You’ll pardon if there was a “hold your breath” kind of feel at this week’s RBC Canadian Open. After all, the past two years the event has been played in the shadow of off-course drama that has threatened to leave the historic national event somewhat forgotten—if not for impressive victories from Rory McIlroy and Nick Taylor.
In 2022, LIV Golf’s inaugural event was being played concurrently outside London, but McIlroy’s closing 62 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club allowed him to defend his title from 2019 (COVID had cancelled tournaments in 2020 and 2021), grab his then 21st PGA Tour title and provide an answer to the rival circuit’s opening salvo.
Then last year, the shocking framework agreement between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (LIV’s financial engine) was announced on June 6, Tuesday of Canadian Open week, and threw the entire golf world for a loop. Once again, though, the on-course action stole back the headlines come Sunday when Taylor rolled in a 72-foot eagle putt in a playoff against Tommy Fleetwood to become the first Canadian to win his national Open in 69 years.
This year’s return to Hamilton Golf & Country Club for the first time since 2019 was, thankfully, less eventful. Of course, many are hoping there would be more final-round theatrics this time around. And Robert MacIntyre gave them a bit, the PGA Tour rookie from Scotland with his father on the bag, claiming his first tour title with a closing two-under 68 and earning the first-place prize money payout of $1.693 million from an overall purse of $9.4 million.