Five champions from the PGA Tour opt out of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, with Rory McIlroy leading the lineup.

Let's Talk Golf: The Strange Tale of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open

Sportin' a reputable pedigree as one of the oldest continuous PGA Tour events, the 2025 RBC Canadian Open promises to spark some excitement with a top-tier lineup. Golfing phenoms like Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg are set to tee off, with Ryder Cup hopefuls Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, and Thomas Detry in the mix as well.

However, this event has been marred by a series of unexpected withdrawals, putting a bit of a damper on the anticipation. With 15 of the world's top-50 players initially set to partake, a few key players have had to bow out.

First out of the gate was Brian Campbell, fresh off his win at the 2025 Mexico Open, but a shoulder injury suffered during the Memorial Tournament sidelined him after just nine holes at Muirfield Village. Anders Albertson was slated to fill Campbell's spot, only to withdraw himself, leaving room for Hayden Springer to take a swing.

The withdrawals continued, leading to a curious chain reaction. KH Lee's exit made way for Brandon Matthews, but he too had to step away from the competition. There's no word yet on why Matthews dropped out, but he hasn't seen action on the PGA Tour since the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

Another PGA Tour winner, Ben Martin, also bid farewell to the tournament. Martin hasn't played on the top US circuit since the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, but he's had a decent year otherwise, making five of 10 cuts and earning a decent chunk of change.

Michael Kim became the latest to call it quits, taking a break ahead of the US Open. Kim had suffered a back injury during the Truist Championship last month but managed to recover and compete in three subsequent PGA Tour competitions, securing a T16th finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Kim and Martin were replaced by Canadian Justin Matthews and rookie David Ford, who is making his professional debut after finishing atop the PGA Tour University Class of 2025. Ford will be joined by Gordon Sargent and Luke Clanton in making their pro debuts this week.

Three more players - Michael Thorbjornsen, Matt Kuchar, and Sahith Theegala - withdrew less than 48 hours before the first tee time, leaving Dylan Wu and Cameron Champ to fill their spots. Taylor Montgomery took the spot of Taylor Dickson after the latter pulled out.

Strangest of all, Greyson Sigg bowed out midway through the pro-am when his wife went into labor. Zac Blair stepped in to take Sigg's place in the field.

As the tournament gets underway at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, keep an eye on these developments, and may the best golfer win!

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Despite the series of unexpected withdrawals, promising golfers like Hayden Springer, Justin Matthews, David Ford, and Zac Blair will join the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, each making their professional debut in the event. For golf enthusiasts who want to stay updated on the latest news, subscribing to Golf Monthly's newsletter offers a weekly dose of tour news, equipment updates, reviews, head-to-heads, and buyer's guides from a team of experienced experts.

Five champions from the PGA Tour opt out of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, with Rory McIlroy leading the lineup.