Ryan Paul grew up just down the street from Glen Abbey Golf Club and his father, Bill Paul, was an instrumental part of the RBC Canadian Open for more than three decades. He started working at the tournament as a summer job while in college and has moved up the ladder at both Golf Canada and Wasserman before returning full time to Golf Canada in 2016.
Now Paul is in the leadership chair at Canada’s National Men’s Open as tournament director and this year is set to be bigger than ever – as the RBC Canadian Open makes its debut at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley – but Paul is more than up to the task.
Paul had spent the last six years at the helm of the CPKC Women’s Open and was the tournament director when Brooke Henderson made history in Regina in 2018. He also oversaw the event as it won back-to-back Tournament of the Year awards at the LPGA Tour’s year-end award ceremony in both 2022 and 2023.
Photo Bernard Brault, Golf Canada Vancouver, BC CPKC Women’s Open Friday, August 25, 2023 Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club ROUND 2 The rink, Canada Day
He says one of the biggest things he’s excited about for 2025 as the championship makes its debut at TPC Toronto is watching the spectator journey unfold from plan to practice.
Paul has been used to getting to a course for the first time (each of the CPKC Women’s Open events in 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024 took place at first-time venues although Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in 2023 had hosted the RBC Canadian Open in the past) so he and the team are no strangers to this effort.
“It’s fun to put together a plan that we think will work great for spectators and players and volunteers and just to really see that come to life when we open the gates on June 2 will be unbelievable,” Paul says.
Paul knows how cool an opportunity it is for the golfing public in Canada to have the RBC Canadian Open once again on a public course.
“We’ve seen it at Glen Abbey and my hope is that you have those ‘where-were-you moments like a Nick Taylor putt to win, or a Tiger Woods bunker shot. Those things become the ‘moment’ at TPC Toronto and we get people who throw a ball in a bunker or try to drain a long putt. It just makes (the Canadian Open) that much more special,” Paul says. “When you have that opportunity and you can see the fans where they’re like, ‘I hit my drive here!’ And all the players are just so far ahead, it’s really cool.
“TPC Toronto is such a special property where it’s got teeth to host a PGA TOUR event but it’s such a great golf course to just play as a public golfer. We’re really looking forward to it.”
Paul spent a good amount of time at THE PLAYERS Championship in March introducing himself to plenty of golfers who will make up the RBC Canadian Open field. He says speaking to the Canadian contingent has been super helpful as he gets a better understanding of what they’re excited about for TPC Toronto and all the venues they’ve been to – what’s been good and what can be improved on.
On the PGA TOUR, the Canadians (and, thankfully, this country has never had a bigger or more successful group all playing week-in and week-out) are the tournament’s biggest ambassadors.
“Having (the Canadians) also do my job a little bit, walking the range and telling players how great it’s going to be in Canada this year is certainly important. We’re always striving to have the best field we can and having Rory McIlroy back again, as well, is incredible and really shows what the player experience means and if we’re putting on a good show, taking care of these players, they’re always going to come back,” Paul says. “Rory, outside the Canadians, has been our biggest ambassador celebrating this as a National Open and how important that is and what it’s like to play in Canada and with our fans. It’s been remarkable and those things go a long way.”
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 13: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is awarded the Green Jacket by Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler after the final round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
The RBC Canadian Open has undergone an impressive evolution over the last half-decade or so with even more fun on-site activities than ever before. Paul remembers when The Rink hole, for example, was just an idea – and all we had were hockey boards and a Zamboni. Now it’s a “must-visit” destination at any RBC Canadian Open, and despite the fact that the tournament travels each year, The Rink gives the tournament a signature hole, even though it’s at a different course every time.
HAMILTON, ONTARIO: Photo Bernard Brault, Golf Canada RBC CANADIAN OPEN Hamilton Golf & Country Club
With the new date in 2019 the RBC Canadian Open really launched into this new era, Paul says, of being more than a golf tournament. It was all about food and music and was more of an outdoor festival than just a golf tournament.
As the snow melts, Paul says, he’s just excited to get up to TPC Toronto and see all the building unfold. The tournament is around the corner.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all plays out,” Paul says, “and I know it’s going to be a great week.”
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