I had to laugh during the broadcast of the Canadian Open when there was a logjam at 10-under in the second round and one of the broadcasters on The Golf Channel referred to Canada as the home of lumberjacks.
Yes, Canada is big into logging, albeit mainly in British Columbia, but as someone who lives in Canada, I wouldn’t say we are the home of lumberjacks.
Maple syrup is more like it.
Anyhow, the tournament took place about a half hour north of my home, though I wasn’t able to physically be there.
I don’t know anyone who predicted Bud Cauley (Titleist Pro V1) winning the tournament, his first victory on the PGA Tour in his 239th career start. His tee shot on the 16th hole hit a moving golf cart, preventing the ball from landing far into the woods. He escaped the hole with a par. Mind you, he was so far ahead of the pack at that point, losing a stroke or two wouldn’t have mattered. He won by two strokes.
This year’s Canadian Open took place during a week in which Toronto played host to Canada’s first match of the 2026 World Cup of soccer. Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are the three nations hosting matches, and Canada’s game, about an hour’s drive south of the Canadian Open, was a huge deal. This is the first time Canada has hosted and only the third time it has fielded a team in the tournament. It’s a big deal.
The New York Yankees were also in town to play the Toronto Blue Jays. The games were being played near the World Cup site, meaning downtown Toronto was teaming with people.
So there was the Canadian Open, far away from all the madness.
Now going forward, there is concern among the Canadian golf community that the tournament, which has a long and rich history, may become an afterthought on the PGA Tour if it goes forward with a two-track system. Will it include the Canadian Open? No one knows for sure. But the system will designate tournaments for the top players, and the lesser-known players will compete on lesser-known tournaments.
This year’s Canadian Open had many of the premier players using it as a tuneup for the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York. Yes, the likes of Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Young were among the absentees, but in years past they’ve played the Canadian Open. McIlroy is a multiple winner of the tournament and has said how important the tournament is because it’s a national open.
I think it would be a shame if the Canadian Open became somewhat of a tier-two event, though I’m sure Canadians will still support it, particularly with the rise of Canadian players on the PGA Tour.
