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Organizers of this year's RBC Canadian Open aren't going to settle for a good field. They're pushing to make it great.

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The Canadian Press

Anthony Kim is among the big-name professionals who have committed to playing in this year’s RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Toronto from July 23 to 26.

The Royal Canadian Golf Association released a list of committed players on Tuesday that includes 13 of the top 30 golfers in the current FedExCup standings.

Even though tournament director Bill Paul figures that's the highest number he's had at this point since 2001, he has no plans to rest on his laurels. Players have until 6 p.m. Atlantic on July 17 to formally register for the event.

"If guys haven't signed a commitment sheet, we will still chase them," said Paul. "There's certainly a lot of work in the next two and a half weeks to go after guys."

Sean O'Hair, Retief Goosen, Hunter Mahan and Ricky Barnes are among the new batch of players that have signalled their intent to play at Glen Abbey Golf Club from July 23 to 26.

They join Canadians Mike Weir and Stephen Ames as well as Anthony Kim, Trevor Immelman, Camilo Villegas, Mark Calcavecchia, Fred Couples, Luke Donald and defending champion Chez Reavie.

Paul believes his job has been made a little easier with the revamped FedExCup points system. That season-long race awards US$10 million to the winner and millions more to other top finishers - a lucrative payday that seems to have caught the attention of PGA Tour players.

"A lot of guys are certainly looking forward to that pot at the end of the rainbow now," said Paul. "And (thinking), 'If I'm going to win it, I've got to get up there.'

"There's not going to be the big differential that there was in years gone by."

The latest list of commitments to the Canadian Open also includes the country's top two amateur players. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Matt Hill of Bright's Grove, Ont., each received a sponsor's exemption.

One major area the Canadian Open has struggled with in recent years is attracting marquee names to the field.

Tiger Woods, for example, hasn't played since memorably winning the 2000 event at Glen Abbey. The world's top player was at an event in Nova Scotia last week and said he won't attend the tournament again as long as it is played directly after the British Open.

That pronouncement wasn't news to those in charge of the Canadian event.

"It wasn't that explicit, but we certainly are aware that that would be his preference," said Jim Little, RBC's marketing chief. "He really would like to play it again. ...

"We don't have envy that we're not getting Tiger this year. We're thrilled with the field."

One difference with this year's event is that it's the first since Weir joined on as a partner. He'll host the inaugural Mike Weir Charity Classic on the Monday of tournament week, which will feature celebrities and other athletes.

His commitment to the Canadian Open has gone even deeper than that.

"Mike's had a big impact," said RCGA executive director Scott Simmons. "The message is getting out there with the great things we're doing philanthropically. ...

"That means a lot to the players."

Interestingly, the struggling economy hasn't impacted the tournament as much as other sports properties.

Simmons says the RCGA is actually "well ahead" on projections for secondary sponsorship and exactly where it wanted to be on ticket sales.

"The only one that we're below where we thought we would be is in high-end hospitality - the corporate tents," said Simmons. "I think that speaks a lot to companies not wanting to come in and do that type of hospitality if they're in a position where they're laying off people. ...

"Even in that area, we're not that far behind our plan."