Inside Golf House

Tournament exemptions are a big part of our field strategy for Canada’s two National Open Championships – the RBC Canadian Open and next week’s CN Canadian Women’s Open.

Exemptions allow Golf Canada to extend playing spots into our championships to many of this country’s top competitors. Some get extended to up-and-coming Canadian pros that might not otherwise get into the field, while others might be reserved for Canada’s top young amateurs representing Team Canada.

Either way, much discussion and research goes into the selection of tournament exemptions.

Any player granted an exemption has absolutely earned the right to compete in one of our national championships. An exemption can also be a terrific acknowledgement of strong play and commitment.

This week we announced a terrific field for the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open with the top 50 players on the current LPGA Money List, including 97 of the top 100 who will compete next week at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

Canadian golf fans get to see LPGA Tour stars Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Suzann Pettersen, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis and world No. 1 Yani Tseng compete for the title.

Just as special, the field will include 17 Canadian hopefuls looking to be the first Canadian to win an LPGA Tour event on Canadian soil since Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Jocelyne Bourassa won La Canadienne in 1973.

Among the 17 Canucks are a number of players who received various exemptions into the field. Some came through the CN Canadian Women’s Tour and its Order of Merit. Team Canada member Rebecca Lee-Bentham earned hers by winning the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur last month.

Golf fans in Quebec will be able cheer on five local talents – Lisa Meldrum, Isabelle Bieseigel, Danielle Mills, Sara-Maude Juneau and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc – all by way of various tournament exemptions. Here’s hoping Canadian and especially local golf fans in the Montreal area will get behind our talented Canadian athletes next week at Hillsdale.

Sara Maude, Maude-Aimee and LPGA rookie Stephanie Sherlock are all products of the Team Canada program as well as their respective provincial development and collegiate golf programs. All got their first experience at the CN Canadian Women’s Open during their time with Team Canada – a tremendous development opportunity and one that will hopefully benefit current Team Canada members Jessica Wallace, Nicole Vandermade, Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Augusta James and 15-year old Jisoo Keel.

I am always rooting for our Canadians and its fantastic when one or several of our Canuck hopefuls can put a charge into the local crowds and get their names on the leader board. All of our Canadian athletes deserve our support as they compete against the world’s best.

I think back to last month’s RBC Canadian Open and the unbelievable atmosphere at Shaughnessy with Abbottsford, B.C. native Adam Hadwin’s thrilling tournament run. While he ‘settled’ for a T4 finish, Adam absolutely stole the show in Vancouver and captured the attention of Canadian golf fans. It was a special performance at our National Men’s Open Championship, and had it not been for a tournament exemption, Hadwin would not have been in the field.

In a case of hopeful déjà vu, we can also look ahead to the 2012 RBC Canadian Open knowing that at least one local talent is ready to challenge for the title in his own backyard. I’m talking about Dundas, Ont. native Mackenzie Hughes who earned a 2012 RBC Canadian Open exemption with his victory last week at the Canadian Men’s Amateur.

While it’s too early to tell if he’ll be able to match the magic we saw from Adam Hadwin in front of his hometown crowd, there’s no telling what we might see from Mackenzie next July at Hamilton Golf and Country Club when he competes at home in front of family and friends.

The same is true for Isabelle, Maude-Aimee, Danielle, Sara-Maude and Lisa as they carry the local hopes into Hillsdale.

My point is that tournament exemptions, whether they are slam dunk choices or heavily debated selections, are part of what makes our National Open Championships truly special.