RBC Canadian Open

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The RBC Canadian Open is a golf tournament which was founded in 1904.

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 all three Opens in the same season since Lee Trevino in 1971. Nonetheless, this special status has largely dissipated, but the Canadian Open remains a well-regarded fixture on the PGA Tour.

A limited number of entries are allocated to players of the Canadian Tour; however, prize money won at the Canadian Open does not count towards the Canadian Tour money list.

Celebrated golfers who have won the tournament include: Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Bobby Locke, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods. The Canadian Open is regarded as the most prestigious tournament never won by the great Jack Nicklaus, a 7-time runner-up. Leo Diegel has the most titles with four.

In recent years the tournament has been held in mid-September, following the major tournaments and most other high-profile events. Its field has accordingly become increasingly lacking in "star" golfers. Seeking to change this, the Royal Canadian Golf Association has long lobbied for a summer date. With the recent revamp of the Tour schedule, as of 2007 the tournament will indeed be held in July, albeit sandwiched between three events with even higher profiles (the British Open the week prior, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational the week after, and the PGA Championship the week after that). Many analysts doubt that the field strength will increase significantly as a result, with the biggest star players not wanting to play four consecutive weeks. Still, the tournament counts towards the FedEx Cup standings.

Glen Abbey Golf Course has hosted the most Canadian Opens, with 23 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 from 1977, with occasional visits to other clubs. From the mid-1990s, the RCGA decided to move the championship around the country. Glen Abbey will also host the event in 2008 and 2009. Royal Montreal Golf Club, home of the first Open in 1904, ranks second with nine times hosted. Mississaugua Golf & Country Club has hosted six Opens, Toronto Golf Club has hosted five Opens, and four clubs have each hosted four Opens: Lambton Golf Club, Hamilton Golf and Country Club, St. George's Golf and Country Club, and Scarboro Golf Club. The championship has for the most part been held in Ontario and Quebec, the two most populous Canadian provinces. Ontario and Quebec have seen all but eight Opens. New Brunswick had the Open in 1939, Manitoba in 1952 and 1961, Alberta in 1958, and British Columbia in 1948, 1954, 1966, and 2005.

[edit] 2004: Mike Weir's close call

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A Canadian has not won the Canadian Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954, and one of the most exciting conclusions ever at the Open in 2004 came at the expense of 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 never made a cut 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 edition of the Open , the 2003 Masters champion had a 3- stroke lead, and many Canadians buzzing about the possibility of the streak's end.

Weir started off on the wrong foot with a double bogey, but then went 4 under to keep his 3-stroke lead, with only 8 holes left. Yet, with the expectations of Canadian observers abnormally high, there was another road block in the way of Mike Weir, and his quest for national glory: Vijay Singh.

Singh did not play as to his resume, and Weir had two more chances to win the third oldest national tournament: a 25-foot shot for eagle on No. 18 in the first hole of sudden-death, and a 5-foot shot on No. 17 at the second playoff hole. The hopes of a nation sunk, along with Weir's ball, on the third playoff hole. Mike put his third shot into the water after a horrid drive and lay-up, and Singh was safely on the green in two.

While Singh cemented his legacy as world's best player (he overtook Tiger Woods as the world's number one player), Weir's career has never been the same after the collapse in Canada.[1] Weir seems to be back on track with his first PGA Tour win since that year, and a solid Presidents Cup performance.

[edit] Winners

Nick Price celebrates his 1994 victory at the Canadian Open

[edit] Trophies

• Canadian Amateur Trophy 1895-1907
• Earl Grey Trophy 1908-
• Bell Canadian Open Trophy 1994-present
• Rivermead Cup (presented to low Canadian) 1936-1961, 2007-

[edit] Future sites

• 2009 Glen Abbey Golf Course, Oakville, Ontario
• 2010 St. George's Golf and Country Club, Toronto, Ontario

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Coverage on the PGA Tour's official site