Mike Cormack

The only question now is, when do they come back?

Three years of planning, jumping logistical and civic hurdles later, the first Canadian Open at St. George’s in 42 years went off without a hitch, even if it might not have been an overwhelming financial success.

Concerns surrounding everything from the slope of the greens to transportation to the lack of a suitable on-site driving range—and even the size of the tunnel between the clubhouse and first tee—never proved to be an issue throughout the week.

Given the litany of potential landmines staging this event at this course presented, as the event was winding down on Sunday, Canadian Open tournament director Bill Paul told Sportsnet he couldn’t think of one reason why the event shouldn’t return here someday.

"I can’t imagine what that would be," he said. "It really has been better than expected. From my standpoint it’s been a lot of work of getting there. I think what we’ve done from players to spectators, to sponsors…it’s been better than I expected."

Though Paul wouldn’t concede it, Golf Canada and RBC must be somewhat disappointed however with the attendance during the week.

Despite ticket sales being capped at 22,000 per day, none of the four days of the tournament were sold out.

Whether it was the steep ticket prices ($80 per person, per day), the lack of a substantial marketing presence in the city leading up to the event, or the notoriously fickle nature of Toronto sports fans, Canada’s biggest city didn’t embrace the event as expected.

Regardless, Paul said RBC and Golf Canada knew there would be challenges bringing the event here.

"We made a commitment that we wanted to play the very best golf courses," he said. "We knew it was going to be a smaller venue. We knew we had to reduce the attendance, but we knew all that. Corporate sales have done exceptionally well."

As for the players, when asked following his final round whether they made the right decision bringing the tournament here, Stephen Ames was unequivocal.

"l still think it’s a good decision," he said. "I don’t think the true test of the golf course actually showed its teeth because of how soft it was."

Ames is one of St. George’s biggest boosters, but to a man every player we’ve spoken to this week, including world-class international players such as Trevor Immelman, Luke Donald and Tim Clark, have raved about the track and its suitability to host a national championship.

But ultimately the decision whether the Open returns here or not lies with the members at St. George’s and Ames might have let the cat out of the bag when he suggested that shouldn’t be a problem.

"I’ve talked to a couple of members and the chairman here," he explained. "And they want to do it every six and seven years, which is fine."

See you in 2016.

The Swedish Touch

Much has been made this week — including by yours truly — of the decision by Rickie Fowler’s to withdraw from the Canadian Open at the last-minute in favour of the appearance money offered in Sweden by the Scandinavian Masters.

Paul, who was clearly disappointed by the decision—especially since Fowler’s name and image had been plastered over Canadian Open marketing materials for weeks—said Sunday it’s not so much the players he has to worry about accommodating these days, but their agents.

"Now you’ve got agents trying to make those guys money and playing in tournaments isn’t exactly how the agent’s going to get paid," he explained.

His point being an agent must decide between the guaranteed cut of an up-front appearance fee versus the risk on the PGA Tour of his player missing the cut and receiving nothing.

"Hence, a guy who left to go the Scandinavian Masters was an opportunity for a player, and probably the agent, to make a little money," said Paul.

Note of the week

Carl Pettersson take a bow.

By winning the Canadian Open after making the cut on the number, you became just the third player on the PGA Tour to pull that off since 2006.

The most recent of course was Rory McIlroy, who did it in May at the Quail Hollow championship with weekend rounds of 66-62.

Pettersson’s closing 67 wasn’t nearly as dramatic as McIlroy’s 62, but his 127 total over the weekend (60-67) was one shot better than McIlroy’s 128.

Impressive stuff.