RBC Canadian Open 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre returns to the Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley with a spring in his step and will surely draw on some incredibly positive memories.

Leading up to the tournament he had spoken of his struggles coming to terms with life on the PGA Tour. He openly admitted that he missed Europe, his friends and his family. He was also hating spending so much of his life in hotel rooms.

So he asked his father to cross the Atlantic and caddie for him and was rewarded with a dramatic change in fortunes, holding off a host of challengers to win his first PGA Tour title.

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Dougie MacIntyre is the head greenkeeper at Glencruitten Golf Club in Oban and was on the bag as his son recovered from a shaky start to win by one on 16 under par.

"I'm crying with joy, but I'm laughing because I didn't think it was possible," said MacIntyre, whose £1.33m prize was the biggest financial win by a Scottish golfer at a single event.

"I was going down the last and my dad's trying to tell me to stay focused and swing smooth because on Saturday I got a little bit too fast, but in my head I wasn't listening to him. I wanted to win this for my dad. This is the guy who has taught me the game of golf and I just can't believe I have done this with him on the bag.

"This is just everything for me and family, my girlfriend, my team."

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

He then headed back home to Scotland for the mother of all parties before winning the Scottish Open with one of the most highly-charged victories that we've ever witnessed.

MacIntyre has continued to make good progress in the States in 2025 but is still looking for his first win of the year. Ahead of The Memorial, he had made 13 starts, making 11 cuts and earning $2.37m in prize money. He finished tied sixth at the Phoenix Open, ninth at The Players and sixth at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Another win cannot be far away.

This is the final event before the US Open at Oakmont.

Rory McIlroy, who struggled at the US PGA, will be looking to get back to his best at a tournament he has won twice, in 2019 and 2022. He will be smarting from being usurped at the top of the FedEx Cup standings by Scottie Scheffler and will want to head Oakmont with a good performance tucked under his belt.

McIlroy is still walking on air after winning The Masters to complete the career grand slam, and has also won at Pebble Beach and TPC Sawgrass this season. But he is once again playing second fiddle to Scheffler, who continues to produce a level of consistency we have not seen since Tiger Woods was in his prime.

It is hard to believe that Ludvig Aberg only made his PGA Tour debut at this tournament two years ago. He has made truly remarkable progress since then. He won the Genesis Invitational in February for his second PGA Tour title and it is a mark of his standing in the game that many were surprised it took him so long so land that second win on the PGA Tour. He also won the European Masters in 2023.

Before heading to Muirfield Village for The Memorial, Aberg had made 47 starts, winning twice, finishing second four times, in the top five on 10 occasions and in the top 10 a remarkable 15 times. He has already collected $18.75 in prize money. These are astonishing statistics. 

By his own standards, Tom Kim has had a sluggish year. Still only 22 years of age, he has already won three times on the PGA Tour to go along with seven international victories. He will be making his second appearance at the Canadian Open after finishing in a tied for fourth in 2024. He has also already represented the International Team at two Presidents Cups and represented South Korea at the 2024 Olympic Games. 

Keep an eye on two young men who are destined to be stars of the future, Luke Clanton and Gordon Sargent.

Clanton is currently the world’s best amateur and has already secured membership of the PGA Tour. Earlier this year he was named 2025 Ben Hogan Award winner, recognising the outstanding male amateur and collegiate golfer of the year. He earned his tour card through the PGA Tour University Accelerated and has competed in 13 events over the past two years. He has earned two runner-up finishes along with an additional top five and a top-10 finish. He also made the cut at the 2024 US Open finishing T41.

Sargent won the 2022 NCAA Men’s Individual National Championship as well as the 2023 McCormack Medal. He became the first player to earn their PGA Tour card through PGA Tour University Accelerated in October 2023. He finished as the low amateur at the 2023 US Open, finishing T39. 

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2015 by Jason Day, in 2016 and 2017 by Jhonattan Vegas, in 2018 by Dustin Johnson, in 2019 and 2022 by Rory McIlroy, in 2023 by Nick Taylor and last year by Robert MacIntyre. There was no tournament in 2020 and 2021.

The Course:

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley was designed by Doug Carrick in 2001 and redesigned by Ian Andrew two years ago. It is a par 70 measuring 7,445 yards. It is a tight parkland course that demands straight driving and features a lot of proper bunkers.

Form Guide:

Ludvig Aberg, who made his professional debut in Canada just two years ago, will take some beating.

Prize Money:

Total prize money is around $10m, with the winner picking up $1.7m and 500 FedEx Cup points.

How to Watch:

Thursday, June 5, Friday, June 6, Sky Sports Golf, 8pm, Saturday, June 7, Sunday, June 8, Sky Sports Golf, 6pm.

To Win:

Ludvig Aberg. Has no weaknesses

Each Way:

Rory McIlroy. Tuning up for US Open 

Five to Follow:

Ludvig Aberg. Does everything so well

Rory McIlroy. Former winner

Nick Taylor. Loves playing on him turf

Luke Clanton. Hugely gifted

Gordon Sargent. One for the future