Led by Sudarshan Yellamaraju, a new wave of Canadian golf talent lands at national open

A man approaches Sudarshan Yellamaraju, the breakthrough Canadian on the PGA Tour this season, on the first tee box during Wednesday’s Pro-Am.

Yellamaraju, 24, is set to compete in his second RBC Canadian Open beginning Thursday at TPC Toronto in Caledon, Ont.

The man tells Yellamaraju they played a tournament together years ago. He recalls a specific putt.

Yellamaraju smiles and nods.

He asks for a picture. So do a group of about five others, who are also seeking autographs.

Yellamaraju smiles and nods.

Then he gets to playing. His partners, a group of RBC executives, ask for reads on putts, swing tips and yardages.

Yellamaraju, as appears to be his nature, smiles and nods.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju has taken one of the most improbable routes to the highest level of professional golf.<a href="https://x.com/JosephLaMagna?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JosephLaMagna</a> sat down with the PGA Tour rookie ahead of his first Players Championship to learn more about his incredible story. <a href="https://t.co/RZw3YIrgo8">pic.twitter.com/RZw3YIrgo8</a>

This is all new for Yellamaraju, who was born in Visakhapatnam, India, moved to Winnipeg at four years old and then relocated again to Mississauga, Ont., at 11.

He burst onto the scene at The Players Championship on March, where he tied for fifth in his first go-round at the demanding TPC Sawgrass. Then, he proved it wasn’t a fluke with a pair of top-15 finishes in his next two tournaments.

Now, Yellamaraju is the top Canadian in the season-long FedEx Cup standings, sitting 48th, which would earn him a spot in the playoffs.

What that’s brought is a level of attention the quiet-yet-polite Canadian may not quite be completely comfortable with so far. He’ll play in a premier group with major