The RBC Canadian Open crowd seems to be one of the favorites for PGA Tour players: they bring an authentic atmosphere to the tournament and know how to have fun.
Canadian fans love to make noise, and just like the 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open, Canada has a similar feature called the Links Hole, which is tailored to their crowd.
The par-3 13th hole is this year’s “Link Hole,” with hockey boards around the tee, goalie masks as tee markers, an umpire and even a Zamboni.
The fans bang on the boards and make a lot of noise, really livening up the atmosphere.
Still, the pros are loving the tournament overall. After Thursday’s round, several players said the crowd reaction was great, making it an impressive opening round.
“One of the main reasons I love coming back here is the atmosphere the fans create when we’re playing,” Rory McIlroy said.
“I played two Canadians today and it was just what you’d expect. There were a lot of people there at 7:40 a.m. on Thursday morning, or whenever we were teeing off. It was great to see.”
McIlroy played alongside Taylor Pendris and reigning RBC Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor.
“The crowd was bigger than the last time I played here and the last time I played the Canadian Open,” Pendrith said.
“It was awesome. I had fun playing with Nick. It was a good combination and I enjoyed the support of the home crowd. It should be a good match tomorrow.”
Last year, Taylor made a 72-foot eagle putt in a playoff against Tommy Fleetwood to win the National Open and end a 69-year streak without a Canadian winner.
It was a special moment for the whole nation, and this year’s tournament saw a change in the logo to commemorate the iconic celebration. Fans were especially thrilled when their teammate won.
“Typically we don’t get that many people out for a Thursday morning round,” Taylor said.
“But it gives you an energy boost and it’s great. It gets your adrenaline going, it’s fun early in the morning and it helps you focus on what you need to do.”
Fleetwood is also a fan favorite to watch. He knows all too well how great the atmosphere is in North America, as fans often cheer him on when he plays in this tournament. Not to mention, he’s played against Canadian golfer Corey Connors.
“They’re so passionate about golf, their country and their players,” Fleetwood said.
“I’ve been very lucky. I’m very grateful that they’ve always supported me and I’ve had a great time at the tournament. I think it’s a great atmosphere to play in and everyone appreciates the enthusiasm they show when they come to this tournament.”
Golf isn’t a major sport in Canada, but these fans love it and bring so much energy to the RBC Canadian Open. When the fans are this loud, it seems like the PGA Tour players are just as excited to play for them.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a Golf Staff Writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow us for more golf articles. Follow You can follow us on all major social platforms. You can also follow us on Twitter Follow Instagram: @savannah_leigh_sports
