NORTH YORK, Ontario — A field of 156 players entered, and after 36 holes just 75 remain.
The PGA Tour is making its annual stop up north this week with the 2023 RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf and Country Club. Established in 1904, the Canadian Open is the second-oldest non-major on the PGA Tour schedule behind the BMW Championship.
Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy will try to become the first player to win the same event three times in a row since Steve Stricker made the John Deere Classic his personal ATM from 2009-2011, and just the fourth player overall to accomplish the feat, joining Stuart Appleby and Tiger Woods, who hit the trifecta (at least) at six different events.
Meanwhile, Corey Conners is attempting to be the first Canadian to win his national open since Pat Fletcher did so in 1954.
But what about those who missed the cut? Check out the notable players who have an early flight home from the 2023 RBC Canadian Open after finishing worse than 1-under par.
Sam Burns — Even
Burns didn’t play poorly, he just didn’t play well enough. The 26-year-old missed just his fifth cut of the season after rounds of 73-71 to miss the weekend by a single stroke. It’s the second time this season he’s missed the cut at even par (Wells Fargo Championship).
Brandt Snedeker — 11 over
The 2013 RBC Canadian Open winner is making just his third start of the season after undergoing chest surgery earlier this year. Snedeker, who finished T-41 at last week’s Memorial Tournament, was four shots out of last and in 152nd place after rounds of 79-76.
Grayson Murray — Even
Murray is back in the news this week, once again for a less-than-stellar reason. Like Burns, Murray missed the cut at even par despite a 2-under 70 in Friday’s second round. After news broke of the PGA Tour’s partnership with the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund earlier this week, Murray and McIlroy got in a heated exchange during a player meeting.
Maverick McNealy — 6 over
Speaking of players who dished on their thoughts on the proposed new deal, Maverick McNealy wrote a novel about his thoughts and posted it to Instagram on Wednesday before shooting consecutive rounds of 75.
Michael Block — 2 over
The cops crashed the Block party and sent the social media sensation home early.
Before his T-15 at the PGA Championship last month, golf pro Michael Block missed cuts at both the American Express and Farmers Insurance Open. He added a third MC to his tally at the Charles Schwab Challenge two weeks ago and a fourth this week thanks to a 5-over 77 on Thursday. To his credit, Block bounced back with a 3-under 69 on Friday.
Keith Mitchell — 3 over
Mitchell has made 20 starts this season and missed just his fourth cut this week after a 3-over 75 on Friday pushed him four shots clear of the cut line.
