Els, Leonard Head To Canadian Open

Two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els and 1997 Open Championship winner Justin Leonard have committed to compete at the 1998 Bell Canadian Open Sept. 7-13, the RCGA announced today.

Els, who presently sits third in the World Rankings, has earned $693,848 in just 11 PGA Tour events this year, including a win at the Bay Hill Invitational in March. Leonard, who also claimed a victory this season at The Players Championship, is sixth on the PGA Tour money list, with earnings of $1,252,472 in 21 events.

Joining Els and Leonard will be Billy Mayfair, who is coming off a recent win at the Buick Open. Mayfair's victory last Sunday--his second of the season -- lifts him to 10th on the money list with $976,889. Mayfair raised his first championship trophy of the year in March at the Nissan Open.

The Bell Canadian Open, the third oldest national championship in the world, will be played at Oakville's Glen Abbey Golf Club. The purse has been increased to $2.2 million this year and the winner will receive $396,000 along with the Bell Canadian Open Trophy.