Rory McIlroy Receives Maple Leafs Jersey from Former Tour Chief Ahead of RBC Canadian Open
Rory McIlroy has made his return to competitive golf at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, marking his first appearance since the PGA Championship earlier this year. Ahead of the tournament, he took part in the RBC Canadian Open Pro-Am, where he was grouped with Keith Pelley, the former chief of the DP World Tour and current CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
Rory McIlroy playing RBC Canadian Open Pro-Am with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley (former European Tour chief). Presented Rory with a Maple Leafs jersey. So hey, the Leafs are relevant in June after all. pic.twitter.com/dj7YffBp5Y
— Joe Callaghan (@JoeCallaghan84) June 4, 2025
During the event, Pelley presented McIlroy with a personalized Maple Leafs jersey, a gesture that added a lighthearted moment to the tournament’s buildup. The interaction caught public attention when sports journalist Joe Callaghan posted about it on social media, noting the irony that the Maple Leafs were making headlines in June thanks to McIlroy’s appearance.
McIlroy has enjoyed a strong 2025 season so far, opening his campaign with a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He has since added two more wins to his name, including triumphs at the Players Championship and the Masters, reinforcing his position as one of the top players on the PGA Tour. Currently ranked World No. 2, McIlroy remains a fan favorite as he enters the RBC Canadian Open.
The tournament tees off on Thursday, June 5, with the opening round beginning at 6:45 a.m. ET. Players will start from both the first and tenth tees in groups of three. McIlroy will begin his first round at 7:40 a.m. ET on the tenth tee, alongside Ludvig Åberg and Luke Clanton.
Notable Group Tee Times for Round 1 (All Times ET):
First Tee:
6:45 AM – Justin Lower, Nicolai Højgaard, Dylan Wu
7:29 AM – Matthieu Pavon, Adam Svensson, Aaron Wise
7:40 AM – Thomas Detry, Keith Mitchell, Byeong Hun An
12:44 PM – Wyndham Clark, Justin Rose, Adam Hadwin
12:55 PM – Robert MacIntyre, Shane Lowry, Corey Conners
Tenth Tee:
6:45 AM – Beau Hossler, Henrik Norlander, Roger Sloan
7:18 AM – Sam Burns, Max Homa, Sungjae Im
7:29 AM – Nick Taylor, Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes
7:40 AM – Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Luke Clanton
12:33 PM – Nick Dunlap, Brandt Snedeker, Adam Schenk
The RBC Canadian Open promises to deliver exciting matchups and storylines, with McIlroy’s participation adding star power to the field.