Piercy 263 −17 1 stroke United States Robert Garrigus
United States William McGirt
5,200,000 936,000 Hamilton
2011 United States Sean O'Hair 276 −4 Playoff United States Kris Blanks 5,200,000 936,000 Shaughnessy
2010 Sweden Carl Pettersson 266 −14 1 stroke United States Dean Wilson 5,100,000 918,000 St. George's
2009 Australia Nathan Green 270 −18 Playoff South Africa Retief Goosen 5,100,000 918,000 Glen Abbey
2008 United States Chez Reavie 267 −17 3 strokes United States Billy Mayfair 5,000,000 900,000 Glen Abbey
Canadian Open
2007 United States Jim Furyk (2) 268 −16 1 stroke Fiji Vijay Singh 5,000,000 900,000 Angus Glen
(North)
2006 United States Jim Furyk 266 −14 1 stroke United States Bart Bryant 5,000,000 900,000 Hamilton
Bell Canadian Open
2005 United States Mark Calcavecchia 275 −5 1 stroke United States Ben Crane
United States Ryan Moore
4,900,000 882,000 Shaughnessy
2004 Fiji Vijay Singh 275 −9 Playoff Canada Mike Weir 4,500,000 810,000 Glen Abbey
2003 United States Bob Tway 272 −8 Playoff United States Brad Faxon 4,200,000 756,000 Hamilton
2002 United States John Rollins 272 −16 Playoff United States Neal Lancaster
United States Justin Leonard
4,000,000 720,000 Angus Glen
(South)
2001 United States Scott Verplank 266 −14 3 strokes United States Bob Estes
United States Joey Sindelar
3,800,000 684,000 Royal Montreal
2000 United States Tiger Woods[a] 266 −22 1 stroke New Zealand Grant Waite 3,300,000 594,000 Glen Abbey
1999 United States Hal Sutton 275 −13 3 strokes United States Dennis Paulson 2,500,000 450,000 Glen Abbey
1998 United States Billy Andrade 275 −13 Playoff United States Bob Friend 2,200,000 396,000 Glen Abbey
1997 United States Steve Jones (2) 275 −5 1 stroke Australia Greg Norman 1,500,000 270,000 Royal Montreal
1996 United States Dudley Hart 202 −14 1 stroke United States David Duval 1,500,000 270,000 Glen Abbey
1995 United States Mark O'Meara 274 −14 Playoff United States Bob Lohr 1,300,000 234,000 Glen Abbey
1994 Zimbabwe Nick Price (2) 275 −13 1 stroke United States Mark Calcavecchia 1,300,000 234,000 Glen Abbey
Canadian Open
1993 South Africa David Frost 279 −9 1 stroke United States Fred Couples 1,000,000 180,000 Glen Abbey
1992 Australia Greg Norman (2) 280 −8 Playoff United States Bruce Lietzke 1,000,000 180,000 Glen Abbey
1991 Zimbabwe Nick Price 273 −15 1 stroke United States David Edwards 1,000,000 180,000 Glen Abbey
1990 United States Wayne Levi 278 −10 1 stroke Australia Ian Baker-Finch
United States Jim Woodward
1,000,000 180,000 Glen Abbey
1989 United States Steve Jones 271 −17 2 strokes United States Clark Burroughs
United States Mark Calcavecchia
United States Mike Hulbert
900,000 162,000 Glen Abbey
1988 United States Ken Green 275 −13 1 stroke United States Bill Glasson
United States Scott Verplank
900,000 135,000 Glen Abbey
1987 United States Curtis Strange (2) 276 −12 3 strokes South Africa David Frost
United States Jodie Mudd
Zimbabwe Nick Price
600,000 108,000 Glen Abbey
1986 United States Bob Murphy 280 −8 3 strokes Australia Greg Norman 600,000 108,000 Glen Abbey
1985 United States Curtis Strange 279 −9 2 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus
Australia Greg Norman
580,000 86,507 Glen Abbey
1984 Australia Greg Norman 278 −10 2 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus 525,000 72,000 Glen Abbey
1983 United States John Cook 277 −7 Playoff United States Johnny Miller 425,000 63,000 Glen Abbey
1982 United States Bruce Lietzke (2) 277 −7 2 strokes United States Hal Sutton 425,000 76,500 Glen Abbey
1981 England Peter Oosterhuis 280 −4 1 stroke United States Bruce Lietzke
United States Jack Nicklaus
United States Andy North
425,000 76,500 Glen Abbey
1980 United States Bob Gilder 274 −6 2 strokes United States Jerry Pate
United States Leonard Thompson
350,000 63,000 Royal Montreal
1979 United States Lee Trevino (3) 281 −3 3 strokes United States Ben Crenshaw 350,000 63,000 Glen Abbey
1978 United States Bruce Lietzke 283 −1 1 stroke United States Pat McGowan 250,000 50,000 Glen Abbey
1977 United States Lee Trevino (2) 280 −8 4 strokes England Peter Oosterhuis 225,000 45,000 Glen Abbey
1976 United States Jerry Pate 267 −13 4 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus 200,000 40,000 Essex
1975 United States Tom Weiskopf (2) 274 −6 Playoff United States Jack Nicklaus 200,000 40,000 Royal Montreal
1974 United States Bobby Nichols 270 −10 4 strokes United States John Schlee
United States Larry Ziegler
200,000 40,000 Mississaugua
1973 United States Tom Weiskopf 278 −6 2 strokes United States Forrest Fezler 175,000 35,000 Richelieu Valley
1972 United States Gay Brewer 275 −9 1 stroke United States Sam Adams
United States Dave Hill
150,000 30,000 Cherry Hill
1971 United States Lee Trevino[a] 275 −13 Playoff United States Art Wall Jr. 150,000 30,000 Richelieu Valley
1970 United States Kermit Zarley 279 −9 3 strokes United States Gibby Gilbert 125,000 25,000 London Hunt
1969 United States Tommy Aaron 275 −13 Playoff United States Sam Snead 125,000 25,000 Pine Grove
1968 New Zealand Bob Charles 274 −6 2 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus 125,000 25,000 St. George's
1967 United States Billy Casper 279 −5 Playoff United States Art Wall Jr. 100,000 30,000 Montreal Municipal
1966 United States Don Massengale 280 −4 3 strokes United States Chi-Chi Rodríguez 100,000 20,000 Shaughnessy
1965 United States Gene Littler 273 −7 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus 100,000 20,000 Mississaugua
1964 Australia Kel Nagle 277 −11 2 strokes United States Arnold Palmer 50,000 7,500 Pine Grove
1963 United States Doug Ford (2) 280 −4 1 stroke United States Al Geiberger 50,000 9,000 Scarboro
1962 United States Ted Kroll 278 −10 2 strokes United States Charlie Sifford 30,000 4,300 Laval-sur-le-Lac
1961 United States Jacky Cupit 270 −10 5 strokes United States Buster Cupit
United States Dow Finsterwald
United States Bobby Nichols
30,000 4,300 Niakwa
1960 United States Art Wall Jr. 269 −19 6 strokes United States Bob Goalby
United States Jay Hebert
25,000 3,500 St. George's
1959 United States Doug Ford 276 −12 2 strokes United States Dow Finsterwald
United States Art Wall Jr.
United States Bo Wininger
25,000 3,500 Islesmere
1958 United States Wes Ellis 267 −13 1 stroke United States Jay Hebert 25,000 3,500 Royal Mayfair
1957 United States George Bayer 271 −13 2 strokes United States Bo Wininger 25,000 3,500 Westmount
1956 United States Doug Sanders (a) 273 −11 Playoff United States Dow Finsterwald 15,000 2,400 Beaconsfield
1955 United States Arnold Palmer 265 −23 4 strokes United States Jack Burke Jr. 15,000 2,400 Weston
1954 Canada Pat Fletcher 280 −8 4 strokes Canada Gordie Brydson
United States Bill Welch
15,000 3,000 Point Grey
1953 United States Dave Douglas 273 −11 1 stroke United States Wally Ulrich 15,000 3,000 Scarboro
1952 United States Johnny Palmer 263 −25 11 strokes United States Fred Haas
United States Dick Mayer
15,000 3,000 St. Charles
1951 Australia Jim Ferrier (2) 273 −7 2 strokes United States Fred Hawkins
United States Ed Oliver
15,000 2,250 Mississaugua
1950 Australia Jim Ferrier 271 −17 3 strokes United States Ted Kroll 10,000 2,000 Royal Montreal
1949 United States Dutch Harrison 271 −17 4 strokes Australia Jim Ferrier 9,200 2,000 St. George's
1948 United States Charles Congdon 280 −4 3 strokes United States Vic Ghezzi
United States Ky Laffoon
United States Dick Metz
9,000 2,000 Shaughnessy
1947 South Africa Bobby Locke 268 −16 2 strokes United States Ed Oliver 10,000 2,000 Scarboro
1946 United States George Fazio 278 −6 Playoff United States Dick Metz 9,000 2,000 Beaconsfield
1945 United States Byron Nelson 280 E[25] 4 strokes United States Herman Barron 10,000 2,000 Thornhill
1943–1944: No tournament due to World War II
1942 United States Craig Wood 275 −13 4 strokes United States Mike Turnesa 3,000 1,000 Mississaugua
1941 United States Sam Snead (3) 274 −6 2 strokes Canada Bob Gray 3,000 1,000 Lambton
1940 United States Sam Snead (2) 281 −3 Playoff United States Jug McSpaden 3,000 1,000 Scarboro
1939 United States Jug McSpaden 282 +2 5 strokes United States Ralph Guldahl 3,000 1,000 Riverside
1938 United States Sam Snead 277 −11 Playoff England Harry Cooper 3,000 1,000 Mississaugua
1937 England Harry Cooper (2) 285 +5 2 strokes United States Ralph Guldahl 3,200 1,000 St. Andrews Club
1936 United States Lawson Little 271 −9 8 strokes Scotland Jimmy Thomson 3,000 1,000 St. Andrews Club
1935 United States Gene Kunes 280 −8 2 strokes United States Vic Ghezzi 1,465 500 Summerlea
1934 United States Tommy Armour (3) 287 −1 2 strokes United States Ky Laffoon 1,465 500 Lakeview
1933 Australia Joe Kirkwood Sr. 282 −2 8 strokes England Harry Cooper
Scotland Lex Robson
1,465 500 St. George's
1932 United States Harry Cooper 290 +2 3 strokes United States Al Watrous 1,465 500 Ottawa Hunt
1931 United States Walter Hagen 292 +4 Playoff England Percy Alliss 1,485 500 Mississaugua
1930 United States Tommy Armour (2) 273 −7 Playoff United States Leo Diegel 1,475 500 Hamilton
1929 United States Leo Diegel (4) 274 −6 3 strokes United States Tommy Armour 1,320 400 Kanawaki
1928 United States Leo Diegel (3) 282 −2 2 strokes England Archie Compston
United States Walter Hagen
Scotland Macdonald Smith
1,320 400 Rosedale
1927 United States Tommy Armour 288 E 1 stroke Scotland Macdonald Smith 1,320 400 Toronto GC
1926 Scotland Macdonald Smith 283 +3 3 strokes United States Gene Sarazen 1,575 500 Royal Montreal
1925 United States Leo Diegel (2) 295 +11 2 strokes United States Mike Brady 900 500 Lambton
1924 United States Leo Diegel 285 +1 2 strokes United States Gene Sarazen 750 400 Mt. Bruno
1923 Scotland Clarence Hackney 295 +7 5 strokes United States Tom Kerrigan 580 350 Lakeview
1922 United States Al Watrous 303 +19 1 stroke United States Tom Kerrigan 450 250 Mt. Bruno
1921 United States William Trovinger 293 +5 3 strokes United States Mike Brady 450 250 Toronto GC
1920 England James Douglas Edgar (2) 298 +10 Playoff United States Tommy Armour (a)
Canada Charlie Murray
600 300 Rivermead
1919 England James Douglas Edgar 278 −2 16 strokes England Jim Barnes
United States Bobby Jones (a)
Canada Karl Keffer
435 200 Hamilton
1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I
1914 Canada Karl Keffer (2) 300 +12 1 stroke Canada George Cumming 265 100 Toronto GC
1913 Canada Albert Murray (2) 295 +15 6 strokes United States Jack Burke Sr.
Canada Nicol Thompson
265 100 Royal Montreal
1912 England George Sargent 299 +19 1 stroke England Jim Barnes 265 100 Rosedale
1911 Canada Charlie Murray (2) 314 +26 2 strokes Scotland Davie Black 265 100 Royal Ottawa
1910 United States Daniel Kenny 303 +19 4 strokes Canada George Lyon (a) 265 100 Lambton
1909 Canada Karl Keffer 309 +21 3 strokes Canada George Cumming 265 100 Toronto GC
1908 Canada Albert Murray 300 +20 4 strokes England George Sargent 225 80 Royal Montreal
1907 England Percy Barrett 306 +22 2 strokes Canada George Cumming 245 80 Lambton
1906 Canada Charlie Murray 170 +26 1 stroke Canada George Cumming
Scotland Tom Reith (a)
Scotland Alex Robertson
225 70 Royal Ottawa
1905 Canada George Cumming 148 +8 3 strokes England Percy Barrett 225 60 Toronto GC
1904 England Jack Oke 156 +16 2 strokes England Percy Barrett 170 60 Royal Montreal
  1. ^ a b Completed the PGA Tour's Triple Crown by also winning The Open Championship and the U.S. Open in the same year.

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records. Source[26]

Multiple and consecutive champions[edit]

This table lists the golfers who have won more than one Canadian Open.

Deceased golfer †
Major championship winner the same year as the Open win ‡
Major championship winner M
Player Total Years
United States Leo Diegel ‡†M 4 1924, 1925, 1928, 1929
United States Tommy Armour ‡†M 3 1927, 1930, 1934
United States Sam Snead M 3 1938, 1940, 1941
United States Lee TrevinoM 3 1971, 1977, 1979
Canada Charles Murray 2 1906, 1911
Canada Albert Murray 2 1908, 1913
Canada Karl Keffer 2 1909, 1914
England James Douglas Edgar 2 1919, 1920
England Harry Cooper 2 1932, 1937
Australia Jim Ferrier M 2 1950, 1951
United States Doug Ford M 2 1959, 1963
United States Tom WeiskopfM 2 1973, 1975
United States Bruce Lietzke 2 1978, 1982
United States Curtis Strange M 2 1985, 1987
Australia Greg Norman M 2 1984, 1992
Zimbabwe Nick PriceM 2 1991, 1994
United States Steve Jones M 2 1989, 1997
United States Jim Furyk M 2 2006, 2007
Venezuela Jhonattan Vegas 2 2016, 2017
Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy M 2 2019, 2022

Champions by nationality[edit]

This table lists the total number of titles won by golfers of each nationality.

Country Wins Winners First title Last title
 United States 72 55 1910 2018
 England 8 6 1904 1981
 Australia 8 6 1933 2015
 Canada 8 5 1906 2023
 Scotland 3 3 1905 1926
 South Africa 3 3 1947 2014
 Northern Ireland 2 1 2019 2022
 Zimbabwe 2 1 1991 1994
 Venezuela 2 1 2016 2017
 New Zealand 1 1 1968
 Fiji 1 1 2004
 Sweden 1 1 2010

Trophies[edit]

The first trophy presented to the winner was donated by the Rivermead Golf Club who hosted the event in 1920. Before then the winner received a gold medal.[27] The following trophies have been used since 1920:

  • The Rivermead Challenge Cup 1920–1935[28]
  • The Seagram Gold Cup 1936–1970[29]
  • The Du Maurier Trophy 1971–1993[30]
  • The RBC Canadian Open Trophy 1994–present[31]

Between 1936 and 1961 and since 2007, the Rivermead Challenge Cup has been presented to the Canadian professional with the lowest score.[28]

Future sites[edit]

Year Edition Course City Dates
2024 115th Hamilton Golf and Country Club Ancaster, Ontario May 30 – June 2
2026 117th Oakdale Golf & Country Club Toronto, Ontario TBD

Source:[32][33]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "St. George's set to try to host RBC Canadian Open in 2022". TSN. Canadian Press. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  2. ^ Logan, Jason (May 16, 2018). "Banking on a Better Date". Scoregolf. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  3. ^ McKay, Tim (July 23, 2013). "Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus forever Canadian Open bridesmaid". Toronto Sun. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  4. ^ "Four Events Added to Open Qualifying Series". Golf Channel. November 7, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  5. ^ "Differences in Opens shown through exemptions". National Post. May 28, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  6. ^ "RBC Canadian Open in mid-June is cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic". Global News. April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "2021 RBC Canadian Open Cancelled due to Ongoing COVID-19 Challenges". Golf Canada. March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Milner, Brian (October 27, 2015). "ClubLink files to redevelop Glen Abbey into residential community". theglobeandmail.com.
  9. ^ "Oakville council unanimously votes to give heritage status for Glen Abbey". theglobeandmail.com. August 21, 2017.
  10. ^ Lucs, Ieva (August 22, 2017). "Oakville city council unanimously votes to designate Glen Abbey golf course a heritage site". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  11. ^ "Heritage designation raises questions about Glen Abbey's future". theglobeandmail.com. August 23, 2017.
  12. ^ Lea, David (November 8, 2018). "Fight for Oakville's Glen Abbey Golf Course heading to Ontario Court of Appeal". The Star. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  13. ^ "Golf Canada's CEO pleased with RBC Canadian Open ahead of location and date change". Golf Canada. July 29, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  14. ^ "Canadian Open returning to Hamilton in 2019, 2023". CBC Sports. June 6, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018. Applebaum said Golf Canada has not ruled out returning to Glen Abbey in the future but is "speaking with a variety of people" about hosting 2020, 2021, and 2022.
  15. ^ "Canadian Open History: 100 years of golf". RBC Canadian Open. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  16. ^ Kelley, Brent. "Largest Margin of Victory on the PGA Tour". About.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  17. ^ "Canadian Open: The Past Champions". RBC Canadian Open. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  18. ^ "Canadian Open: The Venues". RBC Canadian Open. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  19. ^ Phillips, Randy (June 6, 2012). "Tiger Woods's greatest shot was at Canadian Open". The Gazette. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019.
  20. ^ "Calcavecchia birdies record 9 straight holes". Golf.com. Associated Press. July 25, 2009.
  21. ^ "Weir falls short in Canadian bid". ESPN. Associated Press. September 14, 2004. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  22. ^ Feschuk, Dave (July 27, 2015). "Day seized Open with late birdie barrage". Toronto Star.
  23. ^ Azpiri, Jon (June 12, 2023). "Nick Taylor's dramatic Canadian Open win huge moment for B.C. golf, says former club president". CBC News.
  24. ^ "RBC Canadian Open cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic". Sportsnet.ca. April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  25. ^ club history and press reports
  26. ^ "2016 RBC Canadian Open Media Guide" (PDF). RBC Canadian Open. pp. 22–23. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  27. ^ "Canadian Open Gold Medal". Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  28. ^ a b "The Rivermead Challenge Cup". Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  29. ^ "The Seagram Gold Cup". Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  30. ^ "The Du Maurier Trophy". Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  31. ^ "The RBC Canadian Open Trophy". Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  32. ^ "St. George's Golf and Country Club to host RBC Canadian Open in 2020 and 2024". Golf Canada. May 24, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  33. ^ "In 2023 and 2026, the world's eyes will be on Oakdale". Oakdale Golf & Country Club. Retrieved June 13, 2022.

External links[edit]

43°43′53″N 79°30′55″W / 43.7313°N 79.5154°W / 43.7313; -79.5154