For the first time since 1944, there will be no RBC Canadian Open.
What had been speculated for some time was made official on Thursday morning when the PGA Tour announced that the Canadian championship will not be held in 2020.
The decision came after the Tour, Golf Canada and RBC went through every available option to try to keep the event on the schedule. In the end, the government regulations in place during the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible.
“We were hopeful for the opportunity to proceed and we had great collaboration with the Tour and Golf Canada, and looked at every possibility,” admitted Mary DePaoli, the executive vice-president and chief marketing officer of RBC, “but it just proved to be impossible under the current situation. First and foremost, we have to follow the guidelines of safety.”
“We were in daily dialogue and we looked at various scenarios optimistically,” said Laurence Applebaum, the CEO of Golf Canada. “The federal quarantine and the provincial and city regulations were just obstacles that were too big to overcome. It’s disappointing for our fans as we were building to a great event.”
The tournament was scheduled for June 11-14 at St. George’s G&CC in Toronto and looked to build on the success of the 2019 event at the Hamilton G&CC. In addition to golf, this year’s tournament was to include a two-night concert series featuring Keith Urban and The Chainsmokers.
The field for this year’s tournament was also going to feature many of the game’s top stars. That included defending champion Rory McIlroy along with RBC ambassadors Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk.
The Canadian contingent was also deep, with Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners and Nick Taylor leading the way.
“We were headed down such a great path,” said Applebaum. “Last year we had Rory flirt with a record score and there were Canadians in contention. Every indication was that 2020 was going to build on that.”
The cancellation will have effects on a variety of levels beyond those playing in the tournament. Fans who bought tickets (which will be refunded), vendors who were doing business, and volunteers, many who have made the tournament a staple of their summer for years, are all being impacted. Perhaps most important are several charities that raise money through the RBC Canadian Open.
Applebaum said Golf Canada is trying to find silver linings in the decision and staying in contact with everyone who is a part of the tournament.
While the RBC Canadian Open won’t be held in 2020, the new PGA Tour schedule does include a tournament backed by the bank. The RBC Heritage was to be played scheduled for April 13-19 but has been re-scheduled to June 15-21. It will be played in Hilton Head, S.C.
“Our position was to have both events to proceed,” said DePaoli, who said RBC, as one of the Tour’s strongest backers, lobbied the PGA Tour to re-instate the RBC Heritage. “It’s been a whirlwind of emotions over the last month.”
The tournament will have a different look. It’s one of the first four events on the new PGA Tour schedule that will be played without any fans.
Even with that, there are expected to be strict regulations in place for all who are involved with not only the RBC Heritage but every PGA Tour event on the revised schedule.
“The health and safety of all associated with the PGA Tour and our global community continues to be our No. 1 priority, and our hope is to play a role – responsibly – in the world’s return to enjoying the things we love,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan in a release. “Today’s announcement is another positive step for our fans and players as we look toward the future, but as we’ve stressed on several occasions, we will resume competition only when – working closely with our tournaments, partners and communities – it is considered safe to do so under the guidance of the leading public health authorities.”
To that end, DePaoli stressed that even next year’s RBC Canadian Open will proceed with caution in this time of uncertainty.
“We are enthusiastic and realistic,” she stated. “We will prepare understanding what the practical realities will be and, first and foremost, look out for the safety of everyone.”
Next year’s tournament will be held at St. George’s G&CC with Islington G&CC serving as the site of the driving range. There is no site yet for the 2022 tournament, while Hamilton G&CC will host in 2023.
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
