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Stellar field of high profile talent commit to 2009 RBC
Canadian Open
Canadian golf fans to be treated to premier lineup of PGA
TOUR stars representing the future of professional golf
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EMERGING SUPERSTARS SEAN O'HAIR, HUNTER MAHAN, NICK
WATNEY, J.B. HOLMES, CHARLIE HOFFMAN, KEVIN NA, DUSTIN
JOHNSON AND BUBBA WATSON TO JOIN IMPRESSIVE CAST INCLUDING
CAMILO VILLEGAS, ANTHONY KIM, TREVOR IMMELMAN AND LUKE
DONALD FOR 100TH PLAYING
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RETIEF GOOSEN, SCOTT VERPLANK, BRIAN GAY, JERRY KELLY,
BILLY MAYFAIR, COREY PAVIN AND STEVE FLESCH AS WELL FRED
COUPLES AND MARK CALCAVECCHIA REINFORCE A STRONG VETERAN
CONTINGENT SET TO CHALLENGE FOR CANADA'S NATIONAL OPEN
CHAMPIONSHIP
OAKVILLE, Ontario (RCGA), June 30, 2009 — The
Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) in partnership with
title sponsor RBC, announced today that a strong contingent
of emerging superstars and PGA TOUR notables have confirmed
their intention to compete at the 2009 RBC
Canadian Open, July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville,
Ont.
Among the players set to challenge for Canada's national
Open championship include rising stars Sean O'Hair, Hunter
Mahan, Nick Watney, J.B. Holmes, Charlie Hoffman and Dustin
Johnson. Other PGA TOUR notables added to the field include
long-hitting Bubba Watson, Kevin Na, Steve Marino and Jeff
Quinney as well Ricky Barnes, fresh off his impressive run
at the 2009 US Open.
The field for the 100th playing of Canada's national Open
championship will also welcome several proven PGA TOUR veterans
including Retief Goosen, 2-time 2009 PGA TOUR winner Brian
Gay, Jerry Kelly, Steve Flesch, Todd Hamilton, Shaun Micheel,
Lee Janzen and 2010 Ryder captain Corey Pavin. Other players
announced today include former RBC Canadian Open champions
Scott Verplank (2001), John Rollins (2002) and Bob Tway (2003).
"It's become a new era for the RBC Canadian Open and
we're delighted to welcome this tremendous mix of emerging
talent and notable veterans to the field for the 2009 RBC
Canadian Open," said Bill Paul, Tournament Director of
the RBC Canadian Open. "We've methodically tracked our
player field and the fields of other PGA TOUR events since
2007 and are thrilled with our progress and relative standing
to date. The event as well as the inherent strength of our
field has come a long way since RBC has come on board and
I think right now having a partner so focused on results has
been a driving force behind the resurgence of the event."
The players confirmed today will join a 2009 RBC Canadian
Open field that includes previously announced young guns Anthony
Kim, Camilo Villegas, Trevor Immelman, Luke Donald and defending
champion Chez Reavie; veteran talents Fred Couples and Mark
Calcavecchia; as well as Canadian favourite Stephen Ames and
Mike Weir.
"We know that Canadian golf fans want to see the best
field possible challenge for the title and we've worked incredibly
hard with the RCGA to position the RBC Canadian Open as a
must play event for players on TOUR," said Jim Little,
RBC Chief Brand and Communications Officer. "Given the
list of young superstars and PGA TOUR veterans set to compete,
I think Canadian golf fans will be treated to a true showcase
of world class golf."
The field was also bolstered last week with the announcement
that Canadian National Amateur Team members Nick Taylor of
Abbotsford, B.C. and Matt Hill of Bright's Grove, Ont., currently
the no. 1 and no. 3 ranked amateurs in the world, have been
given exemptions to compete in the 100th playing of Canada's
national Open championship.
PROVEN RESULTS - THE FIELD AT A GLANCE:
Among the PGA TOUR notables and world class amateur golfers
confirmed for the 2009 RBC Canadian Open include:
Sean O'Hair
- Three-time PGA TOUR winner
- Currently 8th in 2009 FedExCup standings
- Ranked 13th on the Official World Golf Ratings
Retief Goosen
- Seven-time PGA TOUR winner including 2004 & 2001 U.S.
Open Championships
- Sits 16th on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- Ranked 23rd on the Official World Golf Ratings
Hunter Mahan
- Sits 23rd on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- Ranked 39th on the Official World Golf Ratings
- Four top-10 finishes in 2009 including; T4th - Travelers
- Championship, T6th - U.S. Open Championship and T10th
the Masters
Nick Watney
- Sits 10th on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- Ranked 33rd on the Official World Golf Ratings
- Three top-10 finishes in 2009 including win at the Buick
Championship
Bubba Watson
- Sits 36th on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- Ranked 68th on the Official World Golf Ratings
- Two top-10 finishes in 2009
Brian Gay
- Sits 7th on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- Ranked 38th on the Official World Golf Ratings
- Three-time PGA TOUR winner including two PGA TOUR wins
in 2009 (Verizon Heritage & St. Jude Classic presented
by FedEx)
Ricky Barnes
- T2nd at the 2009 U.S. Open Championship
- Former U.S. Amateur Champion
Steve Marino
- Sits 21st on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- T2nd at the 2009 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Charlie Hoffman
- Sits 17th on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- 13 career top-10 PGA TOUR finishes and winner of the 2007
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
Dustin Johnson
- Sits 14th on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- Ranked 47th on the Official World Golf Ratings
J.B. Holmes
- Sits 46th on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- Ranked 58th on the Official World Golf Ratings
- Two-time PGA TOUR winner (2006 & 2008 FBR Opens)
Jeff Quinney
- Eight career top-10 finishes
- Former U.S. Amateur Champion
Kevin Na
- Sits 19th on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- Six top-10 finishes in 2009 including 3rd place finish
at FBR Open and a T3rd at THE PLAYERS Championship
Scott Verplank
- 2001 RBC Canadian Open champion
- Five-time PGA TOUR winner
Billy Mayfair
- Five-time PGA TOUR winner
Finished 2nd at the 2008 RBC Canadian Open
Jerry Kelly
- Sits 28th on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
- Three-time PGA TOUR winner
- Winner of the 2009 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Todd Hamilton
- Two-time PGA TOUR Winner
- Winner of the 2004 British Open Championship
Corey Pavin
- 15-time PGA TOUR winner
- 12-time International winner
- Captain of the 2010 US Ryder Cup Team
Lee Janzen
- Eight-time PGA TOUR winner
- Two-time U.S. Open Champion (1993 & 1998)
Shaun Micheel
- Winner, 2003 PGA Championship
- Two top-25 finishes in 2009
Bob Tway
- Eight-time PGA TOUR winner
- 2003 RBC Canadian Open champion
John Rollins
- Two-time PGA TOUR winner
- 2002 Canadian Open Champion
- Sits 30th on the PGA TOUR's 2009 FedExCup standings
Steve Flesch
- Four-time PGA TOUR Winner
- Two top-10 finishes in 2009 including T6th at Masters
and 7th at Transitions Championship
Mike Weir
- Eight-time PGA TOUR winner
- 2003 Masters champion
- Four-time President's Cup team member
- 2009 Canadian Golf Hall of Fame inductee
Anthony Kim
- Two-time PGA TOUR winner (2008 Wachovia Championship &
2008 AT&T National)
- 2008 Ryder Cup hero
- Ranked 15th on the Official World Golf Ratings
Stephen Ames
- Three-time PGA TOUR winner
- Champion, 2006 The PLAYERS Championship
- Four-time World Cup team member
Chez Reavie
- 2008 RBC Canadian Open champion
- Two top-25 finishes in 2009
Trevor Immelman
- 2008 Masters champion
- Two-time PGA TOUR winner
- Two-time President's Cup team member
Camilo Villegas
- Champion, 2008 TOUR Championship
- Two-time PGA TOUR winner
- 2006 World Cup team member
Luke Donald
- Two-time PGA TOUR winner
- Two-time Ryder Cup team member
- Ranked 27th on OWGR
Fred Couples
- 15-time PGA TOUR Winner
- Five-time Ryder Cup team member
- Four-time President's Cup team member & 2009 President's
Cup Captain
Mark Calcavecchia
- 13-time PGA TOUR winner
- 2005 Canadian Open winner
- Four-time Ryder Cup team member
Nick Taylor
- Currently the no. 1 ranked amateur golfer in the world
- Recent low amateur at the 2009 US Open Championship
- Former Canadian Junior and Canadian Amateur champion
- Member of Canada's national amateur golf team
Matt Hill
- 2009 NCAA Division I Individual champion
- Winner of the 2009 Jack Nicklaus Award (NCAA Division
I Player of the Year)
- Currently the no. 3 ranked amateur golfer in the world
Member of Canada's national amateur golf team
Additional player commitments will be announced in the coming
weeks and the final field of confirmed players for the 2009
RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club will be available
after 5:00 pm on Friday, July 17th.
Premiere Host Venues
The RCGA and RBC are committed to hosting the RBC Canadian
Open at the finest golf courses in the country going forward.
The renowned Glen Abbey Golf Club, long considered the home
of Canada's national Open championship will host the event
for a record 25th time in 2009. The 2010 RBC Canadian Open
will then mark a storied return to the venerable St. George's
Golf and Country in Toronto before heading west in 2011 at
the historic Shaughnessey Golf and Country Club.
For corporate hospitality, tickets, volunteer and sponsorship
information, please visit www.rbccanadianopen.com
or call
1-800-571-OPEN.
About the 2009 RBC Canadian Open
An exciting new era has arrived for Canada's national championship.
Part of the FedEx Cup, stars of the PGA TOUR will compete
for $5.1 million (US) at the RBC Canadian Open, July 20-26
at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario. Established
in 1904, the tournament is the third-oldest national open
golf championship worldwide next to the British Open and the
U.S. Open. The RBC Canadian Open is proudly sponsored by RBC,
Bell, Pengrowth and BMW Group Canada. For updated corporate
hospitality, tickets, volunteer and sponsorship information
please visit www.rbccanadianopen.ca or call 1-800-571-OPEN.
RBC and the RBC Canadian Open
In partnership with the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA),
RBC is the title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open, the third
oldest national golf championship worldwide, next only to
the British Open and the U.S. Open. With a history of great
players and premier fields, the RBC Canadian Open provides
golf fans with the opportunity to experience the excitement
of a world class event on Canadian soil. RBC also sponsors
all levels of amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local
communities to national sport organizations and elite-level
athletes.
About The Royal Canadian Golf Association
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing
body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600
clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the
National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country,
the RCGA's mission is to grow participation in and passion
for the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions
of the game. The RCGA conducts programs and services to help
shape the future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete
development, CN Future Links, Canada's national junior golf
program, turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian
Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, Rules of Golf and amateur status,
handicapping and course rating are only some of the initiatives
the association leads for golf in Canada. In addition, the
RCGA conducts Canada's most prestigious golf championships.
The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women's Open attract
the best professional golfers in the world, while regional
junior and national amateur championships showcase the best
in Canadian golf.
For further information on what the RCGA is doing to support
golf in your community please visit www.rcga.org.
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Media Contacts:
For more information, please contact:
Dan Pino
Director, Media and Public Relations
Royal Canadian Golf Association
Office: 1-800-263-0009 ext. 406
Mobile: (416) 434-5525
Email: dpino@rcga.org
Chethan Lakshman
Director, Corporate Communications
RBC
Office: 416-974-9463
Mobile: 416-459-8627
Email: chethan.lakshman@rbc.com
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