Rory’s a Rock Star and Conners part of Logjam at the Top

The 2023 RBC Canadian Open is underway. A large portion of the afternoon wave of players are still on the golf course and it really is much too early to predict but I won’t let that stop me from having some quick takeaways.

Upon arrival at the media parking lot I was greeted by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds air demonstration team based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and that alone was a moment on this particular Thursday that made me both proud and sad at the same time. Over recent years the team was in the news for the wrong reasons. First at the Atlanta Air Show in 2019 a fuel delivery issue resulted in the crash of a CT-114 Tutor piloted by Capt. Kevin Domon-Grenier. The pilot escaped with minor injuries. In 2020, another accident would prove fatal as Capt. Jennifer Casey tragically lost her life during a nationwide tribute called “Operation Inspiration” in Kamloops, British Columbia. A goodwill mission to support frontline workers and Canadians in the face of COVID-19. Seeing the Snowbirds flyover in their “Big Diamond” formation during the opening ceremonies was inspirational. Enough to inspire Canadians in the RBC Canadian Open field?

Speaking of inspiration, adding to that sentiment was the “Blessing of the Land” performed by indigenous elder “Grandma Kim”. Grandma Kim (Wheatley) is a Anishinaabe Ojibway Grandmother from Shawanaga First Nation Reserve. who carries the Spirit name Head or Leader of the Fireflower and is Turtle clan. The “Blessing of the Land” is a ceremony that’s performed to reconnect with the land. It’s a moment that you take to show your respect for the land, your interconnectedness with all living creatures, and your appreciation for the bounty of nature. It’s something you do for yourself, those you care about, and the generations to come.

The host venue of this year’s RBC Canadian Open – Oakdale Golf and Country Club – is a golf course that isn’t particularly long. However, a premium is placed on ball-striking and striking the golf ball well. The composite course comprising golf holes from all 3 nine hole courses at Oakdale (Knudson, Homenuick, and Thompson) features lush rough, tight tree-lined fairways, and large undulating greens that could be described as slick. It’s the type of golf course where Major’s are contested. It… the RBC Canadian Open definitely meets the criteria for being an “Elevated Event”. A hill that I will die on.

Last year at St. George’s Golf and Country Club Rory McIlroy became a two-time winner of this event. Teeing off early on Thursday McIlroy sputtered a little bit finishing at -1 for a share of T-38. Afterward, Rory was on the range focusing very much on his striking with the irons and flighting the golf ball. Rory is THE rock star this week as crowds were eager to follow him during his round. Making it even better was the fact that he was paired with fan favourite Justin Rose T-14 (-3) and rounding out the group was Omar Uresti who was filling in as a spare due to numerous withdrawals. Other notable groups included Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, and amateur Ludvig Aberg. There was also the threesome of Corey Conners, Tommy Fleetwood, and Nick Taylor.

There was plenty of CANCON (Canadian Content) to be seen this week and tournament organizers had no problem in dealing with the 21 Canadians in the field. There were a few all-Canadian pairings but none of them were star-studded like the one featuring Adam Hadwin, Adam Svensson, and Mackenzie Hughes from nearby Dundas, Ontario.

There’s a logjam at the top of the leaderboard in the form of a four-way tie at -5. Aaron Rai, Chesson Hadley, Justin Lower, and Canadian Corey Conners all share a piece of the lead. I strongly urge all Canadians to not think of Pat Fletcher. Fletcher, of course, was the last Canadian to win the Canadian Open back in 1954.

Until The Next Tee!!

#fightandgrind #seeuonthenexttee