John Daly to compete in 2009 RBC Canadian Open
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PGA TOUR fan favourite healthy and ready to challenge
Glen Abbey
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Canadian contingent bolstered with addition of Graham
DeLaet, Dustin Risdon, Jon Mills, Chris Baryla and Ian
Leggatt
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Victorious Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger, 5-time PGA
TOUR winner Rocco Mediate and former Canadian Open champion
Billy Andrade among veterans added to field for Canada's
national Open championship
OAKVILLE, Ontario (RCGA), July 9, 2009 — The
Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) in partnership with
title sponsor RBC, announced today that John Daly has accepted
a sponsor's exemption to compete at the 2009 RBC Canadian
Open, July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
Daly, whose last appearance in Canada came in 2007, has competed
in seven Canadian Opens throughout his PGA TOUR career with
his best finish coming in 2001 when he finished fourth. Long
considered among the PGA TOUR's highest profile competitors
and a Canadian fan favourite, Daly's return to Glen Abbey
will find him among the most followed players during tournament
week.
"We are pleased to confirm that John Daly has accepted
a sponsor's exemption to compete in this year's RBC Canadian
Open," said Bill Paul, Tournament Director of the RBC
Canadian Open. "John has dealt with some personal and
health issues that have affected him both on and off the golf
course but in my most recent conservations with John, he is
healthy and committed to his PGA TOUR career. John has been
a long-time supporter of Canada's national Open championship
and I think Canadian golf fans will join us in welcoming him
back to Glen Abbey for the 2009 RBC Canadian Open."
"I want to thank the RCGA and RBC for the opportunity
to compete in the RBC Canadian Open," said Daly. "I've
always enjoyed coming up to Canada to play in this event and
am extremely grateful for all the support I've received from
Canadian golf fans over the years."
The RCGA and RBC also announced several other players who
have been extended sponsor exemptions to compete in the 100th
playing of Canada's national Open championship.
Among those include up and coming Canadian pros Graham DeLaet
of Weyburn, Sask., Dustin Risdon of Strathmore, Alta., Chris
Baryla of Vernon, B.C. and Jon Mills of Oshawa, Ont. as well
as veteran Ian Leggatt of Cambridge, Ont. DeLaet got off to
a stellar start in 2009 with a pair of runner-up finishes
on the South African Tour and continued his strong play this
summer on the Canadian Tour recently winning the Tour's ATB
Financial Classic in Calgary. Risdon, Baryla, Mills and Leggatt
currently sit as the top ranked Canadian on the Nationwide
Tour ranked 29th, 41st, 62nd and 98th respectively.
A trio of notable PGA TOUR veterans will also challenge for
Canada's national Open championship including 12-time PGA
TOUR winner and recent victorious Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger,
5-time PGA TOUR winner and last year's US Open runner-up Rocco
Mediate and Billy Andrade, a 4-time PGA TOUR winner including
the 1998 Canadian Open.
Up and coming young pro Danny Lee, winner of both the 2008
US Amateur and 2008 British Amateur Championships has also
accepted an exemption to compete at Glen Abbey.
The field for Canada's national Open championship will feature
three Canadian amateurs competing on sponsor exemptions including
previously announced RCGA National Amateur Team members Nick
Taylor of Abbottsford, B.C. and Matt Hill of Bright's Grove,
Ont. as well as Cam Burke of New Hamburg, Ont. who earned
his exemption by winning the 2008 Canadian Men's Amateur Championship.
Also taking part in this year's event is Canadian club professional
Kyle German, competing on a CPGA exemption as winner of the
2008 Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship.
Six additional exemptions into the field for the 100th playing
of Canada's national Open championship will be awarded to
the top six players (not otherwise exempt) on the Canadian
Tour's Order of Merit following this weekend's Saskatchewan
Open in Saskatoon, Sask.
Four additional spots into the field will determined on Monday,
July 20 as 156 players will tee it up in the RBC Canadian
Open Monday Qualifier at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton,
Ont.
The players announced today will join the field at Glen Abbey
that includes previously announced PGA TOUR stars Anthony
Kim, Camilo Villegas, Sean O'Hair, Luke Donald, Retief Goosen,
Nick Watney, Hunter Mahan, Trevor Immelman Mark Calcavecchia,
Fred Couples and defending champion Chez Reavie as well as
Canadian favourites Stephen Ames and Mike Weir.
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.
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.com
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
Terry Lenyk
Coordinator, Media and Public Relations
Royal Canadian Golf Association
Office: 1-800-263-0009 ext. 335
Mobile: 416-407-3893
Email: tlenyk@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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