The RBC Canadian Open is the third oldest tournament in professional golf behind only the Open Championship and the U.S. Open. It has been held annually every year since 1904, except for a few years during both world wars.
The Canadian Open returns to the Jack Nicklaus designed, Glen Abbey Golf Course near Toronto this year after being held at various venues over the past three years.
It was considered a very important tournament for much of its history, but has suffered to find an identity over the last several years.
The great Tommy Armour won the Canadian Open in three different occasions, 1927, 1930 and 1934.
From 1970-2000 the tournament was won by players that had previously won major championships. Lee Trevino won three Canadian Opens. Greg Norman, Curtis Strange, Nick Price and Steve Jones all won twice.
Even Tiger Woods won here in 2000 when he hit one of the most memorable shots of his career. With a one-shot lead over Grant Waite on the last hole of the tournament, his drive found a fairway bunker. Waite stuck his approach onto the green and Woods felt he needed to reach the green to secure the win.
With the television announcers explaning to golf fans that Woods had no chance to reach the green from the bunker, he hit a 218-yard 6-iron with a slight draw from the sand over the green. He subsiquently chipped back, made the putt for par and the win.
Woods (2000) and Trevino (1971) are the only two players to win the “Triple Crown” of golf, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and the Canadian Open in the same season.
With the advent of the FedEx Cup in 2007, the Canadian Open became sandwiched between the Open Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone on the PGA Tour schedule. Many top players now skip the event and take a week off prior to the WGC event at Akron.
Notable names in the RBC Canadian Open this week are Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson, Billy Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Jim Furyk and Luke Donald.
Golf Channel will carry the RBC Canadian Open on Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26, 3:00-6:00 PM ET. They will also provide early round coverage on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28, 1:00-2:30 PM ET.
CBS will pick up the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday 3:00-6:00 PM ET.