After they were spotted at an RBC corporate outing during the RBC Heritage a few weeks ago, it was easy to speculate that Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry might be possibilities for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open field.
That was confirmed today by Golf Canada, the tournament host, on the occasion of their Media Day at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open host club, the Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario.
Fleetwood, of course, was eclipsed dramatically in a four-hole playoff at the tournament last year by Canada’s own Nick Taylor. But, undeterred, the World #11 ranked player will be back to try and seek the title once again. Fleetwood is still seeking his first PGA TOUR victory but has eight international wins to his credit and is one of the more popular players in the game.
Equally admired among golf fans is Shane Lowry, who tied for 2nd with Webb Simpson the last time the RBC Canadian Open was held at Hamilton G&CC. The 2019 Open Champion is coming off a recent team win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside Rory McIlroy. Rory had previously confirmed his intention to return to the RBC Canadian Open to seek a third title.
Defending champion Nick Taylor will try to repeat his triumph from 2023, as will a number of Team RBC Ambassadors in Sam Burns, Cameron Young, and Sahith Theegala,
“As title sponsor of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open, we are pleased to welcome back 2023 runner-up Tommy Fleetwood and recent Zurich Classic of New Orleans Champion, Shane Lowry,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “We have a talented field to look forward to featuring top player Rory McIlroy and Team RBC, including Taylor Pendrith fresh off his first PGA TOUR win.”
A full Canadian contingent will also challenge for the national championship led by PGA TOUR winners Adam Hadwin of Abbottsford, B.C. (world no. 49), Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (world no. 52), recent winner Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. (world no. 58), Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. (world no. 69), Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (world no. 83), as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. and Roger Sloan of Calgary, Alta.
A trio of up and coming Canadians have accepted tournament exemptions to compete including DP World Tour player Aaron Cockerill of Winnipeg, Man., along with Korn Ferry Tour competitors Wil Bateman of Edmonton, Alta. and Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S. Cockerill, currently ranked 19th on the DP World Tour rankings will compete in his third RBC Canadian Open. Bateman and Creighton sit 19th and 12th respectively on the Korn Ferry points list and will be making their second and third starts in Canada’s National Open Championship.
Previous exemption were also secured by Kevin Stinson of Mission, B.C. who finished atop the PGA of Canada Order of Merit, Étienne Papineau of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que. who finished as the top Canadian on the 2023 PGA TOUR Americas Order of Merit, and reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur champion Ashton McCullough of Kingston, Ont.
Also accepting an exemption to compete is Canadian golf icon and Presidents Cup International Team Captain Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. who will be competing in his 31st RBC Canadian Open. By competing this year at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, Weir will sit second all-time for starts in Canada’s National Open Championship trailing only fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George Cumming for the record of 32 starts in tournament history.
“We are less a month out from the RBC Canadian Open and extremely excited to get the tournament started,” said Bryan Crawford, Tournament Director, RBC Canadian Open. “Hamilton Golf and Country Club has undergone an incredible renovation since the club last welcomed the stars of the PGA TOUR in 2019 and is ready to challenge the world’s best players. Our partners have leaned into Canada’s National Open Championship in a major way to deliver a truly immersive fan festival experience as a kickoff to summer.”
/ with content from Mike Masaro, Golf Canada
