NORTH YORK, Ontario – The RBC Canadian Open, established in 1904, is the second-oldest non-major on the PGA Tour schedule behind the BMW Championship, which dates back to 1899.
This week, some of the PGA Tour’s best are getting a first look at Oakdale Golf and Country Club, as the course hosts the event for the first time and becomes the first new venue for the Canadian Open since 2002.
Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy called the course good, but also penal if you miss fairways. Justin Rose called it “quirky.”
Despite the unconventional setup – the par-5 18th is forcing most players to tee off with an iron, but more on that later – and inclement weather in the afternoon, players went low and produced a bunched leaderboard after Thursday’s opening round.
From history in the making to stellar Tour debut and more, here’s what you missed from the first round of the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.