Legend Jack Nicklaus supercharged Montreal’s bid

With impeccable and strategic work behind the scenes, the team behind the Royal Montreal bid orchestrated a major coup by bringing golf legend Jack Nicklaus on board. It was the 18-time Grand Slam champion who extolled the merits of the Montreal club and dealt a major blow to the Asian bids.

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In one of the many video clips shown at the official bid submission at the PGA Tour offices in Ponte Vedra Beach, Nicklaus recalled the memorable 2007 success and the rich history of the oldest golf club in North America. The organizing committee had then carefully decided to put the icing on the cake with the testimony of this giant of the sport, recounts Michael Richards, one of the great architects behind the return of this tournament, rubbing his hands.

The 2007 edition is one of the best in history, many observers claim, while one only has to think of a few highlights, including this spectacular match between Tiger Woods and Mike Weir.

On top of the stack

Neil Macrae believes that this presentation and message from the Golden Bear put Montreal’s bid on top of the pile.

“It was still a long shot, but we had a very solid case. I always believed that the circuit wanted to stay in America for the logistics and the promotion of the sport. This point is one of our main missions.”

Several factors also played in Montreal’s favour. Between 2011 and 2019, Australia, twice (2011 and 2019), and South Korea hosted the international team. A return to North America is necessary, particularly for the broadcasting rights at prime time and the significant logistics.

According to the account of the two masterminds fully involved in the project, the Montreal bid had ticked all the circuit’s criteria, with the exception of one: an estimate of total revenue.

Achievable challenge

With the circuit’s collaboration, however, they could work on it by refining sales strategies and diversifying hospitality offerings for spectators. The Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix was in fact a good example to shape according to their objectives.

“We weren’t worried about the hospitality infrastructure,” recalls Macrae, who walked the blue course in the middle of winter to identify the best places. “We had the space to build them and generate the income.”

With the tournament’s versions growing in size over the years, the organizers of the Royal Montreal were still far from suspecting the gigantic beast that would settle on their property six years later.

The fruit of many years of work and hope. Both Mr. Richards and Mr. Macrae hope that Mother Nature will cooperate so that the Royal Montreal will display its sublime, vibrant autumn colours to the world.

And luck turns for a first victory for the international team in 26 years.