The Canadian Open is right in the middle of the golf drama again

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The Canadian Open has one of the richest histories of any golf tournament in the world. First played in 1904, it's the third-oldest stop on the PGA Tour, behind only the British and U.S. Opens. Past champions include legends Walter Hagen, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino, while Jack Nicklaus was a seven-time runner-up. Tiger Woods' breathtaking 218-yard approach from a bunker to the 18th green to win the 2000 tournament at Glen Abbey is arguably the greatest shot ever hit by the greatest golfer of all time.

But things change, and the Canadian Open diminished in stature as the PGA Tour shuffled it around the calendar over the past few decades. The current slot, right before the U.S. Open, isn't the worst. But most stars still opt to skip it as they prepare for the most demanding of the four majors. The relatively small purse doesn't help either, especially after the Tour did not designate the Canadian Open as one of its new "elevated" events — those with $20 million US in prize money and mandatory attendance for the top players. Less than half that amount is up for grabs this week at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

And yet, for the second straight year, the Canadian Open finds itself at the centre of the biggest story in golf — maybe in all of sports.

Last June's tournament, at a different course in Toronto, happened to coincide with LIV Golf's inaugural event in London. That gave the Canadian Open extra juice as the PGA Tour went head-to-head for the first time with the despised, Saudi-bankrolled rival that was poaching big-name players