Beon Yeong Lee of Montreal earns Qualifier exemption to compete in
Canada's National Open Championship;
Eight past champions and eight 2014 in year winners confirmed for The
Royal Montreal Golf Club
RBC Canadian Open to celebrate 60th anniversary of Pat Fletcher's historic 1954 victory
MONTREAL, June 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Momentum around Canada's National Open
Golf Championships continues to build as Golf Canada and RBC announced
several PGA TOUR stars have confirmed their intention to compete in the
2014 RBC Canadian Open, July 21-27 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in
Île-Bizard, Que including World No. 15 Dustin Johnson, World No. 21
Charl Schwartzel, World No. 41 Chris Kirk, World No. 46 Matt Every and
World No. 80 Charley Hoffman.
The big-hitting Johnson, a fan favourite on the PGA TOUR, is an
eight-time PGA TOUR winner who currently sits 4th on the FedEx Cup ranking. Schwartzel, who counts the 2011 Masters as
his lone PGA TOUR victory, is currently ranked 79th on the FedEx Cup ranking while Hoffman is a two-time PGA TOUR winner
who sits 36th on the FedEx Cup ranking.
Ranked 7th in the FedEx Cup standings, Kirk, who recently claimed the McGladrey
Classic, is one of eight in year winners confirmed for Royal Montreal
including Dustin Johnson (World Golf Championship), Matt Kuchar (RBC
Heritage), Matt Every (Arnold Palmer Invitational), Steve Bowditch
(Valero Texas Open), Matt Jones (Shell Houston Open), Kevin Stadler
(Waste Management Phoenix Open) and Chesson Hadley (Puerto Rico Open).
The field of players will include eight past champions who will
challenge for Canada's National Open title including defending champion
Brandt Snedeker (2013), Scott Piercy (2012), Sean O'Hair (2011), Carl
Pettersson (2010), Nathan Green (2009), Jim Furyk (2006 & 2007), Vijay
Singh (2004) and John Rollins (2002).
Past major champions such as Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink, Retief Goosen
and Trevor Immelman have also confirmed their intention to play at
Canada's National Open Championship.
Beon Yeong Lee of Montreal will have the benefit of a home crowd behind
him after earning his spot by winning the RBC Canadian Open Quebec
Regional Qualifier on Monday, June 16th at Elm Ridge Country Club in Île-Bizard, Que.
The players announced today will join a player field that of previously
confirmed PGA TOUR stars that includes World No. 5 Matt Kuchar; World
No. 12 Jim Furyk; World No. 20 Luke Donald; World No. 22 Graeme
McDowell; World No. 40 Hunter Mahan and World No. 54 Ernie Els.
Canadian notables set to compete include World No. 35 Graham DeLaet,
World No. 90 David Hearn, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike Weir
and Stephen Ames, who will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of
Fame later this summer. The Canadian foursome will be joined by Adam
Hadwin and Brad Fritsch and will vie to see if one of them can become
the first Canuck to capture the title since Pat Fletcher won the
Canadian Open in 1954.
Additional exemptions for Canadian amateur and professional golfers
competing in the 2014 RBC Canadian Open will be announced in the coming
weeks.
PAT FLETCHER: CELEBRATING THE VICTORY OF A LIFETIME
Sixty years after iconic pro golfer Pat Fletcher became the last
Canadian to win the Canadian Open, his namesake has an array of
initiatives planned to pay homage to this historic anniversary.
Fletcher, an honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and
long-time head professional at The Royal Montreal Golf Club won the
Canadian Open in 1954 - a victory that also makes him the only
Canadian-born player to win the championship in 100 years. The RBC
Canadian Open will share in paying tribute to this anniversary in
advance and onsite at Royal Montreal. Initiatives include an increase
in scholarships given out through the Pat Fletcher Foundation and the
production of a limited edition Canadian postage stamp. More
information is available here including a video commemorating Fletcher's 1954 Canadian Open victory.
ACTIVITIES PLANNED IN SUPPORT OF RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES CANADA:
When the stars of the PGA TOUR play at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in
the RBC Canadian Open title, they will be doing more than just
competing: they will also be supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities
(RMHC) Canada, the tournament's official charity partner. Working in
collaboration with RBC, RMHC has many on-site initiatives planned at
the Royal Montreal Golf Course to raise profile and funds for their 14
Houses nationally. As well, RMHC, RBC and Golf Canada will be hosting
unique events for families from RMHC Montreal at the RBC Canadian Open
including 'inside-the-ropes' experiences and a special picnic hosted by
the Wives of the PGA TOUR Association.
VOLUNTEERS:
Golf Canada and the Royal Montreal Golf Club are pleased to announce
that a limited number of volunteer positions are still available for
golf enthusiasts to be a part of the RBC Canadian Open. In all, nearly
1,400 volunteer committee positions will contribute to the success of
Canada's National Open Golf Championship and anyone interested in
applying can do so at www.rbccanadianopen.com.
TICKETS:
Grounds tickets for all days of Canada's National Open Championship as
well as a limited number of premium ticket packages are still
available. A full list of ticket packages and pricing, including the
new Family Day package, is available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com. Golf Canada and RBC are also please to offer free admission to
children 17 year and younger who are accompanied by a ticketed adult.
ABOUT THE 2014 RBC CANADIAN OPEN
Part of the FedExCup, stars of the PGA TOUR will compete for $5.6
million (US) at the RBC Canadian Open, July 21-27, 2014 at The Royal
Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard, Que. Conducted by Golf Canada for
more than a century, the RBC Canadian Open provides an opportunity for Canada's top talents
to compete against the world's best golfers while also leaving a
significant impact in the event's host community. The RBC Canadian Open
is proud to support Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada as the
event's official charity partner. Established in 1904, Canada's
national open golf championship 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, Shaw Business, BMW Group
Canada, C.F.F Stainless Steels, Molson Canadian 67, TaylorMade adidas
Golf, The Glenlivet, PepsiCo, The Globe and Mail and Keystone Dental.
For tickets or tournament information, please visit www.rbccanadianopen.com or call 1-800-571-6736.
RBC GOLF
RBC proudly supports golf around the world through high profile
relationships with the PGA TOUR and Golf Canada. RBC is the Official
Banking and Financial Services partner of touring professionals Stephen
Ames, Graham DeLaet, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, David Hearn,
Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Graeme McDowell, Morgan Pressel, Brandt
Snedeker and Mike Weir. As the title sponsor of both the RBC Heritage
and the RBC Canadian Open, RBC also supports emerging Canadian golfers
through Golf Canada's grassroots developmental programming, their
Canadian Amateur Golf Championships and high performance national team.
RBC is one of North America's leading diversified financial services
companies and among the largest banks in the world, as measured by
market capitalization.
GOLF CANADA - LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.
Golf Canada is the National Sports Organization and governing body for
golf in Canada representing close to 322,000 golfers at nearly 1,500
member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic
Committee, Golf Canada's mission is to grow participation, excellence
and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions
of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing
more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant
to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast.
For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in
your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.
SOURCE RBC
