Mississauga's Matthew Anderson to tee off at RBC Canadian Open

As the RBC Canadian Open tees off this week, a Mississauga man will be teeing off alongside some of the top players on tour — just a short drive from his childhood home. 

Matthew Anderson, 24, will be playing in his second PGA Tour event, teeing off at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club on Thursday. The Canadian Open, which starts Thursday, runs until Sunday.

Anderson told CBC News he remembers thinking as a kid, "'Man, this would be so cool, this is what I want to do.'"

"To be this close and here this week, it's super cool to look back on," he said. "[It's] just incredible, to think all those years ago, I've come this far. It means a lot to me."

"This is the PGA tour event that every Canadian looks forward to playing," he said.

The last time he played, Anderson was just 19 and placed first in a regional qualifier to get into the event. Back in 2019, he says he was starstruck but that it was a great experience.

Since then, he's played as a pro on the PGA Tour Americas, where he had three top three finishes this year, including his first pro victory. He says he's come a long way as a player in the past five years.

"I've matured mentally a lot. I'm better at handling pressure," he said.

'I know I have the ability to contend'

Still, Anderson says rubbing shoulders with some of the top Canadian players is an experience for him.

"It was definitely a little bit of a shock, I guess like, you know. It's a PGA Tour event, you've watched these guys on TV and then all of a sudden you're in it, so I think it kind of hit me on Thursday. No nerves I've experienced like that before," he said. 

This tournament, he says, will be like a home game, "trying to defend your own turf, in a way" with a home crowd, fans, family and friends.

And he hopes to take advantage of the opportunity.

"I know I have the ability to contend. I know I have the ability to make the cut and do well and compete," he said. "This is what I dream of."

'Good leaps in his game,' coach says

Alf Callowhill, Anderson's golf coach, said on Wednesday that Anderson always has had a feel for how to hit shots, and that he could see early on that he had a bright future. 

"The growth over the past five years has been great to see," Callowhill said, who has been coaching Anderson for about a decade.

Callowhill said when Anderson played at 19, he was "definitely nervous." 

"At that point it was just, let's get as much experience as we can, enjoy it, have fun. It wasn't like any super big goals or anything," he said.

Anderson turned pro last spring, and according to Callowhill, has made "some good leaps in his game," including improvements in his putting and strong finishes.

"[He's] definitely a different guy, he's more comfortable with himself, with his spot among the best players in the world. I think everybody tees off with some nerves. It's learning how to take that and still perform."