Dustin Johnson was once the face of the RBC Canadian Open, but years afterward winning the men’s national golf championship, his sudden withdrawal from the PGA Tour event hasn’t had a meaning touch on tournament ticket sales. .
Johnson, who won the Canadian Open in 2018, announced Tuesday that he will not play adjacent calendar week at St. George’southward Golf and Country Guild in Toronto. Instead, Johnson entered the 48-man field for the inaugural Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational, a rival new men’s golf circuit hoping to rival the PGA Bout.
“No, I oasis’t seen annihilation to advise it had an impact,” Dan Pino, senior communications manager for Golf game Canada, said of Johnson’s departure. “From a ticket sales perspective, nosotros keep to have a positive trend.
“I don’t know if this determination had any affect on ticket beliefs. We are following very well.”
Johnson had been the subject of promotional material for the Canadian Open up before and later his 2018 win at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. He was a natural candidate for the headlining role as i of the best golfers in the world, a member of Team RBC and hubby of Paulina Gretzky, daughter of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, who grew up well-nigh Brantford, Ontario.
However, Johnson lost his RBC sponsorship within a day of withdrawing from the Canadian Open in favor of the LIV Golf event at Centurion Golf Society outside London, England. Additionally, the PGA Tour has threatened Johnson, Graeme McDowell and other players who travel to LIV Golf with disciplinary activity.
“The PGA Tour has been clear on its intentions under its tournament rules if a golfer chooses to play in an off-tour tournament, including the LIV Golf Invitational Serial,” an RBC statement said Wednesday. “We were recently informed that Dustin Johnson has made the decision to play the first game of the LIV Golf Invitational Serial.
“DJ has been a valued member of the RBC team since 2018. While we are extremely disappointed with his conclusion, nosotros wish him well.”
Lookout man | Johnson wins the 2018 Canadian Open:
Golf Wrap: Dustin Johnson wins the Canadian Open
The globe’southward No. 1 golfer won the RBC Canadian Open for the showtime time in his career. Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., was the height Canadian for a second directly year.
Masters champion Scheffler headlining
Although Johnson is ranked 13th in the earth and 96th in the FedExCup PGA Tour standings, this twelvemonth’s Canadian Open up all the same has a potent field. World No. 9 Sam Burns was added to the roster on Thursday forenoon, joining earth No. 5 Justin Thomas who entered the consequence on May 25 after winning the PGA Championship.
The field was further strengthened on Thursday with the additions of 2013 US Open up winner Justin Rose of South Africa and 2019 British Open champion Shane Lowry of Republic of ireland.
Defending Canadian Open up champion and world No. 7 Rory McIlroy, world No. 1 and reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, and world No. three Cameron Smith had already agreed to play in the national championship.
Pino said organizers weren’t peculiarly concerned most any more no-shows at the LIV Golf event before the Canadian Open field was finalized on Friday.
“Withdrawals happen. We see information technology every yr, whether information technology’s travel changes, someone wins the week before they’re scheduled to play in our tournament, we’ve had that in the past “Pino said. “We are tracking well in terms of the overall strength of our field.”
McIlroy, who won in 2019 at Hamilton Golf and Country Gild, said in a video released by the Canadian Open that he was thrilled to defend his championship after the tournament was suspended for 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 19.
“I merely can’t wait to get support there, play in front of the fans once again, recreate an atmosphere similar we did that Sunday,” McIlroy said.
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