RBC Canadian Open 2026 preview, picks & analysis

Tommy Fleetwood returns to the RBC Canadian Open this week, the scene of one of his most heartbreaking PGA Tour losses. 

It was three years ago and Fleetwood was involved in a playoff with home player Nick Taylor, who faced a 72-foot putt. The Englishman must have thought there was every chance that the Canadian would take three putts; instead, he drained the putt to leave Fleetwood speechless.

To make matters worse, the home crowd went berserk as they celebrated a highly unlikely victory by one of their own.

Fleetwood suffered several more painful near-misses before finally recording his maiden PGA Tour success at the 2025 Tour Championship, a win he followed soon after by adding another title in India as he climbed to number three in the world rankings.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Two years ago the tournament proved to be a happier hunting ground for Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre. Having gained a coveted PGA Tour card, MacIntyre admitted that he had struggled to settle into life on the other side of the Atlantic. 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 caddy for him and was rewarded with a dramatic change in fortunes, holding off a host of challengers to win his first PGA Tour title.

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."

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 ever witnessed on the PGA Tour.

And last year saw another unlikely winner, with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox claiming the title. Fox defeated American Sam Burns at the fourth playoff hole to claim a dramatic victory.

Fox holed a birdie putt at the final hole to set up the playoff with Burns, who produced a glorious eight-under-par round of 62 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

Burns recorded nine birdies and a bogey to take the clubhouse lead and it looked like it would be good enough for victory until Fox's last-gasp birdie in a final round of 66.

The par five 18th was the sudden death playoff hole and, after Fox grazed the hole with his fourth shot and had to settle for a par, Burns failed to capitalise as he missed a makeable putt to win on the first time around. At the next attempt, Fox nearly went into the water with his second shot before both again made par.

The location of the hole was changed for their third attempt but the pair again made par before going for a fourth time. This time, Fox produced a fabulous second shot and, after Burns took five, he made a birdie to win.

"It was very hard-fought," said Fox. "I was pretty lucky to make that putt in regulation [at the 18th]. It just snuck in. "I didn't hit a couple of great shots in play-off and Sam let me off there the first time around. It was nice to hit a good one that fourth time - that's probably the best shot I've ever hit and it was great to do it in these circumstances." 

With the US Open taking place at Shinnecock Hills next week, several players are giving the tournament a miss but there is still a strong field.

Brooks Koepka, who has been making sure but steady progress, is playing and should not be overlooked. When he gets his putter working again he could be extremely difficult to beat. 

However, the man to beat this week could well be Collin Morikawa, who is arguably the best iron player in the game and has returned to form in 2026. He won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, was fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, tied seventh at The Masters and tied fourth at the RBC Heritage and is starting to look like the player who won two majors earlier in his career.

Max Homa’s struggles have been well-documented. He has tumbled down the world rankings in quick time and although he recorded a top-10 finish in The Masters, there have been several missed cuts. He really could do with a couple of big weeks, otherwise he is in serious danger of losing his PGA Tour card and facing an uncertain future.

Tony Finau is in a similar boat. The big-hitting American has also fallen out of the top 100 and has a solitary top-10 finish in 2026 but the good news is that it came at the recent CJ Cup, where he was 20 under par and ended up in a tie for sixth place.

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, in 2024 by Robert MacIntyre and last year by Ryan Fox. 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:

Tommy Fleetwood will feel that this tournament owes him something. His form has not been scintillating in 2026 but he remains as consistent as ever and played well at the Memorial Tournament.

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 11, Friday, June 12, Sky Sports Golf, midday, Saturday, June 13, Sunday, June 14, Sky Sports Golf, 12.45pm.

To Win:

Tommy Fleetwood. Due another win

Each Way:

Collin Morikawa. Back to his best

Each Way:

Brooks Koepka. Making giant steps

Five to Follow:

Tommy Fleetwood. Needs to get the putter going

Collin Morikawa. Fabulous iron player

Brooks Koepka. Watch out if his putter heats up

Robert MacIntyre. Loves this tournament

Matthew Fitzpatrick. Having a ball

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Mike Weir. Sentimental favourite

AJ Ewart. Canadian hopeful

Sudarshan Yellamaraju. PGA Tour rookie

Ben Silverman. Canadian veteran

Adam Svensson. Seeking to arrest rankings decline