I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it.
As a Canadian, I’m proud of the RBC Canadian Open and how our country produces a national event that ranks with any in the world.
Maybe this year’s event tugged just a little bit more at the heartstrings. Some of that has to do with tariffs slapped on Canada by U.S. President Donald Trump and overall remarks he has made about wanting it to become the 51st U.S. State. I’ll refrain from making this into a political blog and restrict it to golf, more so hockey and hockey CBS had some fun with the current Stanley Cup final.
The Edmonton Oilers, bidding to become the first Canadian team to win the Cup since 1993, are engaging in a thrilling final with the Florida Panthers, the defending champions. During third-round coverage, announcer Amanda Balionis wore a Toronto Maple Leafs’ jersey with the name of team captain Auston Matthews on the back and high-fived the fans on the par three 14th hole. Shortly afterward, fellow announcer Colt Knost emerged wearing the jersey of Florida’s Brad Marchand, eliciting good-natured boos from the crowd. Marchand had been the nemesis of the Leafs for several years with the Boston Bruins. I give CBS kudos for conceiving this idea. It was fun and entertaining, and Knost played the role of the villain like a wrestling heel.
The 14th hole has become known as the Rink Hole because organizers built hockey boards on the perimeter and volunteers dress in referee jerseys. Spectators banged the boards before players hit their tee shots and sing the Canadian anthem for Canadian players. In some ways, it created some of the emotion similar to what you see at the Waste Management Phoenix Open’s 16th hole. Mind you, you don’t hear booing when a player fails to land his shot near the hole. As I’ve said before, Canadians are extremely politely. We are fond of saying “I’m sorry” even when it’s not needed.
MCILROY A DEFACTO CANADIAN: When Rory McIlroy (TaylorMade TP5) skipped the Memorial Tournament hosted in favor of the Canadian Open as his prep for the U.S. Open, it created a controversy. After all, the Memorial is hosted by Jack Nicklaus, who imparted some pointers that helped McIlroy finally win the Masters, so some people saw McIlroy’s decision as a slight. But McIlroy has won the Canadian Open twice, and his decision was certainly welcomed by Canadians. Prior to the start of the tournament, he was given a Leafs’ jersey.
He failed to make the cut with a one-over par in the first round followed by an eight-over par in the second round, much to the chagrin of his many Canadian supporters and the people who had bet him as the heavy favorite.
It has been suggested that after winning the Masters, McIlroy’s mindset has changed. Whereas he finally experienced relief by accomplishing his personal Grand Slam, he’s now going through a lack of focus, according to some analysts. He and his buddy Shane Lowry (Srixon Z-Star XV) were a non-factor as defending champions in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans – and that was to be expected only two weeks removed from the Masters – then posted a T7 in the Truist Championship, a T47 in the PGA Championship and the missed cut in the Canadian Open. There’s also the controversy of having his driver removed before the PGA Championship after it failed to meet the legal standards. He’s using a new driver and was clearly struggling in the Canadian Open.
ANOTHER THRILLING PLAYOFF: Similar to 2023 when Nick Taylor (Titleist Pro V1x) won the Canadian Open in a four-hole playoff with Tommy Fleetwood(TaylorMade TP5x), becoming the first Canadian to do so since 1954 and the first player born and raised in Canada to do it since 1914, this year’s tournament also had a four-hole playoff. While not nearly as dramatic as 2023 when Taylor won with a 72-foot eagle, Ryan Fox (Srixon Z-Star XV) beat Sam Burns (Callaway Chrome Tour X) on the fourth playoff hole. It was interesting that tournament organizers moved the hole to a different location on the fourth hole, allowing the players to be more aggressive. Fox took advantage of it with his second shot, landing it near the pin.
I was hoping Cameron Champ (Srixon Z Star XV) would win. I remember Champ established himself as an up-and-comer in the 2019-20 season, winning the Sanderson Open and posting two top-10 finishes, and then winning a PGA tournament in each of the next two seasons. I didn’t realize just how much he had fallen, literally and figuratively, in the last few years. He had been playing primarily in the Korn Ferry Tour after losing his PGA Tour card last year and struggling mentally, which seems to a recurring theme in the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour.
“The last couple years for me it’s mostly been off-the-course stuff,” he told the media after the second round, in which he led by two shots. “It’s been a little rough for me to even be out here.”
He has only been playing in PGA Tour events through past champion status.
He was supposed to be playing in a Korn Ferry Tour event last week but qualified for the Canadian Open as the eighth alternate. Fortunately, he had his passport on him.
Champ tied for ninth, his best finish in awhile. He’s had three top-20 finishes in his last five PGA Tour starts.
