RBC Canadian Open Preview and Picks

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🏆 RBC Canadian Open Field

The RBC Canadian Open field features 42 of the top 100 players and 15 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings. Leading the field are two top-ten players: #2 Rory McIlroy and #6 Ludvig Aberg. Other notable top-ranked players include #14 Shane Lowry, #17 Justin Rose, #19 Robert MacIntyre, and #20 Corey Conners.

This year's field shows improvement over last year, which had 35 players from the top-100 and 12 from the top-50. The tournament also features 6 of the Top 25 on this year's FedEx Cup point list: #2 Rory McIlroy, #9 Corey Conners, #12 Shane Lowry, #16 Nick Taylor, #18 Sungjae Im, and #21 Justin Rose.

Four past champions will be competing: Robert MacIntyre (2024), Nick Taylor (2023), Rory McIlroy (2019 & '22), and Brandt Snedeker (2013).

Fantasy golfers can check on past performance of all players in the field through our performance chart listed by average finish. Additionally, you can use our special formula that shows the best average performances at the RBC Canadian Open in the last five years or explore our sortable 8-year glance at the RBC Canadian Open.

⛳ The Buzz at the RBC Canadian Open

Since 2000, Golf Canada has introduced changes to the RBC Canadian Open's venue strategy. Between 1977 and 2000, Glen Abbey hosted 22 of 24 events, but with ClubLink Corp looking to redevelop the property into residential space, the tournament began rotating between six different courses. While it returned to Glen Abbey several times (2004, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015-2018), organizers have been seeking a more permanent home.

TPC Toronto at Osprey joined the TPC network in 2018, with discussions focusing on using the North Course for the Canadian Open. The course underwent significant renovations in 2023 and 2024 specifically to prepare for PGA Tour events, having previously hosted PGA Tour Americas tournaments. The architectural focus was on challenging golfers' approach game with strategically placed bunkers.

While the course is good, it may not match the uniqueness and charm of other Canadian venues like Hamilton Golf & Country Club, Oakdale Golf & Country Club, St. George's G & C.C., Royal Montreal G.C., Shaughnessy G. & C.C., or even Glen Abbey. The event is scheduled to be played at TPC Toronto this year and next before future plans are determined.

The course will present challenges, but questions remain about whether players will embrace it like previous venues. In 2025, ten events will be played on TPC courses across the PGA Tour. With the course being unfamiliar, there's limited information to help determine player picks. However, we know it's not particularly long, and due to a rough winter, the rough won't be as high and challenging as organizers had hoped. Long hitters may take advantage of these conditions, with winning scores likely between 15 and 20 under par.

The RBC Canadian Open, first played in 1904, is one of golf's oldest tournaments—only the British Open, U.S. Open, and BMW (formerly Western Open) are older. With 111 tournaments played and strong sponsorship from RBC, the future looks promising with TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley potentially becoming a long-term home.

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Course Information:

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley North Course in Caledon, Ontario, Canada measures 7,389 yards and plays as a Par 70 (35-35). The North American parkland-style course features naturally rolling fairways with generous landing areas, making it player-friendly, but challenging approach shots to wide, undulating greens with artistically sculpted bunkers cut close to putting surfaces add difficulty.

The 2023 renovations transformed the course into a National Open Championship venue, enhancing green complexes and strategically positioning bunkers and hazards to challenge elite players. The course will play to its new championship par of 70, with holes eight and thirteen converted to par-4s. The 585-yard par-5 18th hole, featuring a new tee deck, signature tree, and short grass runoff area in front of the green, will serve as a dramatic risk-reward final hole.

The facilities at TPC Toronto are extensive, with more room than any of the older courses that have hosted this event. While the field is strong for this inaugural hosting, it remains to be seen if more marquee players will participate next year.

 Key Stats for Success at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley

This week, the PGA Tour visits TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley's North Course for the first time, making it the second venue in four weeks where the Tour plays on a course with no tournament history. Located about 25 miles (an hour's drive) from downtown Toronto, this course is part of a massive 54-hole complex. Originally opened in 2002 as the "Hootand Toot" course, it joined the PGA Tour's network in 2008 and was renamed the North Course.

The course has an interesting history, having been designed by Canadian architect Doug Carrick 33 years ago. Initially intended to attract higher-handicapped golfers and families, the North Course ironically became the favorite of the three courses on the property. Built on a reclaimed gravel pit, it features a mountainous feel despite its modest original length of 7,150 yards. The course contains 48 bunkers and water hazards on three holes.

In 2023, architect Ian Andrew oversaw a significant renovation to prepare the course for championship play, transforming it into a par-70 layout playing at 7,445 yards. The renovation included making bunkers deeper and more challenging, while also creating two drivable par-4s (the 6th and 12th holes). The course also features four par-4s over 500 yards. The renovated North Course hosted last year's Fortinet Cup Championship (the PGA Tour Americas season finale), where Will Cannon won with a modest 5-under 275 total, indicating the course's difficulty.

Despite extensive preparation, ice storms in April have affected course conditions, particularly the rough, which won't be as long and lush as organizers had hoped. The greens average 6,500 square feet, making them accessible targets from the fairway. Tournament officials will set fairway widths at 37 yards, creating a challenging target off the tee.

At 7,389 yards, the course isn't extremely long by PGA Tour standards, but with only two par-5s and four challenging par-3s, success will depend on hitting fairways and greens while making putts. Scrambling will be crucial, as several greens are crowned. Weather conditions look ideal all week, with temperatures between 71-77 degrees and mild winds around 10 mph.

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Four Key Stats for Success:

With no historical data for this venue, we're making educated predictions about which statistics will be most important for success this week:

1. Strokes Gained Off-the-Tee: Driving will be essential on this 7,389-yard layout. With wider fairways and less punishing rough due to the extended winter, this could favor bombers. However, missing fairways will still penalize players differently across the course.

2. Strokes Gained Approach-the-Green: Hitting greens in regulation will be critical for success, with precision approaches needed to navigate the renovated green complexes.

3. Strokes Gained Around-the-Green: Players will inevitably miss greens, making scrambling and bunker play crucial skills for contenders this week.

4. Strokes Gained Putting: As with any tournament, converting opportunities on the greens will separate winners from contenders.

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