OAKVILLE, Ont. — There are still no answers.
One day after Brent McLaughlin was bizarrely sidelined from his job as RBC Canadian Open tournament director—mid-way through the very tournament he was tasked with running—it remains a mystery as to why he was removed from his position.
Recently-installed Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum made a statement during a Saturday morning press conference, and didn’t take questions about McLaughlin afterwards. He wouldn’t even say whether McLaughlin is continuing with Golf Canada in any capacity.
All we know is that McLaughlin, 46, is “no longer involved,” as Applebaum put it, that it’s a “confidential Golf Canada employee matter” and it’s “private.”
So that’s that.
Bill Paul, a long-time employee of Golf Canada, is interim tournament director here for the rest of the event at Glen Abbey, and there will be an announcement in the coming days about who’ll take over the role at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, set for Aug. 21-27 at the Ottawa Hunt & GC.
It was also made official Saturday that Glen Abbey—which on Friday produced the lowest cut-line on Tour since 1971, at 4 under par—will host the 2018 RBC Canadian Open.
Applebaum said Golf Canada is hoping to find a permanent home for the tournament going forward, and their aim is to keep it in the Greater Toronto Area.
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