R&A Introduces A New World Order Without Canada

When the news first reached this side of the Atlantic, without apology or much of an explanation, it seemed somewhat mystifying. What possibly might have precipitated this harsh treatment from golf's world rules and development body, which operates with the consent of more than 130 national and international, amateur and professional organisations, from over 120 countries and on behalf of an estimated 30 million golfers in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and The Americas (outside the USA and Mexico)?

However, when asked by BC Golf News, it didn't take long for R&A Director Mike Tate to kindly point out, in a personal email message, that the Championship Committee reviews all exemptions annually "to examine their significance and usefulness of purpose."

"For some years now," wrote the Director, "the winner of the Canadian Open, an Official event on the PGA TOUR, has otherwise qualified (to play in THE OPEN) through either the Top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking or the Top 20 on the PGA TOUR money list.

"This, taken together with the fact that the Committee decided to extend the PGA TOUR exemption category to the TOUR Championship field, ie 30 players, led to the removal of the Canadian Open as a specific exemption."

Mr. Tate went on to explain, "The Committee aims to balance exemptions and qualifying places fairly throughout the world and throughout the world Tours and feels the changes made reflect this. Historically, the Australian and South African Opens lost their winners exempt status.

"The RCGA," said the R&A Director, "were made aware of the Committee's decision some time ago and graciously understood the position."

The Royal Canadian Golf Association has been responsible for the history of the Canadian Open Championship since 1904.

The RCGA's Bill Paul, Tournament Director of the RBC Canadian Open Golf Championship, when informed by BC Golf News yesterday of the change, said: "I was aware of the change in exemption, in fact knew about it some time ago. I am in the process of determining what the overall exempt criteria for the 2009 Open Championship will be, as we were made aware that significant changes were in the works."

The decision by the R&A to drop the Canadian tournament's automatic exemption into The British Open may have a direct impact on Chez Reavie, the PGA TOUR rookie who captured the 2008 Canadian title. Under previous conditions Reavie's victory would have insured his presence at Scotland's Turnberry course in June 2009, but now he'll have to earn his way into the Open by being among the top 30 players who qualify for the Tour Championship in the United States or among the top 30 from the European Tour's Order of Merit following the season-ending Volvo Masters in November.

As for Canada's Olympic hero, his name was George S. Lyon and he didn't take up the sport until after his 37th birthday in 1895. Three years later, Lyon won the first of his eight Canadian Amateur titles. At age 46, playing 12 rounds in six days on a course in St. Louis he'd never seen before, while fighting off an acute case of hay fever, Lyon defeated 21-year-old U.S. Amateur champion, Chandler Egan, and was awarded a massive, ornately designed gold Olympic Cup and a heavy gold Olympic Medal.

It was the last time golf was an Olympic sport. However, the R&A, the PGA TOUR and the World Golf Federation are hopeful of seeing the sport returned to the summer Olympics by 2012.