Phil Mickelson putts in the rain on the fifth green during third round play at the Open Golf Championship at St. Andrews, Scotland, on July 19. Friday's high winds forced organizers to announce only the second Monday finish in tournament history.GLYN KIRK/AFP / Getty Images
The first Monday finish at the British Open in almost 30 years won't negatively affect the RBC Canadian Open, according to Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons.
Rain and wind disrupted play at the Open Championship at St. Andrews in Scotland this weekend, forcing the entire final round to Monday for the first time since 1988.
With the Canadian Open next on the PGA Tour schedule, beginning Thursday at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., there might have been some concern that the late finish at the British would hurt the field. Simmons said it won't.
"Not at all," Simmons said after the inaugural golf competition at the Pan Am Games. "It's literally just the guys are coming a day later."
Simmons said the biggest impact would be on Monday's pro-am with Canadian players, Toronto Maple Leafs alumni and current Maple Leaf Peter Holland. Canadians Graham DeLaet and David Hearn won't be able to take part because they will still be overseas.
Several Canadians will still take part, including PGA Tour rookies Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor, both natives of Abbotsford, B.C.
There are 14 Canadians set to play in the Canadian Open. Golf Canada said a total of 156 players will be in the field, which has a purse of $5.8-million (U.S.)