Canada's elite 18 at the RBC Canadian Open

The RBC Canadian Open is stocked with homegrown talent this year. Eighteen men will tee it up at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., each with the hope of becoming the first Canadian winner since 1954. Here is Canada's contingent, with first-round tee times (Eastern) Thursday noted.

Stephen Ames, Calgary. The 49-year-old PGA Tour veteran has faded in the past couple of seasons, with just three top-25 finishes since January of 2012. But it's perhaps worth noting that the four-time PGA Tour winner tied for eighth place at the 2009 Canadian Open, the last one played at Glen Abbey. (1:05 p.m.)

Eric Banks, Truro, N.S. An inspiring story: The 20-year-old amateur has returned to competitive golf after open heart surgery last year to fix a defect. But he can play, too. He's a former Nova Scotia Junior Boys champion and is on Canada's national amateur team. (8:40 a.m.)

Kevin Carrigan, Victoria. The amateur got into the national championship by winning the Canadian Mid-Amateur last year. He's shown good form this year, placing third at the B.C. Amateur this month. (9 a.m.)

Albin Choi, Toronto. The 2010 Canadian Amateur champion, who turned pro this spring, is one of Canada's brightest young prospects. He showed he can play at golf's highest level when he made the cut at the Canadian Open last year and was the low Canadian. (9 a.m.)

Corey Conners, Listowel, Ont. The 21-year-old is on Canada's national amateur team and got into the Canadian Open by being the country's top-ranked amateur (currently No. 41 in the world).

Graham DeLaet, Weyburn, Sask. The 31-year-old has come into his own in his third full year on the PGA Tour, piling up five top-10 finishes and more than $1.5-million (U.S.). He's long, accurate and has to be considered Canada's best hope this week. But in four Canadian Open starts, he's made just two cuts and has a best finish of just 46th. (7:20 a.m.)

Brad Fritsch, Ottawa The likeable 35-year-old PGA Tour rookie has made a commendable 16 cuts in 21 starts. But with the exception of a ninth-place finish, his results have been mostly middle of the pack at best. He's 137th on the money list and needs a big cheque or two to ensure a return to the PGA Tour next year. (1:45 p.m.)

Brian Hadley, Sarnia, Ont. The assistant club pro has had a summer to remember: a win at the PGA of Ontario Championship, thanks largely to a first-round 59, a quarter-final finish at the national PGA of Canada Championship and medalist honours at the Canadian Open's Ontario qualifier. Will be interesting to see how he stacks up at golf's highest level. (2:15 p.m.)

Adam Hadwin, Abbotsford, B.C. The darling of the 2011 Canadian Open (he contended for the title, finished fourth) seems to be finally finding his groove this season on the second-tier Web.com Tour. He's had two top-10 finishes in his past three starts and has moved to No. 53 on the circuit's money list (8:50 a.m.).

David Hearn, Brantford, Ont. If not DeLaet this week, perhaps Hearn? He has earned more than $1-million (U.S.) on the PGA Tour for the second year in a row, locked up his card for 2014, and is coming off a runner-up finish at the John Deere Classic. (He lost in a playoff to 19-year-old Jordan Spieth.) (7:20 a.m.)

Mackenzie Hughes, Dundas, Ont. Like Choi, he's a former Canadian Amateur champion (two times, in fact) and brimming with promise now that he's turned pro. He's worked his way on to PGA Tour Canada and is coming off a tie for third spot at The Players Cup last Sunday. (8:50 a.m.)

Peter Laws, Mississauga. The former Ontario Amateur champion and PGA Tour Canada member got into the field by being the co-medalist at the Canadian Open's final qualifier last Monday. (1:45 p.m.)

Bryn Parry, North Vancouver, B.C. The B.C. instructor and former Web.com Tour player won the marathon PGA of Canada Championship this year, which took him to the top of the PGA of Canada's order of merit, which in turn got him into the Canadian Open. (1:55 p.m.)

Roger Sloan, Merritt, B.C. Like Hadwin, the Web.com Tour player has raised his game of late: a sixth- and seventh-place finish in his past two starts. Big Mo is on his side. (9 a.m.)

Adam Svensson, Surrey, B.C. The emerging star is Canada's third-ranked amateur and on the national amateur team's development squad. He was the runner-up in the B.C. Amateur, losing in a playoff against Charlie Hughes. (2:05 p.m.)

Mike Weir, Sarnia, Ont. Canada's most decorated champion ran aground for a couple of years with injuries and poor play but is showing signs of life again this year (eight cuts made in 19 starts). He remains popular and no doubt will be much watched at Glen Abbey, scene of his biggest heartbreak, his 2004 playoff loss. (1:05 p.m.)

Riley Wheeldon, Comox, B.C. The 22-year-old is having a breakout year. He won a U.S. mini-tour event and carried that momentum on to PGA Tour Canada, winning the stop in Fort McMurray, B.C., and leading the money list. (2:05 p.m.)

Eugene Wong, North Vancouver, B.C. Another one of Canada's promising young players, Wong busted out last year in his rookie pro season with two wins on PGA Tour Canada. (2:15 p.m.)