The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, June 16, 2016 | 44 Kevin Nagel Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports McLaughlin had just one option. Within 15 minutes, he had put together a plan to use the driving range to accommodate the overflowing crowd. The only problem was that the driving range would be needed in the very likely event of a playoff. Day would take care of that problem. He birdied the final three holes, finishing with a long, downhill putt on 18. And when Bubba Watson's chip for eagle on 18 just missed, Day had secured a one-stroke victory over Watson, while Hearn finished third. McLaughlin will have at least two more opportunities to replicate last year's scene at his hometown course. Glen Abbey will host this year's event and Friday it was announced that the PGA Tour event will return in 2017 for the third straight year. Glen Abbey hosted all but two Canadian Opens between 1977 and 2000, until a rotation began that saw six different courses host the next seven tournaments. Now, with the news that course owner ClubLink is planning to develop the course, Golf Canada sounds committed to once again making Glen Abbey an all-but permanent home for the event until that day comes. "We've just announced the deal to come back here again in 2017," Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons said, "and I imagine it will be a number of years after that as well." Simmons said Golf Canada is treating everything as business as usual, believing that "the pending decision on what is going to happen with Glen Abbey is years away." He did acknowledge that the course's uncertain fate is a factor in returning to the Oakville course. "This has been one of the, if not the, most "Connected to your Community" Glen Abbey an able host RBC Canadian Open will be back in 2017 and `I imagine a number of years after that as well' By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff Brent McLaughlin surveyed the scene as the final groups made their way down the 18th fairway. It was an endless sea of people, more than he could have asked for in his first year as tournament director for the RBC Canadian Open last year. As he took in the sight unfolding at Glen Abbey Golf Club, his radio squawked. "There are a lot of people coming up the hill from 15," said the voice on the other end. McLaughlin was working his 22nd Canadian Open, starting with his first working in the pro shop at Glen Abbey. He had always been told that not many people ventured into the valley. While it is home to the most picturesque holes on the course, it also requires a long, steep walk back up to the final three holes. But with two of golf's heavyweights, Jason Day and Bubba Watson, battling for the lead with David Hearn, who was simply looking to end a 61-year drought since a Canadian last won the tournament, a massive gallery had followed the final two groups into the valley. Hearn was still leading by two shots as the last golfers emerged from the valley. McLaughlin looked and saw packed galleries surrounding No. 16, 17 and 18. "It was quite a scene. There had to be 30,000 people, high 20s for sure on that final Sunday. You go back to the Tiger days and when (Mike) Weir was in the playoff with Vijay (Singh). I was here for those as well and I don't remember it being that busy. It was truly a jam-packed golf course." RBC Canadian Open tournament director Brent McLaughlin takes a moment to rest behind the 18th green at Glen Abbey Golf Club last Friday. There will be little time for that in the coming weeks as he makes final preparations for this year's tournament, July 18-24. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Burlington Post successful venues to host the Open in modern history, since 1977, so if you get a chance to come and play here, why not?" he said. "I truly think it is the best spectator golf course in the world. Every year that goes by with the maturity of the golf course, with the trees, some of the slight changes that have been made, the course conditions, this a phenomenal golf course." McLaughlin said hosting at the same course is beneficial from a planning aspect. With logistics such as parking and transportation already worked out after hosting 27 previous tournaments, organizers can focus on other areas. "The beauty of coming back to the same venue year after year is that you can build on the momentum you created," McLaughlin said. Last year, the tournament introduced red and white day on the Friday, encouraging spectators to show their Canadian pride. "Everyone showed up in their best red and white gear. It was more than we could have anticipated," McLaughlin said. The highlysuccessful day returns for a second year, as does the free admission for anyone 17 and under. This year, a five-kilometre run through the course on the Saturday before the tournament (July 16) is being introduced. Two hundred runners have already registered for the event. Also new is an opening ceremony on the Tuesday. The gates will open at 11 a.m. and admission is free. With golf making its return to the Olympics, tournament organizers are working with the Canadian Olympic Committee to have a number of Olympians see Open's on p. 45 FRIDAY 4 Jäger Bombs 4.75 MGD or Miller Lite Tall Cans $ 5 Pints of Canadian/Coors Lite $ $ $ $ Choose from Canadian or Coors Light & Any One of our 1/2 Pound Fresh Ground AAA Chuck Burgers $ 4.00 JÄGER BOMBS 4.75 MGD OR MILLER LITE TALL CANS 5.00 PINTS OF CANADIAN/COORS LITE Buy One Pound of our Delicious Signature Wings and Enjoy a Second Pound for Choose any One of Our Domestic pints, Canadian, Coors Light, Budweiser or Bud Lite and One Pound of Our Delicious Wings for Yes That's Right....Order Any One of Our Signature Wings, Burgers or Main Event and Receive One Kids Meal Absolutely FREE!* *Conditions apply ask your server for details 1¢ $ 1599 905-338-5458 www.draftedsportsbar.com 379 Speers Rd., @ Dorval