The PGA Tour stops in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»next week for the RBC Canadian Open and the field is getting even deeper as more talent is slated to hit the fairway at the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club July 18 to 24.
Golf Canada announced Tuesday that Jose Maria Olazabal, David Duval and Stuart Appleby have confirmed their intention to compete.
Patrick Cantlay, the best amateur golfer in the world right now, was also given an exemption to play.
Tournament director Bill Paul said the prospects are exciting for this year and promising for the future of the PGA Tour in Canada.
"A week out from this year's RBC Canadian Open we are thrilled with how our field is coming together," he said in a statement. "Olazabal, Appleby and Duval have had tremendous careers on the PGA Tour and internationally while Cantlay is a future star, an emerging talent that we hope to see for many years at the RBC Canadian Open."
The list of emerging superstars and tour notables includes the current topranked golfer in the world, Luke Donald as well as Ernie Els, Paul Casey, Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, Vijay Singh, Camilo Villegas, Geoff Ogilvy and defending Canadian Open champion Carl Pettersson, 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen and 2011 Masters victor Charl Schwartzel.
Thirteen Canadians have confirmed or received an exemption to compete, including Mike Weir, Stephen Ames and North Vancouver's Eugene Wong.
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The RBC Canadian Open is holding an online auction in support of the Mike Weir Foundation, which has raised more than $5 million since 2009 to benefit the physical, emotional and educational well-being of Canadian children.
The auction opened July 7 and includes tickets to the 2012 World Junior Hockey championships and VIP treatment at some of the tour's greatest golf tournaments such as the PGA Championship in Atlanta this August, the Ryder Cup in Chicago next month and a trip for two to the Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda in October.
Autographed items and behind-the-ropes access to players during the Canadian Open are also up for grabs.
For more information, visit rbcgolfauction.com.
Twitter: @MHStewart
